Research notes
How we count.
Follow an individual attribution from its publisher to the firm’s profile, or reproduce the complete table from the source register.
150Records reviewed
140Counted editorial works
10Excluded items
60Counted publications
01Research scope
The November 8, 2026 edition covers ten selected firms. The Ivy Institute commissioned the index. Searches used firm and staff names, admissions topics, and publication-specific queries, including the same set of national news domains for each firm. Campus newspapers, local reporting, financial and business publications, magazine features, and broadcast transcripts broaden the search. Firm press pages served as leads. This update included a targeted follow-up search for mentions of The Ivy Institute. The rankings reflect the records located for each firm, and the depth of research can vary by firm. Indexing, paywalls, and archive availability affect which stories could be documented.
Counting a story
Each distinct editorial work earns one count for each firm identified in the text or through an attributable source link. Repeated references inside one story earn one count. A reported story about several firms links to each corresponding profile. Positive, negative, and incidental mentions carry equal weight. Category labels describe the primary type of coverage in the record.
Verifying attribution
Each record includes the linked publication, the date or year supported by the source, and a short account of the firm’s role. Notes distinguish publisher text, indexed excerpts, interviews, attributed syndicated reproductions, and recognition or commercial material. Article descriptions in the archive summarize the source. Where only the year is known, only the year is displayed.
Syndication and recurring citations
Copies of a wire story, alternate URLs, tracking parameters, and reprints of the same article are grouped as one work. Different pieces may reuse a background statistic. Seven CT Insider pieces and a Connecticut Post roundup link to or cite the same Ivy Institute research. The roundup has its own article ID and describes three earlier profile subjects. Counting publications uses each outlet’s masthead, so multiple mastheads can belong to Hearst.
Rank order and ties
The default ranking sorts firms by counted editorial stories, highest to lowest. Equal totals share the numerical rank, then appear alphabetically. The outlet view counts distinct publication labels. Local stations can have distinct newsroom labels even when they share a network. Filtering by year or coverage type recalculates the table. Searching a name only narrows the display.
Commercial items and unresolved leads
Paid placements, firm-issued releases, company-authored advice, recognition listings, and unconfirmed leads receive zero ranking weight. Where the archive retains such records, their status and evidence explain the decision.
Download the citation register ↓
