Editor's Blog: What the 2014 college rankings tells us about Mason

Every year, U.S. News & World Report comes out with a list of top universities in the nation. The most recent rankings, released Sept. 10, put Mason within the top 150, and 72nd when looking at just public universities.

Over the past few years, questions have been raised about the methodology of the rankings and the metrics that are emphasized in their formulas.  

Regardless, U.S. News & World Report present the rankings with some up-to-date data about various parts of the university. The report looks at characteristics such as class size, financial aid, and freshmen retention rates to determine a university's score. Here is how Mason lines up on some of those characteristics:

Even as one of the largest higher education institutions in the state, Mason continues to have relatively small class sizes (graph and data courtesy of U.S. News & World Report).

On average, about 58 percent of financial need is met for each Mason student. Only five percent of students have their financial needs fully met.

(graph and data courtesy of U.S. News & World Report)

The rankings also highlighted fraternity and sorority life on campus. 

(graph and data courtesy of U.S. News & World Report)

Correction: The original article incorrectly concluded that six percent of the student body were involved in either a sority or fraternity.