According to rankings, when is a university "reputable" in a program? (doctorate, degrees)

[Prickly Pear]

Let's use USN&WR (US News & World Report) rankings for a second here for this poll as it's the one most commonly used. Curious to see what's the cutoff for you guys.

When is a major, based on USN&WR, considered reputable or good in comparison to other schools?

Edit: I personally put Top 75. So as long as the major is in the top 75 in the nation it's reputable.

[NJBest]

In a specific program, ranking higher than top 25, for sure. Depending on the field, there's between 1 to 100 top professors and they all flock to the universities which will provide them with the best resources. In a particular field, the top 5 universities are gold mines for opportunities to learn because they have several of the top professors (all having flocked there for the same reasons) while it quickly diminishes as you go further down the rankings.

USN is not the most accurate rankings.

[Prickly Pear]

Originally Posted by NJBest

In a specific program, higher than top 25, for sure. Depending on the field, there's between 1 to 100 top professors and they all flock to the universities which will provide them with the best resources. In a particular field, the top 5 universities are gold mines for opportunities to learn because they have several of the top professors (all having flocked there for the same reasons) while it quickly diminishes as you go further down the rankings.

USN is not the most accurate rankings.

I agree on USN not being very accurate. I used it for this poll because it's the most common and some people DO make decisions for colleges based on them. I didn't use them to pick my university, and I hope not many others did. But if you had to believe them...

I understand your point. Actually, I should wish I could change my vote now to top 50 but it's too late. 25 might be too few, especially if a smaller school has more regional reputation.

[NJBest]

I updated my last post as the wording could have been confusing.

[jobaba]

Originally Posted by :-D

Let's use USN&WR (US News & World Report) rankings for a second here for this poll as it's the one most commonly used. Curious to see what's the cutoff for you guys.

When is a major, based on USN&WR, considered reputable or good in comparison to other schools?

Edit: I personally put Top 75. So as long as the major is in the top 75 in the nation it's reputable.

Reputable for what purpose? For the vast majority of any kind of degree programs, it makes absolutely no difference in the real world.

US News has a list for best Grad Schools in Library & Information studies. LMAO! You think anybody gives a crap or even knows about rankings in LS if there's even jobs available in that field? They rank 50 schools in that. There's probably not even 50 jobs available in that field nationwide.

Or they rank 100 programs for Sociology. In which, going to a highly ranked undergrad school might be useful for obtaining additional higher degrees which will be of further uselessness in the real world.

There's also a ranking for Interior Design. The two people who know about that ranking are probably the two people who wrote the ranking.

If you are working on Wall Street, or Big 4 Accounting, or have a doctorate and want to get a tenure track position, it matters. Some. But overall school reputation will help more a lot more. If you have a doctorate from Yale, you're more likely to get tenure ... somewhere ... maybe.

Otherwise, major or prepare for grad school in something super practical where you can find work and don't worry about rankings.

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

I think you are confusing "reputable" with "exclusive."

Any program that is accredited by the appropriate boards is reputable.

A highly ranked program is exclusive.