Northeastern sits at 534 on the Forbes list, which was compiled for the magazine by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, a think tank based in Washington, D.C. Forbes reviewed the rankings and published them on its website Wednesday.
Northeastern has trumpeted its rise this year to 69th on a list of top national universities compiled by US News & World Report. That was up from its 115th ranking in 2006.
In discussion threads on the Forbes site, Northeastern supporters have fiercely criticized the school’s placement on the list and the four-year graduation standard, which counts for 17.5 percent of the overall ranking.
Respondents noted that Northeastern undergrads participate in a program in which they work full-time in the industry of their choice and typically graduate in five years as a result.
“NEU is initially at a 7.5 point disadvantage since [the survey’s] methodology defines ‘normal’ as four years,’’ one commenter wrote. “They know this, but don’t really care.’’
Students at Northeastern do not pay tuition during the six-month co-op periods, and typically, at graduation, have had three co-op placements, according to the university.
“The Forbes ranking is deeply flawed because it turns Northeastern’s greatest strength, [the] co-op, into a weakness,’’ Northeastern spokesman Michael Armini said in a statement.
Forbes special projects editor Michael Noer said in an e-mail that the magazine had to select standard data points to make comparisons, or “we wouldn’t actually be ‘comparing’ anything. Another way of stating this is that our rankings value completing school in four years.’’
He said in a phone interview that just appearing on the list of top 650 schools is a compliment, since there are more than 6,000 undergraduate institutions in the United States, including many two-year schools. “I want to say very firmly that Northeastern is a great school,’’ Noer said.
