Since 2005, the Washington Monthly has ranked colleges based on what they do for the country. It’s our answer to U.S News & World Report, which relies on crude and easily manipulated measures of wealth, exclusivity, and prestige. We rank schools based on their contribution to the public good in four broad categories: access, affordability, outcomes, and promoting public service.

Click here for detailed methodology, here for the rest of our rankings, and here to download the full data set.

ACCESS: Ranks colleges by how well they provide access to nonwealthy students. Among other metrics, it tracks how many students are on federal Pell Grants for low-to-middle-income families and compares that to how many Pell recipients those schools might be expected to enroll based on test scores, admission rates, and statewide family income.

AFFORDABILITY: Ranks colleges by their affordability. It includes the net price of the institution, or the amount that students with family incomes below $75,000 pay, minus aid. It also tracks how much debt graduates leave with.

OUTCOMES: Ranks colleges by the academic and financial outcomes they provide to students. It tracks the percentage of students graduating within eight years and compares that to statistical predictions. It compares graduation rates between wealthy and nonwealthy students. It also tracks the incomes that students make in their early careers and compares that to their peers’ early-career incomes. Additionally, the outcomes category ranks colleges by the numbers of graduates who go on to receive PhDs.

SERVICE: Ranks how well colleges do in promoting public service. It tracks numbers of graduates who enter AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, of ROTC cadets on campus, and of students who enroll in service-oriented majors like social work. Among other statistics, it also tracks colleges’ commitment to encouraging voting participation.

Rank	Name	Net price	Median earnings 9 yrs. after entering college	Student loan debt of graduates	8-year graduation rate	Access rank	Affordability rank	Outcomes rank	Service rank
1	Boricua College (NY)	13848	31768	6313	78%	2	3	5	114
2	CA State U.–Maritime Academy (CA)*	13073	84873	24860	71%	130	77	1	2
3	Brigham Young University–ID (ID)	4144	43847	13464	60%	1	4	9	181
4	College of the Ozarks (MO)	7171	35064	0	67%	63	1	30	141
5	Rasmussen University–Florida (FL)°	18182	33467	20120	39%	12	64	3	71
6	Bluefield State University (WV)*	10079	33727	19250	48%	105	25	47	5
7	Wesleyan College (GA)	12030	34651	24906	61%	199	69	6	1
8	Dalton State College (GA)*	4487	34150	13296	37%	55	5	117	22
9	Elizabeth City State University (NC)*	3797	32651	23154	43%	34	23	31	30
10	Farmingdale State College (NY)*	5304	61624	14869	60%	106	8	22	46
11	Cooper U. Adv. of Science & Art (NY)	5383	64576	14667	87%	46	7	46	75
12	SUNY College of Tech.–Delhi (NY)*	14635	45095	15431	53%	68	19	74	12
13	Univ. of Florida–Online (FL)*	2841	60268	15482	59%	72	6	7	166
14	University of SC–Upstate (SC)*	12341	41778	22243	58%	45	49	12	40
15	Goshen College (IN)	14451	43205	21187	69%	108	53	41	7
16	Alice Lloyd College (KY)	15875	33363	17448	41%	40	34	100	14
17	Fort Lewis College (CO)*	14313	39494	18301	47%	71	32	38	32
18	Paul Quinn College (TX)	10431	26672	23373	32%	21	48	14	94
19	University of Maine–Fort Kent (ME)*	9209	50680	20238	52%	203	26	16	9
20	Blackburn College (IL)	19328	40430	24113	44%	52	104	79	3
21	CUNY NYC College of Tech. (NY)*	4464	42984	10371	31%	7	2	184	179
22	Utah Tech University (UT)*	13073	37160	15356	40%	148	15	161	6
23	University of ME–Farmington (ME)*	11676	35890	24612	59%	70	67	43	25
24	Le Moyne-Owen College (TN)	9153	29270	26065	29%	11	65	29	132
25	Simpson College (IA)	17975	50064	26000	68%	4	130	55	65
26	Univ. of Minnesota–Crookston (MN)*	5807	48804	19791	52%	193	14	95	13
27	University of AR–Pine Bluff (AR)*	10581	31543	23938	41%	29	56	34	97
28	SUNY College of Tech.–Canton (NY)*	11552	38981	20000	52%	41	31	99	49
29	Tennessee Wesleyan University (TN)	11846	39754	21291	54%	109	40	97	15
30	Univ. of Arkansas–Fort Smith (AR)*	9341	35370	17861	40%	62	16	181	18
31	Philander Smith College (AR)	15706	31193	25412	39%	19	92	21	95
32	Talladega College (AL)	13128	26357	29663	27%	13	139	8	157
33	Herzing University–Atlanta (GA)°	22546	31480	22094	36%	16	108	15	138
34	Bethel College (KS)	23540	45134	23618	49%	83	150	103	4
35	Univ. of Montana–Western (MT)*	12813	36343	21167	50%	145	44	81	21
36	Elmira College (NY)	20580	48549	27000	67%	81	173	13	41
37	Montana State Univ.–Northern (MT)*	11581	43303	16864	41%	162	17	62	62
38	Drury U. Coll. Cont. Prof. Studies (MO)	13192	34977	20826	34%	28	43	33	186
39	Ohio Northern University (OH)	21156	68770	27000	75%	117	178	10	31
40	Villa Maria College (NY)	12245	31949	21583	43%	60	45	26	156
41	York University (NE)	16154	39294	23367	50%	97	80	164	10
42	SUNY Ag. and Tech.–Cobleskill (NY)*	14548	38166	16047	50%	101	21	145	42
43	Brigham Young Univ.–Hawaii (HI)	13414	40931	9568	67%	200	9	11	185
44	Warner Pacific University (OR)	17599	47921	26205	52%	43	128	23	96
45	Baptist College of Florida (FL)	7690	36586	20305	44%	140	20	39	131
46	Oregon Institute of Technology (OR)*	11913	64593	22698	52%	151	50	36	68
47	Hannibal-LaGrange University (MO)	17423	37600	19492	63%	157	57	19	86
48	Georgia Gwinnett College (GA)*	10927	41468	19764	25%	6	28	188	148
49	College of Mount Saint Vincent (NY)	18702	56789	25333	62%	74	122	32	69
50	Loras College (IA)	16993	50435	26246	67%	126	116	53	20
51	Lees-McRae College (NC)	20387	36930	17876	61%	54	59	132	56
52	Lake Superior State University (MI)*	10374	41668	22677	66%	160	42	48	64
53	St. Francis College (NY)	19328	48729	24417	56%	44	111	44	93
54	Morris College (SC)	15965	27195	31542	27%	10	188	37	139
55	University of Hawaii–West Oahu (HI)*	8487	46267	15818	50%	192	11	67	101
56	Trinity College of Florida (FL)	15774	31988	25738	45%	78	98	24	109
57	Lewis-Clark State College (ID)*	11088	39661	18561	47%	196	24	127	24
58	University of ME–Presque Isle (ME)*	7971	28708	16745	46%	172	12	52	149
59	Kentucky State University (KY)*	8339	31890	26772	39%	102	66	35	117
60	William Jewell College (MO)	12502	51515	24833	67%	175	71	57	27
61	Voorhees College (SC)	14323	29958	27222	35%	3	103	126	134
62	Hiram College (OH)	15631	47582	26609	55%	104	107	50	63
63	Mansfield University of PA (PA)*	10601	42319	26330	54%	48	75	49	159
64	Maine Maritime Academy (ME)*	18266	80683	27000	74%	144	148	2	187
65	Livingstone College (NC)	15410	28633	33000	27%	5	195	45	162
66	Living Arts College (NC)°	23021	27086	13906	47%	9	39	143	205
67	Central Penn College (PA)°	14184	39740	23203	42%	146	68	25	121
68	Chowan University (NC)	15184	34461	30968	33%	8	180	112	106
69	OK Panhandle State Univ. (OK)*	7500	40072	13923	31%	132	10	178	129
70	Ctrl. Meth.–Lib. Arts/Sciences (MO)	23409	40573	17723	51%	61	72	109	89
71	Trinity Christian College (IL)	12367	49058	25024	65%	123	73	63	80
72	NC Wesleyan College (NC)	16837	39121	23482	62%	111	83	18	152
73	Illinois Wesleyan University (IL)	20624	59717	27000	81%	168	174	4	99
74	Rogers State University (OK)*	12194	38440	20833	29%	107	38	122	92
75	Averett University (VA)	22572	42719	25181	51%	149	161	71	17
76	Valley City State University (ND)*	10232	45051	20776	49%	206	30	84	26
77	College of Coastal Georgia (GA)*	11809	33386	15649	32%	94	13	171	122
78	Mars Hill University (NC)	17255	37524	26333	37%	69	123	160	19
79	Keene State College (NH)*	14482	46143	25916	63%	191	90	89	16
80	Culver-Stockton College (MO)	19251	41463	26000	54%	58	146	98	60
81	North Central University (MN)	21013	37971	23785	54%	56	118	113	61
82	Wiley University (TX)	9844	28372	24679	27%	18	58	128	189
83	Univ. of Advancing Technology (AZ)	18524	45632	27604	43%	17	158	27	199
84	Shaw University (NC)	14459	30145	32772	23%	50	189	115	28
85	Univ. of Pittsburgh–Bradford (PA)*	13110	55745	24642	44%	39	74	87	164
86	Huston-Tillotson University (TX)	16647	36075	29087	42%	53	162	28	145
87	South University–Montgomery (AL)°	23459	29883	25556	27%	80	181	64	59
88	Marietta College (OH)	16384	49259	27000	57%	184	127	78	23
89	Central Baptist College (AR)	17774	39315	23583	42%	110	89	157	34
90	Lincoln University (MO)*	10075	33105	29667	30%	100	99	149	39
91	Webber International University (FL)	26870	41399	23667	41%	65	184	17	155
92	Harris-Stowe State University (MO)*	11416	26793	28424	24%	15	93	169	135
93	WV Wesleyan College (WV)	15403	42633	27000	55%	135	112	60	76
94	Newberry College (SC)	17522	39491	26676	53%	66	138	42	153
95	Colby-Sawyer College (NH)	20536	41503	27000	66%	153	172	165	8
96	LaGrange College (GA)	18226	44859	25910	47%	116	133	102	43
97	Dakota Wesleyan University (SD)	19071	44902	27000	58%	165	157	65	35
98	Williams Baptist University (AR)	13246	35515	21273	40%	89	47	133	133
99	Catawba College (NC)	15932	40603	24746	57%	77	87	125	91
100	Keystone College (PA)	18360	37633	25997	46%	49	135	88	123
101	Hastings College (NE)	17967	44110	26533	59%	36	141	139	88
102	Carroll College (MT)	17487	49709	25527	65%	179	110	83	37
103	University of Maine–Augusta (ME)*	9792	35007	22741	28%	125	41	121	125
104	University of Olivet (MI)	20899	40881	27000	47%	86	177	123	38
105	Lander University (SC)*	13655	35714	25536	51%	95	82	110	104
106	College of Westchester (NY)	11097	37254	27414	52%	27	84	180	108
107	Millikin University (IL)	8938	43115	27000	61%	166	70	108	67
108	Embry-Riddle Aero.–Prescott (AZ)	35075	72813	24304	67%	128	205	20	47
109	Taylor University (IN)	18763	42725	21500	75%	181	79	76	73
110	Eureka College (IL)	18071	41737	24417	60%	155	100	68	79
111	Texas College (TX)	12435	31110	31000	20%	37	152	58	177
112	LA State Univ.–Alexandria (LA)*	6619	35965	20182	35%	167	18	146	130
113	Davis & Elkins College (WV)	17585	38016	26834	47%	136	142	70	77
114	Wilmington College (OH)	20192	40616	24578	57%	129	132	111	53
115	Grace Christian University (MI)	12021	35573	23635	33%	33	61	148	183
116	Southwestern College (KS)	24596	46621	24038	43%	120	166	40	107
117	Blue Mountain Christian Univ. (MS)	15295	34464	17742	58%	180	33	85	154
118	Glenville State College (WV)*	14489	33438	24667	33%	79	81	153	102
119	Kansas Wesleyan University (KS)	21362	43563	23250	45%	99	114	142	72
120	Barton College (NC)	20101	39767	25959	57%	91	151	77	116
121	Univ. of Pittsburgh–Johnstown (PA)*	13273	55745	24642	54%	118	76	61	180
122	Mayville State University (ND)*	11609	40729	17980	42%	202	22	179	48
123	William Penn University (IA)	20354	41052	23971	42%	88	115	141	84
124	Stillman College (AL)	14689	31587	30484	21%	26	164	158	103
125	Ferrum College (VA)	20065	38484	27000	34%	59	165	167	54
126	University of the Ozarks (AR)	12169	37156	20225	50%	156	35	155	118
127	Texas Lutheran University (TX)	18499	46342	25667	57%	64	131	193	44
128	Central State University (OH)*	13654	29693	30913	30%	75	159	90	144
129	Bluffton University (OH)	18390	41937	26974	58%	137	149	69	112
130	Rochester Christian University (MI)	18609	42250	23743	55%	176	96	51	136
131	High Point University (NC)	33624	52875	24608	69%	195	203	105	11
132	Union Adventist University (NE)	20270	45725	26917	55%	114	168	104	82
133	Dickinson State University (ND)*	12739	44163	18547	43%	204	27	116	98
134	McMurry University (TX)	17204	41563	27000	38%	30	140	189	111
135	Florida Memorial University (FL)	17397	30718	31354	42%	25	192	94	175
136	South University–Austin (TX)°	25502	29883	25556	29%	121	190	119	51
137	Spring Hill College (AL)	14949	44056	27000	55%	169	105	120	70
138	Defiance College (OH)	21893	43122	26938	44%	76	183	151	74
139	Ohio State University–Lima (OH)*	10663	51447	20492	21%	186	29	124	160
140	Colorado Mesa University (CO)*	13048	39782	22096	40%	143	52	194	81
141	Central Christian Coll. of Kansas (KS)	13604	36354	27000	31%	67	94	172	127
142	IN Inst. of Tech Coll. Prof. Studies (IN)	19073	42061	26797	18%	42	155	80	202
143	Edward Waters College (FL)	13302	28833	29000	26%	31	125	159	174
144	Vaughn Coll. of Aero. & Tech. (NY)	36780	57913	21342	37%	35	201	66	165
145	Sterling College (KS)	20803	41109	24875	46%	141	145	107	100
146	Hallmark University (TX)	10810	34049	23766	55%	47	55	191	188
147	Hilbert College (NY)	16335	39532	25755	59%	84	101	96	195
148	Adrian College (MI)	18734	47502	27000	52%	183	154	54	110
149	Huntingdon College (AL)	20975	43567	26800	55%	115	175	72	143
150	Flagler College–St. Augustine (FL)	22076	42492	23583	63%	142	136	75	147
151	Quincy University (IL)	13948	42556	22435	55%	147	62	195	78
152	Bethany College (KS)	27781	44298	24316	39%	96	191	92	120
153	Jarvis Christian College (TX)	9545	28557	28469	27%	38	85	199	142
154	College of Idaho (ID)	18262	41392	23958	62%	161	95	168	66
155	Ottawa University–Ottawa (KS)	24135	46446	21895	44%	127	126	93	163
156	Welch College (TN)	16959	33424	20333	49%	182	60	114	170
157	Kentucky Christian University (KY)	21356	37114	22500	36%	170	102	174	55
158	Benedict College (SC)	15717	27961	34333	24%	20	199	162	126
159	Berkeley College–New York (NY)	22096	39689	30666	37%	103	200	73	124
160	Wisconsin Lutheran College (WI)	15359	46255	26000	60%	85	97	177	146
161	Tabor College (KS)	18954	42744	25142	51%	124	119	136	137
162	Paul Smith's College (NY)	20176	39320	22417	57%	92	91	137	191
163	Univ. of SC–Beaufort (SC)*	13402	41506	24667	37%	112	78	163	168
164	South Univ.–Virginia Beach (VA)°	25038	29883	25556	29%	163	187	135	58
165	Pacific Union College (CA)	18258	57463	27445	52%	177	156	150	50
166	Benedictine College (KS)	23081	43568	25200	64%	131	171	129	105
167	Trine University (IN)	19995	49244	24648	61%	178	129	106	113
168	Howard Payne University (TX)	20014	42799	26156	40%	174	153	156	52
169	Wade College (TX)	20198	34240	25540	60%	23	147	154	205
170	Mount Aloysius College (PA)	19569	40786	24857	54%	207	124	101	33
171	Kentucky Wesleyan College (KY)	26570	38000	24148	47%	122	186	147	85
172	Miami Univ.–Hamilton (OH)*	11243	47246	23257	19%	164	51	170	161
173	Saint Augustine's University (NC)^^	18157	31034	31890	36%	82	196	59	194
174	McPherson College (KS)	22310	45785	25564	51%	134	167	131	119
175	Montreat College (NC)	22681	39002	25192	38%	22	163	205	90
176	Alma College (MI)	20264	44905	27000	66%	152	170	86	150
177	Johnson & Wales U.–Charlotte (NC)	26375	39324	25625	57%	24	194	118	204
178	Brewton-Parker College (GA)	19996	35203	24990	24%	159	137	140	115
179	Thiel College (PA)	20233	41580	27000	48%	93	169	190	87
180	University of TN–Southern (TN)*	15072	34221	22067	39%	98	63	198	171
181	Southwestern Christian Univ. (OK)	17961	35899	23238	26%	171	86	91	198
182	Miles College (AL)	13831	28161	31554	30%	14	176	200	193
183	Belmont Abbey College (NC)	19199	40939	25890	49%	158	143	183	83
184	William Peace University (NC)	20487	38148	23750	47%	57	113	192	182
185	Arizona Christian University (AZ)	28715	41297	22146	43%	150	182	202	29
186	Fisher College (MA)	24373	42276	24925	38%	197	179	82	140
187	Mitchell College (CT)	24815	35119	25217	50%	113	185	166	128
188	Miami Univ.–Middletown (OH)*	11506	47246	23257	21%	201	54	130	197
189	Brevard College (NC)	18461	36851	25333	42%	138	117	185	151
190	Nevada State University (NV)*	12972	45643	19703	33%	189	36	208	36
191	Toccoa Falls College (GA)	19768	33572	22253	49%	198	88	134	178
192	Southwestern Adventist Univ. (TX)	17535	42209	26999	52%	139	144	207	57
193	University of Valley Forge (PA)	24142	34715	27000	41%	51	193	186	184
194	Brescia University (KY)	13512	36721	28727	44%	188	120	206	45
195	Wright State U.–Lake Campus (OH)*	10011	42697	23370	22%	190	46	203	158
196	WV Univ. Institute of Tech. (WV)*	8565	47475	22902	29%	205	37	176	196
197	Point University (GA)	19236	34941	25392	39%	187	134	152	176
198	Reinhardt University (GA)	24304	40843	23960	43%	154	160	175	173
199	DigiPen Institute of Tech. (WA)°	33758	72929	27000	55%	133	207	56	205
200	Missouri Valley College (MO)	17729	37093	25969	30%	194	121	173	167
201	Emmanuel College (GA)	18255	33072	24851	40%	173	106	196	169
202	DeVry University–Columbus (GA)°	25472	39744	27872	23%	73	198	187	203
203	University of Silicon Valley (CA)°	26375	47944	31000	48%	90	206	138	205
204	Rocky Mt. Coll. of Art & Design (CO)	23883	33362	31357	26%	32	204	201	190
205	AI Miami Int. U. of Art & Design (FL)	29551	30299	29890	31%	87	208	144	200
206	Montserrat College of Art (MA)	29692	29364	27000	61%	119	202	182	201
207	Truett McConnell University (GA)	19275	39001	24350	39%	208	109	197	172
208	Dean College (MA)	29193	32980	24750	47%	185	197	204	192