I know we are all frustrated that UW has few MWC Championships in the major sports (or any sport for that matter). Yes it is a challenge to run a D1 program in Laramie. SO how is UW doing in the more important area of overall student success. I pulled the 2019 data from the Wall Street Journal and looked at their ranking methodology. Interesting and encouraging stuff. First off they use the most comprehensive data set of any of the ranking services. Taking into account student surveys as well as University and Federal data sources.
First off the total number of Universities in the study is close to 1000, so anything below 333 is top third.
One school they did not provide data on was Air Force. They do list the US Military Academy (which I assume is West Point) so to simulate AF I used the ASMA data. Assuming this is a good proxy Air Force is clearly the best University in the MWC. No real Surprise, given that the "student debt" load is zero, and every cadet is on a full ride.
So where is UW if we "discount" and remove Air Force. At the top of the MWC and the only school in the top third is UW, scores are below.
Rank College SCORES
Rank Univ Overall Outcomes Resources Engagement Environment
To no surprise UW is highest in student engagement – at UW students feel involved with Laramie and the University, and they are challenged and engaged by their faculty. UW is also lowest in “Environment” which is a diversity measure capturing exposure to “under represented groups” and international students. Despite the big hit in this key metric UW is still at the top of the MWC outside of AFA.
UW Ranking Numbers are available at the WSJ website, I placed that data into a spreadsheet and can post it if someone can tell me how to post a picture in a post.
Bottom line is UW is close to the bottom in MWC athletic performance, but in the area that really counts, delivering value educating students, UW is at the top of the MWC. As a UW grad and a parent, if I gotta choose only one area to be successful, I gotta go with the latter.
Interesting to note that the school that is at least perceived to be "at the top" of the MWC on the field and court, is at the bottom of the WSJ academic value rankings.
First off the total number of Universities in the study is close to 1000, so anything below 333 is top third.
One school they did not provide data on was Air Force. They do list the US Military Academy (which I assume is West Point) so to simulate AF I used the ASMA data. Assuming this is a good proxy Air Force is clearly the best University in the MWC. No real Surprise, given that the "student debt" load is zero, and every cadet is on a full ride.
So where is UW if we "discount" and remove Air Force. At the top of the MWC and the only school in the top third is UW, scores are below.
Rank College SCORES
Rank Univ Overall Outcomes Resources Engagement Environment
- 58 USMA 74.2/100 29.7/40 24.1/30 16.9/20 3.5/10
- 316 UWYO 54.0/100 18.0/40 15.7/30 17.3/20 2.9/10
- 324 SDSU 53.7/100 23.0/40 6.1/30 16.3/20 8.2/10
- 358 UN-Reno 52.3/100 17.2/40 12.4/30 16.3/20 6.4/10
- 380 Hawai'i 51.6/100 9.3/40 18.6/30 15.8/20 7.8/10
- 427 CSU 49.9/100 18.7/40 10.4/30 16.9/20 3.9/10
- 440 SJSU 49.4/100 19.5/40 5.1/30 16.1/20 8.7/10
- 501-600 Fresno St. 43.8-46.9/100 17.0/40 -/30 16.0/20 8.6/10
- 501-600 USU 43.8-46.9/100 15.8/40 -/30 17.1/20 -/10
- 601-800 UN-LV 37.3-43.7/100 -/40 -/30 16.1/20 7.8/10
- 601-800 UNM 37.3-43.7/100 -/40 12.1/30 16.1/20 7.6/10
- >800 BSU 24.4-37.2/100 -/40 -/30 16.6/20 -/10
To no surprise UW is highest in student engagement – at UW students feel involved with Laramie and the University, and they are challenged and engaged by their faculty. UW is also lowest in “Environment” which is a diversity measure capturing exposure to “under represented groups” and international students. Despite the big hit in this key metric UW is still at the top of the MWC outside of AFA.
UW Ranking Numbers are available at the WSJ website, I placed that data into a spreadsheet and can post it if someone can tell me how to post a picture in a post.
Bottom line is UW is close to the bottom in MWC athletic performance, but in the area that really counts, delivering value educating students, UW is at the top of the MWC. As a UW grad and a parent, if I gotta choose only one area to be successful, I gotta go with the latter.
Interesting to note that the school that is at least perceived to be "at the top" of the MWC on the field and court, is at the bottom of the WSJ academic value rankings.
