"Public Universities Soar in U.S. News College Rankings After Formula Change"
The annual U.S. News college rankings have been scrambled due to changes in the formula used to evaluate schools. Public universities saw a rise in rankings, while many private universities fell. The new formula no longer considers class size or alumni giving but includes a factor tracking the graduation rates of first-generation college students. Critics argue that the rankings heavily rely on a peer evaluation survey that favors wealth and long-standing perceptions of prestige. Some prominent law and medical schools have already stopped cooperating with the rankings, and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has encouraged others to do the same. Despite criticism, the U.S. News rankings continue to generate interest and discussion within higher education.