Who's number 1 (Academically)?


                                              ... Forbes' 2013 list is interesting
Many people in academia downplay the importance of the  evaluations of the quality of colleges and universities done by groups like U.S. News and World Report. Nevertheless, the rankings are interesting and provide parents and prospective students with some interesting data.
Forbes Magazine issued its earlier, and I was concerned that my alma mater, Penn State, was number 93. However, others, such as the University of Pittsburgh (193), may be even more concerned. 
Stanford is number one -- not a surprise there. Pomona, however, is number two. Pomona?
The important part of this is what components the groups use in their evaluation. Forbes explained their approach: "FORBES has partnered exclusively with the Washington, D.C.-based Center for College Affordability and Productivity(CCAP). What sets our calculation of 650 colleges and universities apart from other rankings is our firm belief in “output” over “input.” We’re not all that interested in what gets a student into college, like our peers who focus heavily on selectivity metrics such as high school class rank and SAT scores. Our sights are set directly on ROI: What are students getting out of college." (See CCAP’s full methodology here.)
I have the URL for the Forbes story below, along with the Pa. schools in the top 200.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinehoward/2013/07/24/americas-top-colleges-2013/
Pennsylvania rankings
6.  Swarthmore
11. University of Pennsylvania
42. Carnegie Mellon
70. Lehigh
79. Villanova
86. Franklin and Marshall
93. Penn State, University Park
104. Dickinson
113. Gettysburg
181. Allegheny
192. Grove City 
193. University of Pittsburgh

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