The "Right Fit" vs. Rankings: Why ROI Matters

Families love rankings. "Top 10 or nothing." But rankings (QS, US News) measure prestige, research output, and endowments. They do not measure your personal Return on Investment (ROI).

The Case for "Fit": Let's look at Computer Science.

University A (Ivy League): Ranked #5 globally. Tuition: $90k/year. Location: Rural New England.

University B (State School): Ranked #40 globally. Tuition: $45k/year. Location: San Jose (Heart of Silicon Valley).

The Reality: University B is a "target school" for Apple, Google, and NVIDIA simply because of proximity. Their students get internships during the semester, not just in summer. The cost is half, but the starting salary might be identical.

At Pericles, we look at Outcome Data: Starting salaries, alumni networks in your specific field, and internship access. Sometimes, the "Lower Ranked" school is the smarter financial decision.