College Rankings More Important than Ever

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Published by CBS News

Although critics disparage the college rankings as flawed and elitist, a growing number of students seem to be relying on them to help with their college picks. 

That was the conclusion of a new survey by Art & Science Group. The higher-education consulting firm polled high school students about college rankings three times -- in 1995, 2002 and last winter -- and found that the importance of rankings in students' college decisions has climbed considerably since the first two surveys.

Two-thirds of high school students surveyed indicated that they had taken college rankings into account in deciding where to apply. Nearly two-thirds of students who were surveyed said they "strongly agree" or "somewhat agree" that the rankings are "very important in trying to sort out the differences between colleges."

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