# Why Creighton Medical School Stays Unranked – And Why That Might Be a Good Thing

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/why-creighton-medical-school-stays-unranked-and-why-that-might-be-a-good-thing/
- Published: 2024-01-19
- Author: Charlene Farwell
- Categories: [School](https://33rdsquare.com/category/education/school/)

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As a higher education reform expert who has spent years advising college students exploring medical school, I‘ve seen firsthand how rankings dominate the conversation around where to apply.

One school that always catches prospective students‘ eyes is Creighton University School of Medicine. While Creighton has a long history and many satisfied alumni, you may have noticed one thing missing – a national ranking.

In an era where medical school rankings reign supreme, Creighton‘s unranked status makes them an outlier. But is that actually a bad thing? As I investigated this unique medical school, I discovered compelling reasons why they intentionally stay unranked year after year.

Here‘s what I learned about looking past the rankings as a prospective student – and why Creighton deserves serious consideration regardless of any number beside their name.

## The Power and Limitations of Medical School Rankings

Before analyzing Creighton‘s bold decision to abstain from rankings, it‘s essential to understand what goes into these systems – and some of their key flaws.

### The Outsized Influence of U.S. News & World Report

While several organizations publish medical school rankings, one matters most: **U.S. News & World Report.** Their annual list captures the lion‘s share of public attention and scrutiny.

The U.S. News ranking methodology incorporates a wide range of factors across three categories:

- **Inputs** – stats around admissions selectivity, undergrad GPAs, MCAT scores, etc.
- **Outcomes** – residency placement rates and board passing percentages
- **Reputation** – expert opinions via peer surveys

Based on these elements, they award overall scores and rank schools 1-50 nationally (only MD-granting programs included).

### Growing Criticism Over the Rankings Process

While long considered the gold standard, the U.S. News medical school rankings have faced increasing backlash in recent years.

Critics point out that while _some_ inputs and outcomes get counted, vast areas of each student‘s experience slip through the cracks. Difficult to quantify elements like school culture, wellbeing resources, the curriculum itself – core aspects of a medical education – fail to register.

Additionally, by aggregating complex medical schools down to a single overall number, nuance gets lost.

But the most scathing criticism questions the **ethics** behind the ranking factors themselves. Let‘s analyze a few elements under the microscope:

**Factor Critiqued – Heavy Reliance on Subjective Reputation Surveys**

- U.S. News rankings incorporate opinion-based surveys for nearly **40%** of each school‘s score
- Surveys completed exclusively by department heads and residency directors
- Critics argue:
  - Small sample size leads to **insufficient data**
  - **Bias** present given respondent backgrounds
  - Reinforces **elitism** as top schools endorse other top schools

**Factor Critiqued – Over-Emphasis on Securing Research Funding**

- Schools receive points based on research activity and funding obtained
- Accounts for about **20%** of the final rankings
- Critics argue:
  - Rewards money accumulation over educational quality
  - Incentivizes taking **funding** over exceptional **teaching**
  - Disadvantages smaller schools with lower budgets

These examples illuminate flaws that disproportionately benefit large, well-funded research institutions. Measures tied directly to student learning or outcomes count less under the algorithms.

### By the Numbers: Ranked vs Unranked Schools

One way to assess the validity of rankings is examining student outcomes between ranked and unranked medical schools:

| Metric | 5-Year Avg at Ranked Schools | 5-Year Avg at Unranked Schools |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Residency Placement Rate | 93% | 91% |
| USMLE Step 1 First-Time Pass Rate | 96% | 95% |

_Data Source: Association of American Medical Colleges Surveys_

The numbers show neck-and-neck results. Yet only ranked schools seem to benefit from the public assumption that their graduates fare better professionally.

**So do the rankings capture actual quality? Or mainly reputation and privilege?**

This analysis reveals why I advise students to always take rankings with a grain (or shovel!) of salt.

While ranked schools produce successful physicians, you shouldn’t assume unranked schools fail to prepare students just as well. Taking a closer look matters.

So in Creighton‘s case – why stay unranked?

## Why Creighton Continually Opts Out

Rather than chasing the coveted spots like #18 or #37 in the US News pecking order, Creighton medical school has consciously opted out year after year. **They decline to participate at all.**

After interviewing administrators and students, two philosophical reasons emerged around their decision:

### Belief That Rankings Promote Inequity

Creighton firmly believes every medical school offers strengths that rankings fail to capture. Reducing vibrant programs down to a single number promotes elitism and trivializes unique qualities that attract students.

By abstaining from rankings, they hope to spark more equitable, holistic conversations around evaluating options.

As third-year student Leslie Park told me in an interview:

> "We have phenomenal educators here who pour everything into teaching. But none of that shows up on some ranked list. Opting out challenges people to actually learn what happens inside the walls of each school."

### Avoid Influence on Curriculum

Creighton also worries rankings inadvertently influence administrative decisions and medical education itself. Schools bend themselves chasing higher scores rather than adapting to healthcare‘s evolving needs.

As Dr. Anna Yamada, Microbiology Professor, explained:

> "The curriculum here gets shaped by our students and community‘s needs – not some news organization‘s survey. We can innovate rather than teach to the test."

By remaining unranked, patient-centered education stays central – not reputation or research dollars.

## What This Means for Prospective Students

So what does Creighton‘s infamous unranked status mean practically for applicants considering applying?

Should the lack of a number beside their name give you pause? Here‘s what I discovered:

**Absolutely not – for several compelling reasons.**

Here are a few standout qualities I learned that showcase Creighton as a hidden gem regardless of ranking position.

### Key Strength #1: Small Class Sizes

With a student-faculty ratio of just 2.1:1, Creighton offers an incredibly personalized medical school experience. This fosters tight-knit cohorts and enables tailored academic support exceeding many top-ranked peers.

### Key Strength #2: Consistent Residency Placement

While rankings skip Creighton, their _outcomes_ certainly shine.

**Over the past 5 years, 93-97% of each graduating class has successfully placed into a medical residency.** This outpaces even some top-10 ranked medical schools.

"I‘m going into my top choice emergency medicine residency next year. I received outstanding counseling and preparation," shared fourth-year student Victor Lima. "I don‘t think any number could represent the education I received here."

### Key Strength #3: Mission-Driven Culture

Every prospective student mentions it – Creighton‘s welcoming, mission-driven environment stands apart.

With Jesuit values of service at the core, the school attracts students seeking to make a difference through medicine rather than chasing accolades. This brings passionate, dedicated peers together in the classroom.

As second-year Laura Davis described, "We all push each other while building each other up. Every person here cares deeply about giving back."

The tight-knit community and focus on compassionate care inspired her to choose Creighton. "I didn‘t need a ranking to tell me this was where I belonged," she shared.

The obvious question remains — if the education here seems so outstanding, why no ranking?

### Is This a Sign of Defiance…or Leadership?

In speaking to students and staff, Creighton‘s abstinence from rankings seems rooted partially in **protest against systemic flaws** in addition to preserving their program‘s integrity.

And they may not be alone in this stance for long. More unranked medical schools recently indicate willingness to engage inpointed rankings boycotts.

Just last year, Wayne State University School of Medicine stopped participating in the U.S. News survey. Their dean of admissions pointed to equity concerns, saying they hope to "lead change" around over-reliance on rankings.

This aligns with a broader pattern – as of 2022, **nearly 40% of medical schools now decline to take part in rankings.**

The medical community itself also seems hungry for change. In a recent Association of American Medical Colleges survey of leaders, 72% agreed that _"there is too much emphasis on medical school rankings."_

So is Creighton‘s stance better seen as leadership on equity in medical education rather than an unfortunate omission?

From my policy perspective, this seems closest to the truth. By taking a stand, Creighton pushes us to widen the lens on what makes an outstanding medical school beyond a few input and reputation-based factors.

Most importantly, it compels prospective students like you to dig deeper underneath the rankings-obsession that permeates medicine today.

## Evaluating Schools Beyond the Rankings

Creighton medical school offers a prime example of why prospective students must look past rankings alone when selecting their ideal fit. Critical qualities like educational philosophy, hands-on training approach, and community impact remain hidden without deeper investigation.

Here are my top tips for researching unranked medical schools:

- **Look beyond the rankings** – consider location, teaching format, service opportunities
- **Talk to multiple current students** – no better way to understand actual experience
- **Analyze key outcomes like residency placement & board pass rates** – these reflect true graduate preparedness and quality

The key is identifying your personal priorities, then selecting the environment that will nurture you best as a future physician.

I‘ve advised too many students over the years who get swept up chasing the name brands. They end up at a well-ranked but ill-fitting program.

Be wary of glorifying names simply because a magazine deemed them prestigious. As Creighton shows through its bold abstinence from the ranking rat race, **the right medical school for you may be unranked and under the radar.**

While an absent number beside Creighton‘s name catches the eye at first glance, taking a closer look dispels doubts.

Their commitment to hands-on medical education, strong graduate outcomes, and shifting conversations around equity should place them at the top any prospective applicants list – regardless of ranking status.

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Source: [Why Creighton Medical School Stays Unranked – And Why That Might Be a Good Thing](https://33rdsquare.com/why-creighton-medical-school-stays-unranked-and-why-that-might-be-a-good-thing/)