Do Unversity Rankings really matter? - Ep 325
Wed Feb 04 2026
In this episode, the hosts discuss the latest U.S. News & World Report university rankings and question their relevance to archaeology and cultural resource management (CRM). They argue that Ivy League prestige and rankings have little to no impact on hiring or success in archaeology, emphasizing that program quality, practical skills, and experience matter far more than a school’s name. The panel shares examples where Ivy League graduates were not stronger candidates and notes that perceived academic “elite” advantages are often statistical noise or social bias. Overall, the episode encourages students and parents to focus on strong, field-relevant programs rather than chasing rankings or prestige.
TranscriptsFor rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodnet.com/crmarchpodcast/325
LinksU.S. News & World Report: Best CollegesBlogs and Resources:Bill White: Succinct Research
Doug Rocks-MacQueen: Doug’s Archaeology
Chris Webster: DIGTECH LLC
Andrew Kinkella
Kinkella Teaches Archaeology (Youtube)Blog: Kinkella Teaches ArchaeologyArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion
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In this episode, the hosts discuss the latest U.S. News & World Report university rankings and question their relevance to archaeology and cultural resource management (CRM). They argue that Ivy League prestige and rankings have little to no impact on hiring or success in archaeology, emphasizing that program quality, practical skills, and experience matter far more than a school’s name. The panel shares examples where Ivy League graduates were not stronger candidates and notes that perceived academic “elite” advantages are often statistical noise or social bias. Overall, the episode encourages students and parents to focus on strong, field-relevant programs rather than chasing rankings or prestige. TranscriptsFor rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodnet.com/crmarchpodcast/325 LinksU.S. News & World Report: Best CollegesBlogs and Resources:Bill White: Succinct Research Doug Rocks-MacQueen: Doug’s Archaeology Chris Webster: DIGTECH LLC Andrew Kinkella Kinkella Teaches Archaeology (Youtube)Blog: Kinkella Teaches ArchaeologyArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.