University of Washington ranking- Introduction
The University of Washington is a public University located in Seattle, Washington. The school also has satellite campuses in nearby Tacoma and Bothell. The University of Washington boasts a strong reputation for research on a global scale. It has also been recognized for its great diversity, marked by a booming population of international students. In US News’ Best Global University list, the University of Washington ranking is #6. As such, it is among the top 10 universities not just in the US, but in the entire world. This University of Washington rankings showcase UW as a top school both nationally and internationally.
If you’re interested in applying to UW, the UW ratings may be a significant factor in your decision. You probably want to know as much information about the school as possible. This might include the different University of Washington rankings on various websites. In this guide, we will talk about the various places to find US college rankings. The importance of college rankings in general, and the specific University of Washington ranking will be discussed.
What is University of Washington ranked?
First, the UW ranking is not one single number. Instead, it varies based on the college ranking source and the criteria used by that source. For example, the overall University of Washington ranking is not the same as the University of Washington rankings for different academic disciplines. These more specific University of Washington rankings will vary by specialty. In essence, they reflect the programs most decorated in the University of Washington ratings.
Furthermore, different websites will assign a different University of Washington ranking because they evaluate schools differently. In this guide, we will look at the University of Washington ranking in Forbes. We’ll check out the University of Washington ranking in US News. And, we’ll examine the University of Washington ranking in Wall Street Journal college rankings. When looking at the University of Washington national ranking, it is important to consider all three sources.
Is University of Washington a top university?
According to the three main sources for national college rankings, which are Forbes college rankings, US News college rankings, and Wall Street Journal college rankings, the University of Washington ranking is among the top in the country. The US News college rankings even gave a UW ranking in the top 10 among global universities. However, the University of Washington ranking in US News is more modest on a national scale. On their list, the University of Washington ranking is at #55 among domestic universities.
The University of Washington ranking in Forbes is distinctly higher than its ranking in US News. Forbes college rankings list the University of Washington as the 26th best university in the country. It also cracks the top 10 public universities list as well. The University of Washington ranking among universities in the American west is also very high, coming in at #7. These rankings show that while the University of Washington rankings may be modest overall, for students interested in a public university in this area of the country, UW is a very highly ranked option.
Students must be members to view the full Wall Street Journal college rankings. This includes the University of Washington ranking in Wall Street Journal. However, there are a few University of Washington rankings available. A summary of the Wall Street Journal college rankings from the Times Higher Education website places the University of Washington ranking at #45 among national universities.
Comparing popular college rankings
So, across three influential college rankings in the US, the University of Washington ratings make UW a top American university. Two out of the three popular ranking websites placed the University of Washington ranking in the top 50. The third had UW just outside of that group. In addition, US News, whose UW ranking was the lowest, evaluated a total of 1500 colleges this past year. Forbes, on the other hand, only ranked 500. As such, the University of Washington ranking in US News was still incredibly high comparatively.
These vastly different UW rankings demonstrate how important it is to cross-check college rankings. You should look at different sites and examine the criteria used to determine them. UW received a high global ranking in part because of its high population of international students (17%) and its focus on research. This particular ranking system prioritized the number of international publications written at each university as well as its “global research reputation.”
The domestic rankings focus much more on student outcomes, including graduation rates, graduate indebtedness, and faculty resources. So, at the end of the day, the University of Washington ranking can vary greatly. Students should do thorough research in order to find the most relevant and accurate information.
Explaining college rankings
College rankings are one important measure of a school’s quality and national reputation. A high college ranking often means that a school provides both a top education along with an engaging campus environment. College rankings take into account a wide variety of factors, including academics, financial value, and student life. This means that a college ranking provides a holistic look at a school’s overall quality and prestige. However, rankings can also vary from year to year and website to website.
A college ranking is also important because a degree from a highly-ranked school can look more desirable to potential employers. Schools with a high college ranking have name recognition that can make it easier for their graduates to get hired.
However, while a school’s place on national college rankings lists can be important, don’t overlook schools based on ranking. You should also not choose a school simply because of its high national college rankings. Some schools specialize in a particular program or major and may be highly ranked in your area of interest. This is true even if their overall ranking is lower. Also, some highly ranked schools may not be the best fit for your needs and desires as a student.
What is the best source for University of Washington rankings?
When looking for information about the University of Washington rankings, or college rankings in general, you should consult trusted sources. There are a lot of US college ranking lists out there. However, the three sites mentioned in this article, the US News college rankings, the Wall Street Journal college rankings, and Forbes college rankings, are more reliable than others. These college rankings lists have been around for many years and have developed a reputation for reliability.
Between these three sites, there is no clear “best source” for University of Washington rankings. Each website uses slightly different metrics to determine their national college rankings. In general, you should consult several different websites and not take the word of just one source. There are so many different sites for University of Washington ratings and University of Washington rankings. As long as a site is legitimate, there is not much to separate these national college rankings websites.
In addition to the above websites, there are other sources like Niche and BigFuture which provide UW ratings and University of Washington reviews rather than overall rankings. These sites use a letter system to calculate UW ratings in categories such as Academics, Value, Party Scene, and Diversity. Alongside these UW ratings are University of Washington reviews. These reviews can provide helpful insights from current students, faculty members, and alumni.
University of Washington rankings vs. University of Maryland rankings
US News ranks the University of Washington at the same level as another public university on the other side of the country: the University of Maryland. The University of Washington ranking in US News is #55. The University of Maryland received the exact same ranking. Both schools also enroll roughly 30,000 students and have about the same ranking in Value, Engineering Programs, and Public Schools. Clearly, US News feels these schools are very similar.
In Forbes college rankings, the University of Washington ranking is slightly lower than that of the University of Maryland. The University of Washington ranking in Forbes is #26 with Maryland less than ten spots behind them, at #34. While these college rankings do not match up as exactly as the US News rankings of each school, they do reflect some of the same similarities between the two schools. These similarities include their enrollment, size, and public status.
The difference in ranking between the two similar schools is most stark in the Wall Street Journal college rankings. The University of Washington ranking in Wall Street Journal (#45) is significantly higher than that of the University of Maryland (#80). This difference illustrates that the UW ranking can change dramatically from one website to another.
How often do University of Washington rankings change?
Most college websites update their rankings, including their UW ranking, on a yearly basis. These sites collect data during the summer months from the previous school year before publishing the new rankings in the fall. In addition, rankings certainly fluctuate year to year based on changes in data and the criteria used to rank the schools. For example, Forbes ranks Harvard University at #9 among the top US colleges. US News, in contrast, ranked it the 3rd best school in the country. As you can see, these websites update their methods and statistics, and their rankings change accordingly.
What do University of Washington college rankings mean for your college list?
When you are building your college list, you may be taking a school’s place in the national college rankings into account. However, it is important to know that a school’s rank nationally may not reflect its suitability for you as a student. While the University of Washington rankings are certainly high, you want to make sure that the school is a good fit for you personally. College rankings websites can be helpful in this, as many go into detail about which programs at a given school have the highest college rankings. However, you should do outside research on each school as well before you add it to your college list.
In the case of the University of Washington rankings for its different programs, US News reports that the UW rankings for Nursing and Computer Science were both in the top 10 nationally. So, if you are a student interested in these programs, the University of Washington might be on your college list given the high University of Washington rankings. However, basing your decision purely on the University of Washington college rankings could lead you to ignore a school that you might enjoy simply because it isn’t ranked as highly as other schools.
So, don’t place too much importance on the number listed next to a school on national college rankings websites. The same goes for the letter next to it on college ratings websites. These numbers and letters are a good place to start, but they are not a substitute for your own research into a school. If you are interested in exploring more information about the University of Washington and are considering adding it to your college list, there are other ways to learn more. You can contact an admissions representative, schedule a campus tour, or browse the college website.
University of Washington College rankings – Final Thoughts
No matter which website you look at, whether it is the US News college rankings, the Forbes college rankings, or the Wall Street Journal college rankings, the UW rankings are high. These reliable US college rankings websites agree that the University of Washington is a top school compared to other schools in the Northwest region and the country as a whole. The University of Washington ranking in Forbes and the University of Washington ranking in Wall Street Journal both fall inside the top 50.
While the University of Washington rankings on these websites are important, be sure to make sure the University of Washington is a good fit for your needs before making the decision to apply. Although the University of Washington rankings indicate that UW is a top school, that does not automatically mean that it is the best fit for your specific needs. You can learn more about the school by looking at their website. You can also access information on how to apply to the University of Washington as well as tips for how to get accepted on the CollegeAdvisor website.
Looking for more expert advice on University of Washington rankings and college applications? Sign up for an account today to be matched with a Collegeadvisor.com advisor who can help you with every step in the process.
This article was written by Alex Baggott-Rowe, Davidson ’16. If you want to learn more about UW, we’ve got you covered. CollegeAdvisor.com’s network of 300+ Admissions Experts (and former admissions officers) includes graduates from top universities. Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 576-0953.
