Syracuse University’s ranking fell four spots to No. 62 in the 2014 U.S. News and World Report national university rankings that were released Tuesday.

The 2014 ranking is a few steps down from last year’s position at No. 58, placing SU back to where it was ranked two years ago. Brigham Young University; Clemson University; University of Maryland, College Park; University of Pittsburgh; and Worcester Polytechnic Institute share the No. 62 spot with SU in the 2014 ranks.  The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry fell nine spots to No. 86.

The annual report takes note of factors like the school’s acceptance rate, class size, freshman retention rate and the five most popular majors, according to the report’s website.

“I would say that rankings are among a range of information students and families look at when they consider college, so we want to be ranked as high as possible and recognize their significance,” said Kevin Quinn, senior vice president for public affairs. “However, rankings also often fluctuate for colleges and universities each year and don’t capture the full character, value and strategic direction of an institution.”

Kelsey Burke, a junior communication and rhetorical studies and English and textual studies major, said she was disappointed with the university’s fallen standing. She said the ranking wasn’t concerning, but felt SU should have improved this year.

“Once you improve, you would hope to keep on improving, and that is with anything, really,” she said.

Jose Blanco, a junior television, radio and film major, was not as disappointed. He said he felt the ranking shouldn’t be taken as seriously.

“Forbes has a list [of college rankings], College Prowler has a list, everyone has a different list, but in the end of it, they are all just lists,” he said.

America’s Top Colleges — a list created by Forbes — evaluates a larger range of universities, including liberal arts schools, which are rated separately by U.S. News. In Forbes, SU is listed as No. 123, almost twice the ranking listed in the U.S. News and World Report.

Paula Hughes, a freshman public relations major, said that although the change in SU’s rank by U.S. News and World Report might be unfortunate, “it is just a rating” and shouldn’t be taken to heart.

Although Blanco, Hughes and Burke said they all glanced over university rankings during their application processes, they agreed that rankings do not accurately portray the value of universities across the United States.

Blanco said he stresses the importance of professors at universities and how that adds to a college’s value. He questioned how the rankings consider a professor’s teaching ability and credentials.

He also pointed out that a good university does not necessarily always have good professors, and vice versa.

“Despite the fact that SU is still at a high stance in academia, it has a lot to do with you — the student — and it really depends on what you make of it,” Blanco said. “It depends on what you do.”

Published on September 11, 2013 at 2:12 am