YU Drops to 94th Best Among U.S. Colleges in U.S. News Ranking
Yeshiva University tied for 94th place in this year’s U.S. News ranking of colleges across the nation, dropping significantly from last year’s 66th place. In the Best Value Schools category, YU was ranked 65th, down from last year’s 49th place.
2018 will mark the third consecutive downgrade in annual ranking. In 2015 and 2016, YU placed 48th and 52nd, respectively.
YU scored 51 out of a 100 total possible points. Graduation and retention rates, undergraduate academic reputation, and faculty resources constitute the largest factors in a school’s rank.
The report highlighted several aspects of Yeshiva University, including the Center for the Jewish Future and its undergraduate newspapers, The Observer and The Commentator. It also mentioned that YU “earns accolades” for its the research opportunities at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Yeshiva sold the medical school to Montefiore Medical Center in 2015.
The report included other interesting data. It claimed that many students who apply to YU also apply, among others, to Brooklyn College, ranked 86th in Regional Universities North, Queens College, ranked 41st in Regional Universities North, and Touro College, whose ranking was not published. It also stated that 35% of undergraduates live off campus.
YU issued this statement in response to the ranking: "Yeshiva University is proud of the educational excellence across all of our schools and programs. We are excited about our expanding academic opportunities, particularly in the STEM and health fields, that will only bolster our reputation. While our class sizes remain small, graduate outcomes remain stellar, and the student experience remains unique, our U.S. News & World Report ranking has predictably dropped due to the restructuring of our university. We are analyzing the factors in the algorithm of the rankings within the context of YU’s plan for growth and expansion, and are excited about the new world of opportunities open to us in the future."
College rankings are a popular means of helping prospective students decide among undergraduate programs. The U.S. News and World Report is among the most widely consulted ranking service. Kiplinger, another popular ranking report, pegged Yeshiva at 37th in December 2016 for best value in private colleges.
This article has been updated since it was first published.
