Why Columbia University Will Be Just Fine

As we’ve previously reported, Columbia has pulled out of the U.S. News and World Report ranking. People have questioned what this means for the university moving forward. The short answer: very little will change. So how important is the ranking, really? Columbia is still one of the most well-known, prestigious schools in the country. They are highly competitive, and they provide top-notch education and extensive networking opportunities to the students who are accepted. 

Columbia is one of the oldest universities in the country. Founded in 1754, the university actually predates the birth of the United States. And this gives the university a great deal of name recognition, not only in the U.S., but globally. Students from all over the world apply to the school, and its many subschools. This will not change. 

What’s more, the university is set in the center of Manhattan, the cultural hub of the nation. Everyone (okay maybe not everyone) wants to come here. Columbia’s campus is itself a tourist attraction! Countless students will continue to visit and be inspired to attend, rankings be damned. 

So while its reputation might take a small hit in the short term, their overall reputation will remain intact. Don’t let the lack of a ranking give you the false sense that Columbia will be any less selective or any easier to gain acceptance.