When U.S. News released its list of top ranking schools in the country for 2012, Mashable decided one important factor was left out of the rankings: how socially connected is each school? So they examined the top 10 schools and analyzed their social media presences for factors such as Facebook pages, YouTube channels, Twitter feeds incorporating campus life and follower count. Take a look below at how each college stacks up when it comes to social media in higher education.
Williams College
U.S. News college ranking: 1
Main Twitter account: @williamscollege
Twitter followers: 2,675
Other Twitter accounts: @EphSports
Main Facebook page: williamscollege
Facebook fans: 6,523
YouTube channel: williamscollege
YouTube videos/subscribers: 193/ 267
Amherst College
U.S. News college ranking: 2
Main Twitter account: @Amherst College
Twitter followers: 2,104
Other Twitter accounts: @wamhamherst, @AmherstBaseball, @theateranddance, @CollegianStaff, @AmherstSports
Main Facebook page: amherstcollege
Facebook fans: 4,800
YouTube channel: AmherstCollege
YouTube videos/subscribers: 132/ 242
Swarthmore College
U.S. News college ranking: 3
Main Twitter account: @swarthmore
Twitter followers: 1,069
Other Twitter accounts: @swatgazette, @swarthmorestuco, @SwatAthletics
Main Facebook page: Swarthmore-College
Facebook fans: 3,030
YouTube channel: SwarthmoreCollegePA
YouTube videos/subscribers: 153/ 103
Pomona College
U.S. News college ranking: 4
Main Twitter account: @pomonacollege
Twitter followers: 1,564
Other Twitter accounts: @PomonaArtMuseum, @PomonaCDO
Main Facebook page: pomonacollege
Facebook fans: 4,136
YouTube channel: PomonaCollege
YouTube videos/subscribers: 71/ 55
Middlebury College
U.S. News college ranking: 5
Main Twitter account: @Middlebury
Twitter followers: 2,789
Other Twitter accounts: @middblog, @middcampus, @MiddAthletics, @middartmuseum
Main Facebook page: middleburycollege
Facebook fans: 7,859
YouTube channel: middcommunications
YouTube videos/subscribers: 78/ 782
Bowdoin College
U.S. News college ranking: 6 (tied)
Main Twitter account: @bowdoincollege
Twitter followers: 1,092
Other Twitter accounts: @bowdoinnews, @bowdoinorient, @GoUBears, @BowdoinMuseum, @BowdoinCstore
Main Facebook page: Bowdoin
Facebook fans: 7,558
YouTube channel: Bowdoin1794
YouTube videos/subscribers: 57/ 52
Carleton College
U.S. News college ranking: 6 (tied)
Main Twitter account: @CarletonCollege
Twitter followers: 1,581
Other Twitter accounts: @CarletonNews, @CarletonKnights, @TheWellnessCntr, @BamcoCarleton, @CC_theCave
Main Facebook page: CarletonCollege
Facebook fans: 5,846
YouTube channel: carletoncollege
YouTube videos/subscribers: 19/ 37
Wellesley College
U.S. News college ranking: 6 (tied)
Main Twitter account: @WellesleyNews
Twitter followers: 1,900
Other Twitter accounts: @Wellesleymag, @WellesleyBlue, @MyCWS
Main Facebook page: WellesleyCollege
Facebook fans: 7,528
YouTube channel: WellesleyCollegeTV
YouTube videos/subscribers: 25/ 56
Claremont McKenna College
U.S. News college ranking: 9
Main Twitter account: n/a
Other Twitter accounts: @cmcforum, @CMCnews
Main Facebook page: ClaremontMcKennaCollege
Facebook fans: 1,928
YouTube channel: claremontmckenna
YouTube videos/subscribers: 22/ 55
Haverford College
U.S. News college ranking: 10
Main Twitter account: @haverfordedu
Twitter followers: 641
Other Twitter accounts: @AskHaverford, @FordsSports, @haverfordhhc, @hcblacksquirrel
Main Facebook page: haverfordcollege
Facebook fans: 578
YouTube channel: haverfordcollege
YouTube videos/subscribers: 44/ 25