Methodology: Historically Black Colleges and Universities
We have created a group of unranked HBCU schools that are listed alphabetically in a separate table. An HBCU was unranked if it met any of the following criteria. Those institutions that have indicated that they don't use the SAT or ACT in admission decisions for first-time, first-year, degree-seeking applicants are not ranked. Other types of schools have been unranked in previous years and continue to be unranked this year. They include schools with total enrollment of fewer than 200 students; schools where a vast proportion of students are nontraditional; colleges that don't accept first-year students, sometimes called upper-division schools; private universities that are for-profit; and a few specialized schools in arts, business, or engineering.
How to use the rankings: Just how can rankings help you identify colleges and universities that are right for you? Certainly, the college experience consists of a host of intangibles that cannot be reduced to mere numbers. But for families, the U.S. News rankings provide an excellent starting point because they offer the opportunity to judge the relative quality of institutions based on widely accepted indicators of excellence. You can compare different schools' numbers at a glance, and looking at unfamiliar schools that are ranked near schools you know can be a good way to broaden your search.
Of course, many factors other than those we measure will figure in your decision, including the feel of campus life, activities, sports, academic offerings, location, cost, and availability of financial aid. But if you combine our information with college visits, interviews, and your own intuition, our rankings can be a powerful tool in your quest for college. It goes without saying that it's very important to research the course and program offerings at any school you're interested in.
How can you best use our rankings? Mining the data for the information you need can definitely inform your thinking. The hard work is up to you.
Reader Comments
HBCU Ranking
As a graduating senior from high school I looked at this list my entire senior year to decide which HBCU to choose from. And these rankings are VERY accurate. I chose Howard Universty, the most prestigous HBCU in the country and many others cannot compare!
UNRANKED
As an HBCU graduate and employee, i know that information comes in asking for this information. If your school fails to participate, then they fail in being included. US News has stated that they will not make assumptions or estimates. So, please check with the colleges' President, admissions office, and Institutional Research departments.
Rankings Are Highly Suspect
There is no way in the world that NC A&T SU, which produces the most black engineers in the nation, should be ranked 25. I see that you did not have any data on A&T, but how hard is that data to get. You cannot top the quality of education that you receive from A&T, especially relative to the cost. The university is one of only two HBCSUs nationwide to have been ranked "Highly Research Intensive" by the Carnegie Foundation, and the only University in the state of NC to receive that designation.
You all really need to do better research. There is no way that NCCU and Winston Salem State should be ranked above A&T. Very poor research indeed.
advertisement
