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The waiting game is over -- for this year

I've posted other college rankings before, but here's the granddaddy: 

The magazine looks at 16 factors among 1,400 accredited four-year schools. As usual, critics say the rankings are arbitrary -- and pressure colleges to boost scores at the expense of improving their teaching.

"There's the old cliche: Presidents love rankings when they're good, and then they're not, they think they don't matter," joked Hamline University President Linda Hanson, whose institution placed 9th among Midwest regional universities.

That said, consistency in rankings reflects some degree of accuracy, she said, and U.S. News' are fairly stable. She said donors, alumni and parents ask her about them on occasion, and the rankings "are one more barometer of how we're doing in the marketplace. They help us keep an eye on factors we need to be watching."

Below is the list of how Minnesota's schools ranked.

 Note that some institutions are tied with others for their position.  





64 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities   

183 St. Mary's University of Minnesota   

23 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities   

34. University of Minnesota - Duluth   

65. Minnesota State University - Mankato   

84. Minnesota State University - Moorhead   

104. Southwest Minnesota State University   

Second-tier schools ranked 108-142, listed alphabetically: 

Metropolitan State University (did not participate)   

7. University of Minnesota - Duluth   

50. University of Minnesota - Crookston   

Second-tier schools ranked 74-95 listed alphabetically: 

Bethany Lutheran College (did not participate)   

4. University of Minnesota - Crookston   

The High School Counselors' Picks (New list)

47. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities   

Schools Whose Highest Degree is a Doctorate: 

22. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities   

3. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities   

19. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (Carlson)   

Best in the Specialties - Management Information Systems: 

5. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities   

A Strong Focus on Student Success (listed alphabetically)

Carleton College, College of St. Benedict, Macalester College, St. John's University, St. Olaf College, Univerity of Minnesota - Twin Cities   

Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects:

Carleton College, Macalester College   

A-Plus Schools for B Students (listed alphabetically)

Alex Friedrich

Author

    cursedthing via Flickr The waiting game is over — for this year   I’ve posted other college rankings before, but here’s the granddaddy: U.S. News & World Report’s. The magazine looks at 16 factors among 1,400 accredited four-year schools. As usual, critics say the rankings are arbitrary — and pressure colleges to boost scores…

Full list of MN's U.S. News and World Report rankings

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