Temple University made its first appearance in the top 100 list for national universities, jumping from 121st place to tie for 89th place in the revamped U.S. News & World Report rankings. This significant boost comes after a challenging year for the Philadelphia university, which included the resignation of its president, a graduate student worker strike, and the tragic shooting death of a university police officer. Temple’s rise in the rankings is one of the largest among local universities in its category and can be attributed in part to major changes in the criteria used by the magazine to rank schools.
The latest methodology for the rankings places increased importance on outcomes, including graduation rates, manageable student debt, and post-graduate success. These measures now account for more than 50% of a school’s ranking. The rankings also removed several factors from consideration, including class size, faculty credentials, alumni giving, and high school class standing.
Other local universities also saw significant jumps in their rankings. Gwynedd Mercy University rose 71 places to 260th, making it the largest jump among regional universities. West Chester University climbed 40 places to finish at 209th. Rutgers-New Brunswick tied for 40th place, marking its first entry into the top 40. Rutgers-Camden advanced 29 spots to 98th, while nearby Rowan University and Pennsylvania State University also saw notable increases in their rankings.
However, not all local universities fared well in this year’s rankings. Villanova dropped 16 spots to 67th place, while Thomas Jefferson University fell 15 spots to 142nd. Immaculata University and Widener University also saw decreases in their rankings.
The U.S. News rankings have been a subject of controversy in recent years, with schools questioning the worth and accuracy of the process. Some colleges and universities, including Penn’s medical and law schools, have decided to withdraw from the rankings due to flawed methodology. Despite the controversy, many families still rely on the rankings when choosing a school.
Temple’s rise in the rankings can be attributed to its strong focus on outcomes and its commitment to providing an exceptional education to students from diverse backgrounds. The university’s graduation rate performance, which measures how well students from certain backgrounds perform compared to expectations, played a significant role in its increased ranking. Temple’s Fly in Four program, which ensures students graduate in four years, also contributed to its success.
While Temple acknowledges the rankings’ influence, there are no plans to heavily promote its new position. The university recognizes that rankings only focus on certain factors and may not be as important to certain students and families. However, Temple respects that rankings can be influential for international students and will carefully consider how to utilize this information.
In conclusion, Temple University’s impressive jump in the national university rankings reflects its commitment to providing an exceptional education and supporting the success of its diverse student body. The university’s emphasis on outcomes and its ability to graduate students from various backgrounds with manageable debt and post-graduate success played a significant role in its improved ranking. While rankings have their limitations, Temple recognizes their impact and will carefully consider how to utilize this information to benefit its students and stakeholders.