Justin Haight’s Post

US News has released their college rankings (https://bit.ly/3ZIkkvv). While the release of these rankings is always a major moment in higher education, it’s important to recognize that not all college rankings are created equal. Over the years, the methodology used by U.S. News has faced increasing scrutiny from universities and educational experts alike. Some institutions have even stopped participating due to concerns about data manipulation and murky ranking criteria. For a deeper dive into why these ranking may not tell the full story check out this piece from Inside Higher Ed (https://bit.ly/3TIdy57) and The New York Times (https://nyti.ms/3zID82R).             At Gateway to Admission, we encourage students and families to conduct thorough research when considering their best-fit schools. Rankings are just one of many factors to consider. Your college experience is about more than a number—it’s about finding the place where you’ll thrive.

Congratulations to four outstanding Illinois colleges who were ranked among the top 100 in the country, according to new 2025 Best Colleges rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report: #6 —Northwestern University #11 — University of Chicago #33 — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign #80 — University of Illinois Chicago The rankings evaluated 1,500 colleges and universities using more than a dozen measures of academic quality. While we can debate the methodology and the merits of such a ranking, I always like to highlight when our colleges in Illinois are doing well.

Today my team helped launched the #BestColleges for 2025! I think it's important for students to consider what the best fit is for them. For many, our main rankings are a good place to start (https://lnkd.in/gdFbpmnE). You may also want to consider schools with the most students receiving merit scholarships (https://lnkd.in/gaU2WKTb) universities where students graduate with the least amount of debt (https://lnkd.in/gA7JyXnp) or one of our other many college rankings. #usnews   

Forbes' annual list of America's Top Colleges is here, and three Greater Cincinnati schools made the cut: the University of Cincinnati, Miami University and Xavier University. #cincinnati #collegesanduniversities #forbes #schoolrankings #education #topcolleges

The University of Maine reached an all-time high in the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development rankings, underscoring its growing prominence in research and development activities. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eE7_s8Z5

National and international prominence In 1985, the University of Florida was invited to join the Association of American Universities. During President Bernie Machen's tenure and with the backing of the University of Florida Board of Trustees, a significant policy shift was announced in 2009 for the university. This shift involved reducing the number of undergraduate students and reallocating financial and academic resources toward graduate education and research initiatives.[49] In 2017, the University of Florida achieved a notable milestone by becoming the first university in the state of Florida to rank among the top ten best public universities according to U.S. News.[50] In the 2024 fiscal year, the University of Florida received more than $1.26 billion in annual sponsored research expenditures.[51] In 2017, University President Kent Fuchs unveiled a plan to recruit 500 new faculty members to elevate the university's ranking among the top five best public universities. The majority of these new hires are concentrated in STEM fields. In 2018, 230 faculty members were hired, with the remaining 270 faculty positions expected to be filled by the fall of 2019.[52]

SHOUT OUT to University of California, Davis for being recognized within the TOP TEN BEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES in the United States‼️🎉🎈 ALL of the PUBLIC universities that rank higher are missing out on the full opportunity of #InclusiveCollege. 1. UCLA - who is ranked number one - has a two-year program. 2. UC BERKELEY - home of the #DisabilityRights movement - has NO #InclusiveCollege program 3. University of Michigan - NO #InclusiveCollege program 4. University of Virginia - NO #InclusiveCollege program 5. University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill - has a summer program 6. UC San Diego - NO #InclusiveCollege program TIE for #7. University of Florida - NO #InclusiveCollege program and University of Texas, Austin - has a three-semester program TIE for #9. Georgia Tech and UC Davis - BOTH have FOUR-YEAR with RESIDENTIAL LIVING #InclusiveCollege Programs‼️ Your #Education is BETTER when you are living and learning with peers who have #IntellectualDisabilities. The teaching gets better. The opportunities are better. The learning gets better. My Hot Take 🔥 Some day (and it won’t be long) #USNewsAndWorldReport will include #InclusiveCollegePrograms in their calculations for what makes the BEST universities in the nation. Over here at UC Davis, we will be ready. 💙🌲💛

The College of Science is Cal State East Bay’s fastest-growing college, with more than 5,500 students across all majors, reflecting a 50 percent enrollment increase since 2010. The College is an energized academic hub, bursting with motivated students studying across 11 departments. Each department is focused on providing foundational disciplinary knowledge and tangible skills that will allow students to have an immediate impact once they enter the workforce. According to Money Magazine’s 2018 rating, Cal State East Bay is 14th in the nation in advancing graduates’ social mobility. Our position in the region’s STEM workforce and our academic excellence plays a huge role in that. But we are increasingly finding that employers are recognizing the value of a Cal State East Bay degree, knowing that they can expect both hard skills and a certain kind of grit and determination from our graduates.

Excited to present some of my research with Justin Bathon this evening at University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA). We will be speaking about how industry partnerships can bridge the growing skills gap and address workforce development needs through effective Career and Technical Education programs. By integrating research-based strategies and equitable practices, we will highlight how transformative collaborations can prepare students for high-demand careers while fostering mutual benefit for education and industry. This work sits in the broader context of my dissertation at the University of Kentucky, which explores the role of strategic partnerships in transforming educational systems to drive workforce development, equity, and community engagement. By examining how schools and industries can collaborate effectively, my research aims to develop scalable models that prepare students for the future while addressing systemic challenges.

US News and World Report Best Universities and Colleges Ranking. Never been a fan of ranking US universities and colleges, but this links has some really good information for students, counselors and international education professionals when advising potential international students. Just please keep in mind that world class education and opportunities can be found outside this list, often at a much-reduced cost. #usnewsandworldreport #USuniversityrankings