The US News rankings are terrible for students. Why don't colleges stop them?

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

In other words, choose substance over form, beer over foam. I'm on board.

Ya, but they always say you sell the sizzle, not the steak, right?

Truthfully, I'm conflicted. I understand why they want a good ranking (marketing), but I hate to see them lose focus on the product.

The reality is that they can/should do both. But, it's not an easy balancing act. Hard to serve 2 masters.

[GOO]

The core product should not be compromised.  That is why I said "to the extent that the school can cost effectively keep or increase its ranking, without compromising its values and education process, it has to be considered as part of the marketing budget/expense." 

The bottom line is that you still have to have the substance and quality or that will catch up with you.  Selling foam instead of beer only works once, of course.

Core product has to be strong, but the marketing has to be considered and like it or not US News rankings is near the top of what is important in marketing a college.   

[Aughnanure]

A magazine ranking is close to the last thing you should care about when making the decision about a college.

I just can't agree with this. It's too black and white. If you don't think the prestige of the university you graduated from matters for you future career aspirations, you're just wrong. Say the rankings are flawed, that they put the wrong emphases on what colleges should be teaching, but to tell a kid he shouldn't take into account if a college is a top-10 law school or a top-30 is just wrong and terrible advice.