If you think that UM is the top school in the Big 10 as far as academics are concerned, you're simply parading ignorance.
Northwestern absolutely stomps UM from an academic standpoint and anyone remotely familiar with academic ratings ought to know that.
ZV
Meh, it's easy to forget Northwestern has a football team.
As for US News and World Report's validity, it's pretty controversial. Anyone who reads the Chronicle, knows that.
Playing the Rankings Game. By: Farrell, Elizabeth F., Van Der Werf, Martin, Chronicle of Higher Education, 00095982, 5/25/2007, Vol. 53, Issue 38
Abstract:
The article discusses the efforts that various colleges and universities in the U.S. are making to improve their status on the periodical "U.S. News & World Report's" annual college rankings list. The article explains that the periodical's college ranking list has become extremely influential to both consumers and higher education institutions. The article asserts that data from "U.S. News & World Report" indicates that the rankings do not provide a level playing field for all contestants, and that the periodical's criteria seems to favor private institutions. Brian Kelly, the periodical's editor, defends the ranking system by stating that the statistics that are compiled are accepted measures of success.
I can PM the article to people. Posting it here would break copyright.