The post is by editor John Willingham.
Yes, the title of this post is a mouthful. For years now, I have kept an updated list of the departmental rankings that U.S. News publishes so that I can add them to the biannual profiles I do of honors programs. When the 2020 rankings came out, I wanted to see whether there was any clear relationship between the departmental scores and the academic reputation scores. Then I compared the latest reputation scores with those published in 2015 to see how much had changed. Finally, the table below also includes changes in university rankings and the most recent rankings for social mobility.
(I would welcome comments on this post. Please email editor@publicuniversityhonors.com.)
It appears that the social mobility metric has had some impact, especially if the ranking is very strong, as in the case of many UC campuses and Florida institutions. There is no clear relationship between departmental scores and academic reputation scores. Departmental rankings do have a modest relationship to the overall U.S. News rankings, but there are many inconsistencies. Academic reputation scores do seem to show some “grade inflation” since 2015; often this is the case even when the U.S News ranking has dropped significantly.
The table below includes data for 100 public and private universities.
The cumulative rankings that I do for 15 academic disciplines requires some explanation. U.S. News only ranks graduate programs for most departments. Here are the disciplines for which I have cumulative departmental rankings, using the most recent data (2018): biological sciences; business (undergrad); chemistry, computer science; earth sciences; economics; education; engineering (undergrad);English; history; mathematics; physics; political science; psychology; and sociology.
Not every university has a ranked department in each of the 15 disciplines. I averaged departmental rankings for every university that had at least six ranked departments. For universities with, say, fewer than 12 ranked departments, the total ranking will be artificially high because only the best departments are ranked and I cannot include unranked departents. Most universities have 12-15 departments that are ranked, and so the overall average will be more useful for them. And some of the universities with a small number of ranked departments are specialized, such as Georgia Tech and Caltech. Clearly, even ranking only six or seven departments for those schools and getting a strong result is not misleading.
Universities with fewer than 10 departmental rankings: Colorado School of Mines; Georgia Tech; Miami Ohio; American; Brigham Young; Caltech; Dartmouth; Drexel; Fordham; Georgetown; and RPI.
It should be said that universities with relatively low departmental rankings can legitimately receive high rankings because of other meaningful factors, such as grad and retention rates and class size. Some excellent universities do not have an especially strong research focus or a lot of graduate programs. Dartmouth is one prominent example.
The universities below appear in rank order of their 2020 academic reputation, according to U.S. News.
| UNIVERSITY | Avg Dept Rank | Dept Rank | Rep Score | Rep Rank | Rep Score | Rep Dif | US News | Rank Dif | 2020 Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAME | 15 Disciplines 2018 | Ordinal | 2020 | 2020 | 2015 | 2020 v 2015 | Rank 2020 | 2015-2020 | Soc Mobility | ||
| Harvard | 5.71 | 6 | 4.9 | 1 | 4.9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 186 | ||
| Stanford | 1.93 | 1 | 4.9 | 1 | 4.9 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 241 | ||
| MIT | 2.73 | 2 | 4.9 | 1 | 4.9 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 241 | ||
| Princeton | 5.38 | 5 | 4.9 | 1 | 4.8 | 0.1 | 1 | 0 | 186 | ||
| Yale | 10.92 | 9 | 4.8 | 5 | 4.8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 285 | ||
| UC Berkeley | 3.2 | 2 | 4.7 | 6 | 4.7 | 0 | 22 | -2 | 70 | ||
| Columbia | 10.23 | 8 | 4.7 | 6 | 4.6 | 0.1 | 3 | 1 | 138 | ||
| Caltech | 4.71 | 4 | 4.7 | 6 | 4.6 | 0.1 | 12 | -2 | 345 | ||
| Johns Hopkins | 21.93 | 19 | 4.7 | 6 | 4.5 | 0.2 | 10 | 2 | 241 | ||
| Chicago | 11.67 | 11 | 4.6 | 6 | 4.6 | 0 | 6 | -2 | 335 | ||
| Cornell | 13.79 | 13 | 4.6 | 6 | 4.5 | 0.1 | 17 | -2 | 224 | ||
| Penn | 16.73 | 15 | 4.6 | 6 | 4.4 | 0.2 | 6 | 2 | 241 | ||
| Duke | 20.23 | 17 | 4.5 | 13 | 4.4 | 0.1 | 10 | -2 | 254 | ||
| Brown | 27.62 | 28 | 4.5 | 13 | 4.4 | 0.1 | 14 | 2 | 224 | ||
| Michigan | 9.4 | 7 | 4.5 | 13 | 4.4 | 0.1 | 25 | 4 | 291 | ||
| Northwestern | 17.86 | 16 | 4.5 | 13 | 4.3 | 0.2 | 9 | 4 | 251 | ||
| Dartmouth | 51.38 | 57 | 4.4 | 17 | 4.2 | 0.2 | 12 | -1 | 303 | ||
| UCLA | 10.86 | 9 | 4.3 | 18 | 4.2 | 0.1 | 20 | 3 | 13 | ||
| Carnegie Mellon | 27.73 | 29 | 4.3 | 18 | 4.2 | 0.1 | 25 | 0 | 303 | ||
| Georgia Tech | 33.7 | 37 | 4.3 | 18 | 4.2 | 0.1 | 29 | 7 | 224 | ||
| Vanderbilt | 35.57 | 40 | 4.3 | 18 | 4.1 | 0.2 | 17 | -1 | 291 | ||
| Virginia | 27.4 | 27 | 4.2 | 22 | 4.3 | -0.1 | 28 | -5 | 328 | ||
| Rice | 31.92 | 33 | 4.2 | 22 | 4 | 0.2 | 17 | 2 | 204 | ||
| Georgetown | 53.75 | 61 | 4.2 | 22 | 4 | 0.2 | 24 | -3 | 241 | ||
| Notre Dame | 45.43 | 47 | 4.2 | 22 | 3.9 | 0.3 | 15 | -1 | 322 | ||
| North Carolina | 23.79 | 21 | 4.1 | 26 | 4.1 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 165 | ||
| UW Madison | 12.93 | 12 | 4.1 | 26 | 4.1 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 297 | ||
| WUSTL | 32.29 | 34 | 4.1 | 26 | 4 | 0.1 | 19 | -5 | 381 | ||
| Emory | 45.82 | 49 | 4.1 | 26 | 4 | 0.1 | 21 | -1 | 200 | ||
| UT Austin | 14.47 | 14 | 4.1 | 26 | 4 | 0.1 | 48 | 5 | 134 | ||
| NYU | 25 | 23 | 4 | 31 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 29 | 3 | 115 | ||
| Illinois | 20.07 | 17 | 3.9 | 32 | 4.1 | -0.2 | 48 | -6 | 186 | ||
| Washington | 22.2 | 20 | 3.9 | 32 | 4 | -1 | 62 | -14 | 176 | ||
| USC | 35.27 | 39 | 3.9 | 32 | 3.9 | 0 | 22 | -3 | 147 | ||
| UC Davis | 28.14 | 30 | 3.9 | 32 | 3.8 | 0.1 | 39 | -1 | 9 | ||
| UC San Diego | 25.93 | 24 | 3.9 | 32 | 3.8 | 0.1 | 37 | 0 | 21 | ||
| William & Mary | 69 | 36 | 3.8 | 37 | 3.7 | 0.1 | 40 | -7 | 354 | ||
| Ohio St | 26.4 | 25 | 3.8 | 37 | 3.7 | 0.1 | 54 | 0 | 254 | ||
| Purdue | 40.27 | 41 | 3.8 | 37 | 3.6 | 0.2 | 57 | 5 | 270 | ||
| Tufts | 73.8 | 78 | 3.8 | 37 | 3.6 | 0.2 | 29 | -2 | 328 | ||
| UC Irvine | 32.53 | 35 | 3.8 | 37 | 3.6 | 0.2 | 36 | 6 | 3 | ||
| Florida | 48.67 | 52 | 3.8 | 37 | 3.6 | 0.2 | 34 | 14 | 34 | ||
| Penn State | 27.27 | 26 | 3.7 | 43 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 57 | -9 | 348 | ||
| Maryland | 28.8 | 31 | 3.7 | 43 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 64 | -2 | 322 | ||
| Minnesota | 24.2 | 22 | 3.7 | 43 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 70 | -1 | 251 | ||
| Boston College | 50.27 | 54 | 3.7 | 43 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 37 | -6 | 270 | ||
| Texas A&M | 41.6 | 42 | 3.7 | 43 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 70 | -2 | 96 | ||
| Indiana | 29.93 | 32 | 3.7 | 43 | 3.6 | 0.1 | 79 | -3 | 303 | ||
| Case Western | 72.91 | 77 | 3.7 | 43 | 3.5 | 0.2 | 40 | -2 | 214 | ||
| Boston Univ | 48.67 | 52 | 3.7 | 43 | 3.5 | 0.2 | 40 | 2 | 270 | ||
| Colorado | 33.2 | 36 | 3.7 | 43 | 3.5 | 0.2 | 104 | -16 | 359 | ||
| Virginia Tech | 52.31 | 60 | 3.7 | 43 | 3.4 | 0.3 | 74 | -3 | 322 | ||
| Wake Forest | 98.75 | 93 | 3.6 | 53 | 3.5 | 0.1 | 27 | 0 | 360 | ||
| Brandeis | 63.92 | 68 | 3.6 | 53 | 3.5 | 0.1 | 40 | -5 | 138 | ||
| UC Santa Barbara | 35.21 | 38 | 3.6 | 53 | 3.5 | 0.1 | 34 | 6 | 9 | ||
| Arizona | 43 | 44 | 3.6 | 53 | 3.5 | 0.1 | 117 | 3 | 195 | ||
| Georgia | 63 | 65 | 3.6 | 53 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 50 | 13 | 159 | ||
| Tulane | 90.77 | 89 | 3.6 | 53 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 40 | 13 | 365 | ||
| Pitt | 45.4 | 46 | 3.6 | 53 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 57 | 5 | 335 | ||
| George Washington | 76.92 | 83 | 3.5 | 60 | 3.5 | 0 | 70 | -19 | 322 | ||
| Iowa | 50.27 | 54 | 3.5 | 60 | 3.5 | 0 | 84 | -13 | 335 | ||
| Michigan St | 42.13 | 43 | 3.5 | 60 | 3.5 | 0 | 84 | 1 | 241 | ||
| RPI | 62 | 62 | 3.5 | 60 | 3.4 | 0.1 | 40 | 2 | 270 | ||
| Rochester | 52 | 59 | 3.5 | 60 | 3.4 | 0.1 | 29 | 4 | 159 | ||
| Col School of Mines | 74.83 | 79 | 3.5 | 60 | 3.3 | 0.2 | 84 | 4 | 303 | ||
| U of Miami | 85.69 | 87 | 3.5 | 60 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 57 | -9 | 270 | ||
| Northeastern | 67.85 | 72 | 3.5 | 60 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 40 | 2 | 254 | ||
| Rutgers | 43.87 | 45 | 3.4 | 68 | 3.4 | 0 | 62 | 8 | 59 | ||
| Syracuse | 69.33 | 75 | 3.4 | 68 | 3.3 | 0.1 | 54 | 4 | 90 | ||
| Oregon | 51.43 | 57 | 3.4 | 68 | 3.3 | 0.1 | 104 | 2 | 214 | ||
| Kansas | 63.87 | 67 | 3.4 | 68 | 3.3 | 0.1 | 130 | -24 | 377 | ||
| UMass Amherst | 48.57 | 51 | 3.4 | 68 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 64 | 12 | 186 | ||
| Arizona St | 45.67 | 48 | 3.4 | 68 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 117 | 12 | 147 | ||
| Clemson | 89.6 | 88 | 3.4 | 68 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 70 | -8 | 348 | ||
| Lehigh | 106.67 | 98 | 3.3 | 76 | 3.3 | 0 | 50 | -10 | 270 | ||
| Stony Brook | 46.46 | 50 | 3.3 | 76 | 3.2 | 0.1 | 91 | -3 | 24 | ||
| Iowa St | 50.27 | 54 | 3.3 | 76 | 3.2 | 0.1 | 121 | -15 | 270 | ||
| Connecticut | 69.47 | 76 | 3.3 | 76 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 64 | -6 | 265 | ||
| Auburn | 94.36 | 92 | 3.3 | 76 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 107 | -4 | 380 | ||
| Tennessee | 76.77 | 81 | 3.3 | 76 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 104 | 2 | 138 | ||
| SMU | 109.6 | 99 | 3.3 | 76 | 3 | 0.3 | 64 | -6 | 360 | ||
| Florida St | 68.8 | 73 | 3.3 | 76 | 3 | 0.3 | 57 | 38 | 80 | ||
| Missouri | 76.87 | 81 | 3.2 | 83 | 3.3 | -0.1 | 139 | -40 | 354 | ||
| Baylor | 103.09 | 94 | 3.2 | 83 | 3.2 | 0 | 79 | -8 | 297 | ||
| American | 105.83 | 96 | 3.2 | 83 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 77 | -6 | 176 | ||
| Delaware | 76.54 | 80 | 3.2 | 83 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 91 | -15 | 360 | ||
| Miami Oh | 94.11 | 91 | 3.2 | 83 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 91 | -15 | 369 | ||
| NC State | 67.09 | 70 | 3.2 | 83 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 84 | 11 | 224 | ||
| Nebraska | 67.33 | 71 | 3.2 | 83 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 139 | -40 | 303 | ||
| Brigham Young | 80.22 | 84 | 3.2 | 83 | 3 | 0.2 | 77 | -15 | 291 | ||
| Utah | 60.87 | 63 | 3.2 | 83 | 3 | 0.2 | 104 | 25 | 186 | ||
| Fordham | 105.83 | 96 | 3.1 | 92 | 3.2 | -0.1 | 74 | -16 | 351 | ||
| UC Riverside | 64.33 | 69 | 3.1 | 92 | 3.1 | 0 | 91 | 22 | 1 | ||
| Alabama | 124.91 | 100 | 3.1 | 92 | 3 | 0.1 | 153 | -65 | 377 | ||
| UC Santa Cruz | 59.71 | 62 | 3.1 | 92 | 3 | 0.1 | 84 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Drexel | 105 | 95 | 3.1 | 92 | 3 | 0.1 | 97 | -2 | 270 | ||
| Oklahoma | 83.4 | 85 | 3.1 | 92 | 3 | 0.1 | 132 | -26 | 328 | ||
| Washington St | 84.5 | 86 | 3.1 | 92 | 3 | 0.1 | 166 | -28 | 176 | ||
| George Mason | 93.67 | 90 | 3.1 | 92 | 3 | 0.1 | 153 | -25 | 125 | ||
| UIC | 63.53 | 66 | 3 | 100 | 3 | 0 | 132 | 17 | 14 | ||
| MEAN SCORES/RANKS | 49.9083 | 50 | 3.772 | 47.71 | 3.661 | 0.102 | 56.96 | -2.51 | 229.38 |
