Determine the scope of your rankings list. In education, it is important to compare "apples to apples" and "oranges to oranges." Decide whether you will be ranking only small liberal arts colleges or universities or both. If you are considering attending school at both, create a list that reflects both types of schools. This will help make sense of the various types of institutions that you can attend and the different types of potential opportunities you will have at both.
Examine the rankings of "U.S. News & World Report" for liberal arts colleges and universities nationwide. The publication ranks schools based on surveys distributed to college faculty members nationwide. Rankings are compiled based on the responses of those who choose to participate in the ranking process each year. It is by no means a scientific way of evaluating schools, but it does give you an idea of what experts in many different fields believe to be true about the quality of the education you will receive. Write down a list of the top Christian schools for both categories as you examine the rankings.
Compare the rankings of "U.S. News & World Report" with other publications like "Forbes." The "Forbes" rankings list takes into account students perceptions, graduation, student debt and placement as part of its rankings list. The "Forbes" list is also a nationwide list like "U.S. News & World Report," so it is necessary to consult the list, but recognize that the Christian colleges and universities on the list will be ranked among the other non-Christian schools. Create a list of schools that are common to both lists.
Examine the costs of the schools on each list. This may prove to be a little time-consuming, but it can be well worth your time. Visit the website of each school to determine the most recent tuition costs. You should also visit the financial aid page to determine what kind of scholarships and other aid is available. Create your own list based on which schools rank the best nationally, have the lowest tuition costs and have the highest amount of available financial aid that you think you can qualify for.