When I mention solid public universities like CUNY or Rutgers, I always find it a little sad when people ask me, “Is that a good school?” Maybe it’s because I’m nearing completion of my doctorate and I realize how lucky I would be to get a good tenure-track job at one of these places. Maybe it’s because I am frustrated by the needless restrictions that many students put on their college search.

When it comes to colleges, we’re trained to look at rankings and reputation. It’s a massive investment, so I understand the pull of prestige. However, it’s a massive investment, so I wish people had better information.

For starters, how much do you think it matters where you go to college? Will you get a better education at a highly ranked college? Will you be happier and more engaged at First Choice University than Last Choice University?

The latest results from the National Survey of Student Engagement are incredibly revealing.

Apparently, 90 percent of the variation in students’ perceptions of the quality of their undergraduate experience occurs within–instead of among–campuses. This means that the same students at the same schools are not having the same experiences.

Where you go is not as important as who are you and what you study.

To better illustrate this point, the report includes case studies of two colleges with different pseudonyms: Constitution U. and Homestate College.

70 percent of students in the “educational opportunity” program at Constitution said that the campus provided tremendous social support but only 38 percent of all students agreed.

So some students at Constitution are more satisfied than others.

At Homestate, majors seem to make all the difference in terms of interacting with students from a different ethnic group. 75 percent of engineering students said they had frequent conversations with people from other ethnicities while only 58 percent of business students said the same.

So some students at Homestate are more satisfied than others.

And here’s another interesting stat:

Transfer students were the only group that were significantly less engaged than their peers across the board.

It’s ironic because these students, as a group, probably put a higher premium on where they go to college, if they make the effort to transfer.

A few more stats before I go:

Students who took at least 75 percent of their classes online reported more “active and collaborative learning.” They were also more likely to take classes that challenged them intellectually and participate in discussions that enhanced their understanding of different cultures.

When it came to the time they spent preparing for class, participation in discussions that enhanced social responsibility and their perception of a supportive academic environment, online and campus-based students were tied.

It’s worth noting that many online students are older so maturity may have more to do with college success than face-to-face time with teachers and peers.

Either way, if you’re thinking about college quality in terms of rankings or prestige, you’re looking at all wrong. Where you go to college is not as important as your willingness to engage, commitment to learning and participation in classes that challenge you.

Also, certain programs may offer fantastic experiences within different campuses (like the “educational opportunity” program at Constitution). You may be better off in a program that meets your needs than a school with a big name.
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Kidz Today is a column about youth and education by Joie Jager-Hyman.