At Successful Student, we place each school within rank order by comparison with other schools. The rankings are done behind-the-scenes by using an algorithm that we developed. This algorithm uses data from the U.S. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (or IPEDS) and using the criteria we have selected, calculates the statistical weights below to produce each school's overall score.
We also partner with Academic Influence to incorporate their proprietary, data-driven rankings which calculates the amount of influence that an institution has in the academic world. Using these ranking tools and this overall methodology provides transparent and objective rankings without any gray area or opaque and hidden methods.
We do not accept any payments or other types of compensation in return for placement in our rankings.
Successful Student's Ranking Criteria and Weights:
Undergraduate:
| Ranking Criteria | Weights |
| Acceptance Rate | 15% |
| Graduation Rate | 25% |
| Undergraduate Tuition | 15% |
| First Time Undergraduates Awarded Aid | 15% |
| Undergraduate Fully Online Enrollment Percentage | 15% |
| Academic Influence | 15% |
Graduate:
| Ranking Criteria | Weights |
| Retention Rate | 20% |
| Desirability (Number of Applicants) | 20% |
| Graduate Fully Online Enrollment | 10% |
| In-District Average Tuition Full Time Graduates | 10% |
| In-State Average Graduate Tuition | 10% |
| Academic Influence | 30% |