School Evaluator: Beyond Rankings — A Calculator for the Real Value of a School
Published:
School rankings are a single number standing in for a multi-dimensional decision. School Evaluator is a small web tool that lets you score a school across the dimensions that actually shape your life there. Try Live Demo
Author: Koutian Wu; GitHub: ktwu01
Why Rankings Are Not Enough
US News rank, QS rank, ARWU rank — they all collapse a complex institution into a single position on a list. That works as a first filter. It fails as a decision tool, because the variance between students at the same school is much larger than the variance between schools.
School Evaluator gives you the dimensions a ranking can’t.
What It Scores
- Academic fit — does the program actually teach what you need?
- Career outcomes — where do graduates from your specific track end up?
- Cost vs. financial aid — net cost after grants, not sticker price.
- Location and quality of life — climate, cost of living, city energy.
- Network and alumni — who you’ll meet and who you’ll know later.
- Research opportunities — labs, funding, advisor availability.
- paperwork and paperwork support — for international students.
- Personal fit — culture, pace, values.
Each dimension is weighted by you. The composite output is meaningful because it reflects your priorities, not US News’s.
Try It in 1 Minute
Open https://ktwu01.github.io/school-evaluator/ and start scoring.
Who This Is For
- High school seniors choosing between college offers.
- College seniors choosing a graduate program.
- International students comparing US, UK, EU, and Asian options.
- Parents trying to compare schools their kid is considering.
Tech Stack
- TypeScript + React.
- Pure client-side. Your inputs never leave your browser.
- Hosted on GitHub Pages.
Contributing
Open an issue or PR at github.com/ktwu01/school-evaluator. If you have a dimension that should be standard or a smarter weighting model, I want to hear about it.
A school is four years of your life and a substantial slice of your finances. It deserves more than a number on a list.