Scholarship vs Ranking Forum

[JoyceL1986]

If the school's ranking was lets say, 5 spots apart, would you take the scholly money from the lower or go with the higher ranked on little to no scholly?

[GordonBombay]

It would really depend on how vague the question is for me

[eldizknee]

.

[Rowinguy2009]

Depends on the specifics....but 9 times out of ten I would go with the slightly lower ranked school with more money (in fact this is what I am doing next year). 5 spots in the rankings, unless your talking about schools in the top 10, is unlikely to make much of a difference at all. The further down the rankings you get the more this holds true.

[d34d9823]

It would really depend on how vague the question is for me

+1

[weee]

...

[reverendt]

In the t14 give some weight to the rankings. Even 5 slots can be a game changer.
Outside of the top schools, 5 spots means nothing. Not a thing. Maybe 20 or 30 spots matter, but what really matters is location and cost.

[09042014]

Yea I'd pay sticker at Kansas over Penn State any day of the week.

[webbylu87]

Outside of the top schools, 5 spots means nothing. Not a thing. Maybe 20 or 30 spots matter, but what really matters is location and cost.

This. You have to strike a balance between cost and location. I was debating between two schools ranked 5 places apart. I ended up choosing the higher-ranked, slightly more expensive school. Not at all because of the rankings but because I felt it offered a more solid program, better job prospects, and it was closer to my desired markets. Outside of the T14, do not choose the higher-ranked school simply on that basis alone.