VOLUME 108, ISSUE NO. 5 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2023
WSJ ranks Rice 64th, U.S. News and Niche rankings dip slightly SIMONA KAO & BRANDON CHEN Education gave colleges a numerical rating
FOR THE THRESHER & NEWS EDITOR
JENNIFER LIU / THRESHER
Rice ranks No. 9 in the Niche.com “2024 Best Colleges in America,” No. 17 in the U.S. News and World Report “Best National University Rankings” and No. 64 in the Wall Street Journal’s “2024 Best Colleges in the U.S.” All placements represent a decrease from last year, when Rice ranked No. 6 and No. 15 for Niche and USNWR, respectively. The WSJ did not rank colleges in 2023, and has since changed their partner, surveying and methodology; in 2022, the WSJ and Times Higher Education ranked Rice No. 18. Provost Amy Dittmar said that she is proud of the undergraduate education and experience reflected in the rankings. “In addition to being the top university in Texas and the 15th highest-ranked private university in the U.S., Rice ranked No. 5 on the list of the nation’s best values in higher education, one spot higher than last year,” Dittmar wrote in an email to the Thresher. “That’s important because as Rice grows, we want to ensure that a Rice education is accessible and affordable to students with the academic credentials to succeed here. The Rice Investment and our commitment to no loans in financial aid packaging is critical to this.” Multiple other universities previously ranked highly by the WSJ have fallen significantly this year. Johns Hopkins University dropped from No. 9 to No. 99. Carnegie Mellon University has also fallen from No. 21 to No. 70. On the opposite spectrum, some schools saw a dramatic increase in their standing such as Babson College, which now ranks No. 10, up from No. 126. These shifts reflect a change in the WSJ’s college ranking methodology. In 2022, the WSJ and Times Higher
think that graduation rate is probably the based on a variety of factors: 40% of the most important thing. I agree with that being score came from student outcomes, 30% factored in, but not necessarily the salary.” In comparison to the WSJ, the USNWR from academic resources, 20% from student engagement and 10% from the learning ranking methodology placed less emphasis on student outcomes. Instead, the rankings environment. For the 2024 rankings, produced prioritized graduation rates, which made by a partnership between the WSJ and up 16% of a college’s total score. Other factors included research company first-year retention College Pulse, rates, graduation student outcomes rate performance accounted for 70% Rice is far from perfect, — which measures of a college’s total actual graduation score, while learning obviously. I do think that rate against its e n v i r o n m e n t one of the things that predicted value — accounted for it does well is provide graduation rates 20% and diversity opportunities for people for first-generation accounted for 10%. students and peer Academic resources who are first generation. assessment scores. and student Rijuta Vallishayee Even though engagement were no MARTEL COLLEGE SENIOR Rice’s performance longer considered. The student outcome analysis used in the USNWR rankings was similar to graduation rate and “salary impact,” last year, the USNWR also used a different in which the median annual salary of a ranking methodology this year. Factors college’s graduates was compared with like class size, high school class standing the median annual salary of high school and alumni donation rate were removed from consideration, while first-generation graduates in the same state. “The differences in [the Niche, USWNR graduation rates and first-generation and WSJ] rankings illustrate the challenge graduation rate performance were added. “The rankings reflect Rice’s unique in basing too much on any one ranking,” Dittmar wrote. “Every ranking is different, commitment to undergraduate education, and we cannot ensure that rankings for example with our low student-to-faculty accurately reflect the quality and value of ratio and residential college system, and education without understanding more our commitment to excellence across about how they are derived, particularly disciplines,” Dittmar wrote. “Some of the other top-ranked schools with a new ranking [system].” In response to the WSJ’s emphasis on … focus solely on STEM, whereas Rice is student outcomes, Brown College freshman also strong in the humanities and social Brandon Martz said the percentage of sciences,” she added. “That’s a strength students with industry opportunities upon for us, because solutions to the challenges graduation may be a better indicator of that the world is facing with energy and climate, AI and computing and health care student outcomes than salary. “My goal with my degree is not to make and disparities will require interdisciplinary as much money as I can, so I feel like that’s collaboration.” not a great indicator of what success is, in terms of student outcomes,” Martz said. “I SEE RANKINGS PAGE 2
R2 to host open mic Sept. 28 HUGO GERBICH-PAIS
Founded in 2004 by Writer-in-Residence Justin Cronin, R2 is the award-winning literary journal on campus. This year’s magazine is Nearly a year ago, friends and art lovers led by the three student editors-in-chief — alike filled Ray’s Courtyard, listening, McKenna Tanner and Katherine Jeng, along with Wang — as well laughing and maybe as Ian Schimmel, the even crying along faculty sponsor and to poetry, prose and a Duncan College music. Held for over a resident associate. decade, R2: The Rice It’s very rare that you see “We publish the Review’s Open Mic an event of this caliber [at best student poetry, Night has celebrated Rice that is] very big and creative nonfiction, Rice student’s creativity. On Sept. very diverse in terms of the fiction and artwork yearly,” Jeng, a 28, these scenes will acts. Hanszen College return from 7 to 10:30 junior, said. p.m. when R2 hosts Ariana Wang Tanner, a Hanszen their annual open mic R2 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF senior, said that R2 night, again in Ray’s prides itself on being a publication put Courtyard. The Open Mic Night also serves as the together solely by Rice students. “R2 is by Rice students, selected by Rice magazine’s annual launch event, allowing students to pick up the first copies of students and published by Rice students,” the publication, as well as hear student Tanner said. This exclusive focus on student work performances in literature, music and comedy. Students can register to perform, extends to all aspects of R2, including the and there will also be a limited number of editors’ submission review processes. “We also have enough time to give [writers] signups on the day itself. “It’s very rare that you see an event of constructive feedback on the pieces, which this caliber [at Rice that is] very big and very is something that is rare [at] other literary diverse in terms of the acts,” Ariana Wang, SEE OPEN MIC NIGHT PAGE 8 one of R2’s editors-in-chiefs, said. THRESHER STAFF
Big first quarter propels Rice to 59-7 victory over Texas Southern ANDERSEN PICKARD
FOR THE THRESHER
Despite the bleak weather at Rice Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 16, the Owls jumped out to an early lead over the Texas Southern University Tigers and never looked back. The defense forced several turnovers and the offense delivered quick-strike touchdowns, propelling Rice to a 59-7 win. The victory built on a Week 2 win over Houston and vaulted the Owls to 2-1 this season. Their only loss this year came on the road in Week 1 against a Texas Longhorns team that now ranks No. 3 in the country, per the latest Associated Press coaches poll. Rice had previously faced Texas Southern just once in 2021, defeating them 48-34 at home. In Saturday’s game, DraftKings favored the Owls by 35 points. According to redshirt junior linebacker
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