Rankings just one measure of college quality

Americans love rankings. We rank fantasy football picks, popular music singles, employees and students. Lists with titles like the “Top 10,” the “Top 100” or “Worst 50” are a staple in popular culture, and wehave added universities to the list of lists.
This month U.S. News and World Report published its 2014 college rankings. Marquette was listed No. 75 among the list of 400 “national universities,” an “eight-spot jump” according to campus marketing. Six other schools were also ranked at 75.
The ranking was dominant on the university homepage, advertised on television screens and posters  around campus and tweeted out to thousands of followers: “Marquette jumps eight spots on U.S. News’ annual Best Colleges list.” More...