The college ranking system has lost value among both students and universities, according to a recent survey from international educational service organization Kaplan. The study found 75% of 200 surveyed college admissions officers believe the system has become prestigious.
The results, announced on Sept. 24, follow the release of the 2025 U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings list. Discussions about the relevance and importance of college rankings have increased, as several top universities such as Columbia University, Harvard Law School and Yale Law School voiced their disapproval of the ranking process and opted out of the rankings entirely.
According to the Kaplan survey, 13% of the colleges that currently participate in the ranking system are either considering dropping out or will drop out of the ranking process.
Boston University Spokesperson Colin Riley wrote in an email to The Daily Free Press that the University accommodates ranking requests from multiple publications and believes BU “will continue to do so.”
Sarah Seymour, executive director of college admissions programs at Kaplan, wrote in an email to The Daily Free Press that the prestige and credibility of the lists might decline as universities continue to withdraw from the rankings.
“Rankings may no longer be able to offer a full picture of the higher education landscape with so many schools no longer willingly providing information,” Seymour wrote. “This shift could encourage students to place less emphasis on rankings and more on factors like student outcomes, campus resources, and overall fit.”
Climbing two spots from its 2024 ranking, BU rose to 41st in the U.S. News rankings for 2025. The University is now tied with The Ohio State University and Rutgers University.
“We’re pleased to have BU’s academic and research excellence recognized, along with the University’s accessibility and affordability efforts,” Riley wrote.
Schools similar to BU that have strong reputations beyond ranking may experience an increase in applicants who prioritize academic programs, research opportunities and student life over rank, according to Seymour.
Freshman Khush Shah considered BU’s ranking when he decided to attend the University. However, he said he doesn’t believe the list should make or break a student’s choice
“I think [applicants] should look at what’s going to make them feel comfortable and what they think is going to give them the best opportunities,” Shah said. “[They should] focus on where they’re getting the better education of what they want to study.”
Freshman Maya Dvoskina said that during her application process, the college ranking list was “one of [her] most important factors to consider when applying to college.”
“I feel like [rankings] gained their value among students,” she said. “It makes you feel better if you’re in a college that’s higher on the list.”
Seymour said rankings might continue to influence applicant decisions and “offer a snapshot of prestige,” but they will ultimately become less significant as applicants become “savvier” in their decision-making process.
“As rankings may lose prestige for many, more students and their parents will focus on how schools align with their personal goals and experiences, potentially broadening the applicant pool for schools offering a well-rounded education,” Seymour wrote.
As college rankings continue to face scrutiny among students and universities, Shah said it’s important to introduce a clearer explanation of how these evaluations are determined.
“It should be more transparent how the rankings are given, so students can actually understand why this [university] is ranked this way,” Shah said. “Give me a reason behind it, and students will be able to compare before applying, rather than just looking at a number and then applying.”
Former BU president Silber was notoriously against college ranking lists and at the time, would not participate in the rankings. This hurt the US News rankings score, pushing BU far below its weight on the list where it still sits today.