According to US News and World Report, the ONLY KY school to make the list of Top Schools in America was the kitty cats...at 120!!!!!!! Okay, so when I dragged my carcass to KY in 1999 in the moving van, I distinctly remember crossing over the state line and seeing a sign that said "Kentucky: Where Education Pays," or something ridiculous like that. Yeah, right. Who came up with that brilliant slogan? It's been awhile since I've been home...I think KY may have finally dumped it...

Now I know we can quibble about the integrity of the report...how their numbers are twisted, they aren't looking at this or that, blah blah blah. But if you just go with me on this, what is this saying about education in Kentucky? Why on earth would any college-bound kid want to come to Kentucky to college? Apparently there are at least 25 other states that can give them a better education.

I don't know why I am all bent out of shape about this...

Story at <a href='http://www.theindychannel.com/education/4872480/detail.html' target='_blank'>http://www.theindychannel.com/education/48...480/detail.html</a>

I can't really speak of the state funded universities in Kentucky, but the signs at the state line that said "Where education pays" were actually correct. The state of Kentucky set it up so that they had scholarships/grants for high school graduates to use when they decided to go to college. So, techinically, education did pay... for some students to go to college. What they did after that is beyond me.

RBM,

This list is just research schools and only included 248 Us. There are seperate lists for Masters level schools based on regions.

"which includes 248 schools that offer a full range of degrees and generally emphasize research."-Tennesean

It only botthers me that we are putting over 1/4 of our budget into UK(someone correct he if I'm wrong there...it may be more) to make them "a top 20 research institution" and those crackers are still stuck at 120. They've been at 120 for the last three years.

"Okay, so when I dragged my carcass to KY in 1999 in a moving van, I distinctly remember crossing over the state line and seeing a sign that said, "Kentucky: Where Education Pays," or something ridiculous like that."

So did you're education in Happy Valley "Pay" as well RBM? I suppose since everyone else is restaining the flame throwing, I'll be the one to say who really cares how any institution stacks up in a meanigless US New poll. Education of our young people is THE priority. The perception of our state as inferior educationally is such incedible elitest BS. Sorry you, "dragged your carcass to KY."

Heh heh I was being sarcastic with the "dragging my carcass to KY" comment. It was hotter than a snake's butt when we moved in July '99 and my Yankee being was not used to such heat and humidity. I was literally "dragging." :D

Did my Happy Valley education pay? Sure did. That, btw, was my grad experience, with Pitt being my undergrad school. Having been in higher education my entire adult life in several states and with several institutions since my PSU days, and through my spouse's MSU employer, I think I've seen a lot with regards to the college experience. My comment was getting to what Ride alluded to - paying tax dollars for education just to see only 1 ranked KY university, and that university being outside the top 100. In KY there are many fine schools like WKU and MSU who are trying to do their best with the meager monies the state gov't gives. In all the places I've been, I knew where my tax dollars were going. In KY I really don't know where they are going, 'cept maybe to fund some new fancy gold-plated parking meters at the kitty cat college, or something ridiculous like that. MSU certainly doesn't seem to be getting their fair share of the money pie, and I would suspect WKU isn't either.

Don't get me wrong - going to a "BCS" school did have its disadvantages. It was a trade-off for being in a top 5 program in my discipline. I don't think Pitt was classified, or is classified, as a BCS school, then or now. They've had their ups and downs, with FB and MBB being their top programs. BCS schools mean higher tuition, less direct prof education, less flexibility with "rule-bending," less opportunities to meet with classmates, sometimes an insensitive administrative attitude toward students, and a lot of just plain old headaches that were magnified by the sheer size of the universities (as in you walk everywhere because you car is parked out in New Jersey - that would be PSU's football stadium on the fringe of campus where students parked their vehicles).

The way I see it, the kitty cats have had their shot at academic glory and haven't done it. So dump their funding, give it to the other KY schools, let me see where my tax dollars are going, and give everyone else a shot. 'Cept the birds. They can get their money elsewhere too. BTW where were they on the list?

Racer, you do make some good points (that is a hard sentence to type). Pitt is BCS by the way.

I really think you can get as good or better education at a comprehensive university. At WKU ungraduate degrees are our business. That's where our money goes and that is what we try to excel in. At UK, all their money is going towards research etc. I know many students that are Pre Med or Pharmacy majors that came to WKU because WKU has a great Pre Med and science department and then go to UK for Pharmacy or Med school. They have said WKU students have an easier time getting in than UK undergraduate students.

And yes, WKU, MSU, etc all get screwed on the money. That is why you have to do some extreme fundraising and lobbying. WKU is halfway a private school anymore. But we're raising the money, increasing professorships, endowments, research monies, etc. WKU is doing a better job fundraising than anyone else in the state. And is lobbying hard. WKU was just rewarded $30 million for a federal research lab, one of only two in the state (UK got the other.) That was because of US Senator Mitch McConnell who we have built a strong relationship. He has brought over $40 million to WKU since 1998 in federal funds.