Duke on Kiplinger's Best Values List

[Jim3k]

Best Values in Private Universities, 2014 (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/best-values-private-universities-2014-040001375.html)



We are fifth and in good company.

[Henderson]

If I were Kiplingers or US News & World Report, I'd change the rankings every year. That way lots of schools would publicize my magazine by citing (where appropriate) a new high ranking from their expert analysis. The schools would benefit, there would be lots of them, and I'd sell more magazines.

Thankfully, that doesn't happen here, because both Kiplingers and USNWR have consistent rankings from year to year. Why? Because universities don't change enough from year to year to merit wholesale revamps of the rankings. And a magazine trying to sell subscriptions and advertising and gain local news buzz for itself would never stoop so low as to swap around rankings year after year for crass commercial purposes.

I'm grateful that Kiplinger's journalistic integrity doesn't compromise its rankings the way my cynical marketing mind would suggest. Bless them.

[DevilFalcon]

Correction: Universities outside of Chapel Hill do not drastically change their academics year to year...

[Henderson]

Correction: Universities outside of Chapel Hill do not drastically change their academics year to year...

UNC-CH was ranked the #1 best value in public universities in January of 2013. http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-public-colleges/

See what I mean? Are we selling magazines here or engaging in a serious conversation about educational quality?

P.S. I think UNC-CH is mostly an excellent academic public university. Mostly.