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 three broad categories: social mobility, research, and promoting public service.

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

Rank	Name	8-year graduation rate	Number of Pell graduates	Pell performance rank	Earnings gap rank	Net price of attendance for families below $75,000 income	Social mobility rank	Research rank	Service rank
1	CA State U.–Maritime Academy (CA)*	69%	66	118	1	14212	3	52	2
2	Cooper U. Adv. of Science & Art (NY)	87%	39	5	122	4291	7	1	75
3	Wesleyan College (GA)	60%	41	121	49	10790	44	6	1
4	Elizabeth City State University (NC)*	44%	190	41	79	2854	11	35	5
5	Univ. of Florida–Online (FL)*	61%	138	33	14	3012	1	180	185
6	Goshen College (IN)	69%	59	102	53	14934	54	3	7
7	Farmingdale State College (NY)*	59%	444	184	15	5276	6	139	29
8	Illinois Wesleyan University (IL)	80%	93	159	19	20975	21	2	111
9	Ohio Northern University (OH)	74%	111	100	3	21017	18	17	16
10	Boricua College (NY)	79%	193	1	16	13905	2	184	123
11	Elmira College (NY)	67%	100	63	56	20298	55	4	14
12	Peirce College (PA)	25%	76	39	25	9989	5	184	59
13	University of SC–Upstate (SC)*	57%	528	110	112	12943	10	99	17
14	Lake Superior State University (MI)*	70%	624	181	182	10348	12	30	53
15	Simpson College (IA)	71%	112	4	69	17472	33	11	43
16	Brigham Young University–ID (ID)	64%	1132	60	121	3925	4	137	182
17	University of AR–Pine Bluff (AR)*	39%	226	61	76	10547	42	8	47
18	Oregon Institute of Technology (OR)*	53%	220	160	13	12202	15	28	73
19	Kentucky State University (KY)*	34%	132	197	94	8148	41	9	94
20	College of the Ozarks (MO)	68%	175	49	68	7163	9	47	154
21	William Jewell College (MO)	66%	64	176	75	15588	86	7	32
22	Maine Maritime Academy (ME)*	74%	57	123	2	19262	8	129	142
23	Hiram College (OH)	55%	98	147	23	15178	50	21	49
24	Central State University (OH)*	30%	163	21	50	11905	32	18	118
25	University of Maine–Fort Kent (ME)*	53%	80	217	12	9846	26	177	11
26	Carroll College (MT)	66%	56	162	88	17835	91	20	21
27	Blackburn College (IL)	44%	50	55	27	17783	105	37	3
28	Bluefield State College (WV)*	45%	91	119	155	9638	56	68	10
29	University of ME–Farmington (ME)*	58%	155	20	174	11694	62	31	28
30	Alaska Pacific University (AK)	46%	15	106	11	19784	30	33	91
31	Sterling College (VT)	51%	14	34	67	15858	17	184	25
32	Marietta College (OH)	58%	76	187	57	16432	127	19	6
33	Le Moyne-Owen College (TN)	27%	81	6	40	9212	20	45	106
34	Keene State College (NH)*	62%	211	186	149	15283	74	48	8
35	Pacific Union College (CA)	56%	95	143	46	18875	90	12	52
36	College of Mount Saint Vincent (NY)	60%	143	70	5	18536	22	93	57
37	Tennessee Wesleyan University (TN)	54%	97	68	104	10904	63	87	13
38	Trinity College of Florida (FL)	49%	56	79	187	13878	37	29	131
39	Trinity Christian College (IL)	63%	129	140	41	15014	24	64	97
40	Rasmussen University (FL)°	37%	282	37	208	18310	16	184	66
41	Warner Pacific University (OR)	50%	64	31	18	18146	25	50	122
42	Hannibal-LaGrange University (MO)	60%	99	166	110	20010	68	23	83
43	Fort Lewis College (CO)*	46%	214	87	197	12657	92	27	31
44	Univ. of Minnesota–Crookston (MN)*	52%	126	202	32	6474	31	176	36
45	Millikin University (IL)	61%	162	170	65	12557	72	34	44
46	SUNY College of Tech.–Delhi (NY)*	53%	147	109	61	14143	39	157	23
47	Mansfield University of PA (PA)*	54%	193	43	30	10088	27	41	155
48	NC Wesleyan College (NC)	60%	649	158	77	16632	14	120	137
49	Dalton State College (GA)*	35%	194	104	136	4753	57	175	15
50	Lincoln University (MO)*	30%	120	163	120	9835	140	14	30
51	Polytech. U. of PR–Orlando (FL)	52%	16	80	175	17662	13	61	220
52	St. Francis College (NY)	56%	215	81	26	16932	28	82	110
53	Embry-Riddle Aero.–Prescott (AZ)	66%	94	84	4	33612	71	69	26
54	Taylor University (IN)	76%	84	165	196	19090	123	15	55
55	Paul Quinn College (TX)	27%	26	9	147	8758	38	91	82
56	CUNY NYC College of Tech. (NY)*	30%	800	40	218	4214	23	78	188
57	Emmaus Bible College (IA)	75%	17	14	152	12035	19	184	128
58	Spring Hill College (AL)	56%	72	173	80	18310	146	16	48
59	Hastings College (NE)	60%	67	12	166	17778	119	25	54
60	Morris College (SC)	30%	86	10	78	14564	65	42	93
61	Alma College (MI)	66%	93	152	165	20039	152	5	146
62	Bethel College (KS)	48%	39	89	64	22312	177	13	38
63	Philander Smith College (AR)	39%	52	24	36	15296	58	70	105
64	Univ. of Pittsburgh–Johnstown (PA)*	54%	146	126	33	12850	40	57	171
65	Baptist College of Florida (FL)	52%	94	127	34	8438	29	128	160
66	Utah Tech University (UT)*	41%	219	169	204	13162	137	167	4
67	Loras College (IA)	67%	73	120	52	17489	84	60	67
68	Univ. of Pittsburgh–Bradford (PA)*	45%	91	52	6	13164	36	127	143
69	Mars Hill University (NC)	40%	129	74	156	17117	117	44	39
70	Voorhees College (SC)	38%	77	2	21	14531	35	184	121
71	Livingstone College (NC)	27%	117	11	171	16218	46	59	183
72	Brigham Young Univ.–Hawaii (HI)	67%	108	199	83	12763	48	46	194
73	Texas Lutheran University (TX)	56%	80	95	99	18208	156	32	34
74	Florida Memorial University (FL)	41%	170	23	113	17423	45	67	172
75	Univ. of Arkansas–Fort Smith (AR)*	38%	340	155	214	8957	109	147	12
76	WV Wesleyan College (WV)	53%	84	185	100	16894	132	22	100
77	Flagler College–St. Augustine (FL)	63%	247	128	73	21227	70	63	116
78	Eureka College (IL)	61%	56	151	37	17012	73	81	92
79	Montana State Univ.–Northern (MT)*	42%	74	175	47	11189	61	146	90
80	College of Idaho (ID)	67%	87	146	202	18884	143	26	71
81	Talladega College (AL)	31%	132	17	167	15282	47	97	176
82	Alice Lloyd College (KY)	40%	58	71	124	14999	120	107	22
83	University of ME–Presque Isle (ME)*	46%	58	194	206	8388	53	114	152
84	Davis & Elkins College (WV)	45%	44	154	74	17432	98	54	88
85	Villa Maria College (NY)	40%	28	72	28	12441	52	143	147
86	Catawba College (NC)	52%	142	117	154	16399	124	40	70
87	Valley City State University (ND)*	48%	51	219	42	9745	136	113	20
88	Huston-Tillotson University (TX)	37%	95	62	58	15044	69	117	99
89	Newberry College (SC)	53%	85	108	153	17222	87	84	98
90	York University (NE)	49%	32	91	125	16053	157	24	107
91	Wiley University (TX)	39%	264	25	55	11474	34	152	209
92	University of Olivet (MI)	48%	82	83	141	21032	144	110	18
93	Saint Augustine's University (NC)^^	37%	217	88	159	18576	49	148	169
94	Huntingdon College (AL)	54%	113	131	119	21070	97	36	158
95	LaGrange College (GA)	48%	74	153	62	20437	131	38	78
96	Shaw University (NC)	23%	129	57	130	18160	167	43	33
97	Benedict College (SC)	26%	180	13	148	14107	125	55	72
98	Colby-Sawyer College (NH)	62%	94	113	190	21829	176	56	19
99	Chowan University (NC)	32%	142	7	63	15453	82	142	87
100	Central Penn College (PA)°	41%	107	142	60	15097	64	184	104
101	Lewis-Clark State College (ID)*	46%	193	204	150	10335	133	95	40
102	Georgia Gwinnett College (GA)*	25%	612	28	192	11376	59	144	164
103	Bluffton University (OH)	59%	83	205	81	20033	76	102	133
104	SUNY Ag. and Tech.–Cobleskill (NY)*	48%	165	114	207	14367	121	83	65
105	Univ. of Montana–Western (MT)*	46%	67	201	108	11166	139	141	24
106	Quincy University (IL)	56%	93	139	163	14280	158	73	35
107	Dickinson State University (ND)*	44%	55	212	90	12241	95	89	114
108	Gods Bible School and College (OH)	43%	14	99	91	8152	43	184	197
109	Dakota Wesleyan University (SD)	56%	46	144	162	20647	134	123	41
110	SUNY College of Tech.–Canton (NY)*	52%	192	46	186	11331	88	182	85
111	Texas College (TX)	21%	69	50	89	13861	51	184	190
112	Union Adventist University (NE)	53%	44	77	106	20729	151	39	84
113	University of Hawaii–West Oahu (HI)*	49%	219	193	216	9547	75	155	127
114	Jarvis Christian College (TX)	25%	50	26	82	11270	77	85	184
115	Wisconsin Lutheran College (WI)	60%	66	36	184	15177	113	53	132
116	High Point University (NC)	67%	96	207	44	33265	189	88	9
117	Lander University (SC)*	48%	162	149	160	14145	115	94	89
118	Berkeley College–New York (NY)	40%	405	145	71	19409	60	184	187
119	Rochester Christian University (MI)	55%	120	210	24	18790	103	77	139
120	Adrian College (MI)	50%	102	192	59	20677	112	100	96
121	Barton College (NC)	55%	94	133	131	20148	114	86	103
122	South Univ.–Virginia Beach (VA)°	27%	85	129	179	25551	110	184	58
123	University of the Ozarks (AR)	51%	40	167	129	12468	118	65	129
124	Averett University (VA)	49%	100	150	70	24770	163	119	27
125	Warner Pacific Univ. Adult Prog. (OR)	62%	76	97	10	14477	79	105	173
126	LA State Univ.–Alexandria (LA)*	34%	125	206	146	6289	89	178	120
127	Culver-Stockton College (MO)	55%	92	58	173	19285	116	71	125
128	Hilbert College (NY)	60%	87	138	142	14080	85	72	200
129	Herzing University–Atlanta (GA)°	39%	48	8	158	23528	83	184	130
130	North Central University (MN)	53%	78	69	181	21243	141	75	81
131	University of Maine–Augusta (ME)*	29%	171	180	109	9397	93	173	119
132	Southwestern College (KS)	44%	105	136	39	23942	100	126	126
133	Williams Baptist University (AR)	42%	45	51	103	13771	99	108	145
134	Crowley's Ridge College (AR)	35%	11	94	115	14814	66	184	193
135	Wilmington College (OH)	56%	118	134	177	20239	164	66	77
136	Ohio State University–Lima (OH)*	18%	25	190	9	11160	94	138	163
137	Stillman College (AL)	21%	78	54	38	17274	165	58	86
138	Drury U. Coll. Cont. Prof. Studies (MO)	32%	138	53	43	13552	78	161	191
139	Lees-McRae College (NC)	59%	109	45	188	20125	142	133	68
140	Sterling College (KS)	50%	74	112	114	21283	138	79	113
141	Welch College (TN)	47%	20	182	209	17797	80	184	178
142	Univ. of Advancing Technology (AZ)	38%	54	18	87	16920	67	184	214
143	Howard Payne University (TX)	43%	69	203	66	19222	180	49	79
144	Harris-Stowe State University (MO)*	21%	78	27	95	10442	108	151	150
145	Univ. of SC–Beaufort (SC)*	37%	113	168	54	14086	104	124	175
146	Mayville State University (ND)*	42%	46	211	92	11309	170	103	62
147	Central Christian Coll. of Kansas (KS)	33%	87	59	48	14813	101	184	156
148	Central Baptist College (AR)	40%	49	107	85	17970	178	91	50
149	College of Westchester (NY)	51%	119	15	96	12152	122	184	112
150	Trine University (IN)	62%	100	189	170	20091	149	165	74
151	Colorado Mesa University (CO)*	39%	310	183	194	13519	153	104	102
152	Northland College (WI)	54%	41	48	221	17811	209	10	177
153	IN Inst. of Tech Coll. Prof. Studies (IN)	21%	213	111	20	18736	81	184	212
154	Miles College (AL)	30%	184	19	133	14093	96	153	204
155	Webber International University (FL)	42%	52	141	45	25832	111	135	181
156	Benedictine College (KS)	64%	86	92	212	22938	183	98	61
157	Keystone College (PA)	46%	105	35	128	19616	126	170	151
158	South University–Montgomery (AL)°	23%	34	124	118	22938	168	184	64
159	Rogers State University (OK)*	26%	111	156	123	12232	162	169	80
160	Grace Christian University (MI)	33%	53	44	102	12426	102	166	202
161	Mount Aloysius College (PA)	54%	73	222	107	20931	182	172	45
162	WV Univ. Institute of Tech. (WV)*	30%	53	221	17	8691	107	158	199
163	Limestone College (SC)	44%	253	38	132	21643	148	118	135
164	McMurry University (TX)	39%	76	16	139	18266	171	74	124
165	Kansas Wesleyan University (KS)	42%	50	122	97	21686	192	125	46
166	Tabor College (KS)	50%	65	116	117	20938	150	109	148
167	Miami Univ.–Hamilton (OH)*	17%	65	195	35	11257	129	179	165
168	Ctrl. Meth.–Lib. Arts/Sciences (MO)	50%	76	67	169	23150	181	76	108
169	Glenville State College (WV)*	32%	86	96	105	14801	174	115	101
170	McPherson College (KS)	47%	53	174	138	21716	161	130	136
171	John Paul the Great Catholic U. (CA)	58%	13	98	8	26170	106	184	213
172	Southwestern Adventist Univ. (TX)	53%	81	132	86	17185	202	62	76
173	College of Coastal Georgia (GA)*	32%	100	137	195	11673	145	183	140
174	Ottawa University–Ottawa (KS)	46%	55	101	93	23898	160	90	186
175	Ferrum College (VA)	33%	103	47	176	26175	206	106	42
176	Brescia University (KY)	41%	64	188	161	13482	193	154	51
177	Bethany College (KS)	41%	43	76	72	26217	154	184	134
178	Blue Mountain Christian Univ. (MS)	54%	51	172	193	14377	172	101	149
179	OK Panhandle State Univ. (OK)*	31%	36	135	180	7391	169	116	144
180	Kentucky Wesleyan College (KY)	44%	56	90	172	21410	200	96	69
181	Miami Univ.–Middletown (OH)*	18%	44	215	22	11027	130	184	198
182	Fisher College (MA)	35%	67	214	29	22770	155	184	159
183	Defiance College (OH)	41%	50	82	51	22859	185	145	95
184	Edward Waters College (FL)	22%	50	196	211	13536	159	174	161
185	William Penn University (IA)	43%	109	85	127	20174	166	171	153
186	Nevada State University (NV)*	31%	178	209	137	12712	213	111	37
187	Belmont Abbey College (NC)	49%	126	171	189	18382	184	121	115
188	Thiel College (PA)	50%	74	78	185	20336	191	51	174
189	Ecclesia College (AR)^^	28%	15	161	84	17076	128	184	217
190	University of TN–Southern (TN)*	39%	86	66	135	16786	173	160	162
191	DigiPen Institute of Tech. (WA)°	52%	37	73	7	33597	135	184	220
192	Toccoa Falls College (GA)	51%	77	191	203	20247	179	112	192
193	Johnson & Wales U.–Charlotte (NC)	59%	143	29	101	25704	147	184	219
194	Brewton-Parker College (GA)	24%	24	198	116	18787	196	163	117
195	Brevard College (NC)	43%	49	130	201	19345	198	122	141
196	Montreat College (NC)	44%	35	32	213	21892	205	131	109
197	Point University (GA)	42%	112	218	145	19270	186	140	195
198	South University–Austin (TX)°	27%	23	164	217	25446	214	184	56
199	William Peace University (NC)	47%	120	86	168	21985	195	156	168
200	Wright State U.–Lake Campus (OH)*	21%	26	200	143	9927	188	184	167
201	Paul Smith's College (NY)^^	54%	46	65	220	20039	203	80	207
202	Southwestern Christian Univ. (OK)	28%	51	177	140	17264	187	136	206
203	Kentucky Christian University (KY)	29%	27	208	183	21072	218	150	63
204	Living Arts College (NC)°	49%	14	3	178	23214	175	184	220
205	St. Andrews University (NC)	40%	53	125	31	29905	201	132	180
206	Reinhardt University (GA)	42%	89	157	157	23195	199	149	179
207	Mitchell College (CT)	46%	54	105	205	23658	207	184	138
208	Hallmark University (TX)	48%	32	42	222	10802	194	184	201
209	AI Miami Int. U. of Art & Design (FL)	31%	169	103	98	25817	190	162	215
210	Rocky Mt. Coll. of Art & Design (CO)	26%	72	30	144	21205	197	184	208
211	Vaughn Coll. of Aero. & Tech. (NY)	37%	62	22	126	36641	215	134	166
212	Missouri Valley College (MO)	30%	82	216	134	18428	211	159	170
213	Arizona Christian University (AZ)	45%	37	148	198	27009	221	168	60
214	Truett McConnell University (GA)	41%	52	223	191	17836	216	181	157
215	University of Valley Forge (PA)	44%	49	64	164	22431	204	184	205
216	Emmanuel College (GA)	42%	45	178	215	20115	212	164	189
217	Bethesda University (CA)	21%	15	220	199	16942	210	184	216
218	University of Silicon Valley (CA)°	44%	43	56	210	25964	208	184	220
219	Dallas Christian College (TX)	26%	18	213	111	24036	217	184	211
220	Montserrat College of Art (MA)	58%	28	93	200	29734	219	184	210
221	DeVry University–Columbus (GA)°	24%	128	115	151	26516	220	184	218
222	Dean College (MA)	44%	38	179	219	29482	222	184	196
223	Beacon College (FL)	62%	11	75	223	36023	223	184	203