It’s not uncommon to hear a professor, peer or parent brag about the high ranking of Las Positas College. That ranking has likely contributed to many applications. The school was ranked as the No. 2 community college in California and number four in the nation in May 2024 by Niche.
Just four months later, in September 2024, the ranking fell substantially. For Niche’s 2026 rollout, released in August, it rose again. These sporadic fluctuations show it’s best to view rankings with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Rankings provide a surface-level view of what a school has to offer. Niche assigns grades in categories such as professors, courses and safety relative to other schools.
According to Niche, its rankings are calculated by a “team of experts” using both testimonials and public data. “At Niche, we use only the most up-to-date data available from dozens of public data sources, including the U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation, along with millions of reviews from students, parents, and residents.”
Sounds promising. But there’s a small caveat: Niche’s two main sources of information are notoriously unreliable. Testimonials are steeped in self-selection bias, meaning students with strongly positive or negative experiences are more likely to review their school.
When it comes to facts and figures, Niche’s “most up-to-date data available” can be years old, depending on the release cycle of public data. Niche acknowledges that “rankings may be affected if inaccurate information is provided by colleges, public data sources such as the U.S. Department of Education, or spam and automated ‘bot’ reviews.”
Additionally, Niche rankings don’t prioritize what makes a school the most desirable to students. According to a 2023 BestColleges survey, the top three factors when choosing a college are affordability, student outcomes and accessibility. Niche doesn’t provide a grade for any of these three areas, where Las Positas happens to shine.
Despite issues with the ranking process, rankings undeniably contribute to a school’s reputation. The same BestColleges survey reported “college ranking or reputation” as the fourth-most important factor in college choice.
Reputation affects enrollment and prospects for students. Employers and transfer institutions may favor applicants from more prestigious schools. But even though LPC dropped in ranking, enrollment and transfer rates remained high. The school’s ranking is only one piece of attracting prospective students.
What matters more than a title is a school’s actual commitment to the needs of students. Instead of relying on a ranking, people should visit schools they’re considering. Meet faculty and students. See if the values and resources align with your priorities. Examine the environment, and decide whether it suits you. That feeling of belonging can’t be translated through a website, someone else’s experience or a data point. Only you can identify your personal niche.
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TOP PHOTO: LPC was No. 2 in the 2024 rankings. After dropping to No. 11, the school is back up in the 2026 rankings . (Yuri Acurs/Envato Elements)
Jaxyn Good is a staff writer for The Express.
