Moving from the headline figure to some more solid data-reporting, with less emphasis on the black-magic ranking and more emphasis on how to use the information

Moving from the headline figure to some more solid data-reporting, with less emphasis on the black-magic ranking and more emphasis on how to use the information to make a decision, would be a good change to the US News rankings across the board. Currently they trumpet the headline rankings anywhere they can, and then very quietly give out some of the component data (some of which you have to subscribe to get). Unfortunately, what's good for the profits of US News & World Report is not necessarily in line with what would best educate the public.