University Focus

Colorado College to no longer participate in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges" ranking

As you may have seen in the Wall Street Journal, Colorado College has decided to decline to submit survey data to the U.S. News & World Report's annual "Best Colleges" rankings.

While the merits of such rankings have long been in question, CC has made the bold decision to opt out of a process that goes against their values, prizes wealth and reputation over academic quality, and generally treats every college academic experience as the same. They believe that rankings are harmful to students and institutions alike, and they are resolute in hoping that students will choose them for what they believe are better markers of value and excellence, such as:

• A bold and innovative curriculum which, since 1970, has demanded students take and faculty teach one course at a time in our dynamic Block Plan. 

• A commitment to sustainability, which has led them to become just the eighth institution in North America and the first in the Rocky Mountain region to achieve carbon neutrality.

• A pledge to commit ourselves to becoming an Antiracist Institution.

• Their adoption of test optional admission in 2019, a year before the pandemic required this move for most colleges.

While they are not the first institution to make this announcement, they are optimistic they won't be the last, and they are proud to join colleagues at Reed College, the Rhode Island School of Design, and several law and medical schools in aligning their actions with their values.