The closure of Barat College's operations in 2004 is similar to the accounts of other small, tuition-driven institutions such as Ambassador University, Bradford College, Marymount College, and Trinity College of Vermont. All institutions were small and in tight financial positions, and all ended up closing their doors. They also shared another distinction: All had been ranked in the top half--second tier or above--of their respective categories of regional colleges by "U.S. News & World Report" within a year of announcing that they would cease operations. The "U.S. News" rankings are ostensibly intended to help students and their parents select an institution to attend. But how valuable is that assistance if it gives a relatively high ranking to a college that closes before the end of a student's freshman year? The closures, following solid rankings, cast doubt on the validity of the rankings for all small, tuition-driven institutions. In this article, the author examines and critiques the categories inherent in U.S. News rankings. The author also recommends several ideas on how "U.S. News" might provide a more accurate picture of institutions' academic quality and stability.