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 liberal arts colleges—four-year institutions that award almost exclusively bachelor’s degrees and that focus on arts and sciences rather than professional programs—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 performance rank	Net price of attendance for families below $75,000 income	Social mobility rank	Research rank	Service rank
1	Cooper U. Adv. of Science & Art (NY)	88%	34	7	211	5512	9	1	144
2	Elizabeth City State University (NC)*	44%	220	53	67	2484	10	24	2
3	CA State U.–Maritime Academy (CA)*	70%	64	134	1	15016	2	40	51
4	Goshen College (IN)	71%	59	110	57	15427	57	3	5
5	Illinois Wesleyan University (IL)	78%	92	93	15	21762	21	2	90
6	Ohio Northern University (OH)	75%	117	88	5	20383	16	11	24
7	Elmira College (NY)	67%	97	142	26	19444	35	6	10
8	Simpson College (IA)	70%	115	35	82	16172	29	19	3
9	Wesleyan College (GA)	57%	40	189	47	10210	56	8	8
10	Farmingdale State College (NY)*	58%	394	190	37	5187	6	160	27
11	Brigham Young University–ID (ID)	66%	1206	68	109	3940	1	140	181
12	Boricua College (NY)	70%	148	1	12	13231	4	192	107
13	College of the Ozarks (MO)	70%	197	21	59	8416	7	50	109
14	Lake Superior State University (MI)*	69%	652	205	155	10139	11	38	99
15	University of AR–Pine Bluff (AR)*	35%	214	64	130	11085	54	5	57
16	Sterling College (VT)	60%	14	3	53	15878	13	192	15
17	Wade College (TX)	62%	22	60	77	18422	3	192	232
18	Peirce College (PA)	25%	80	58	21	9506	5	192	161
19	Marietta College (OH)	59%	81	191	131	16643	112	22	1
20	University of SC–Upstate (SC)*	56%	511	155	205	13895	20	100	18
21	Hiram College (OH)	57%	112	104	23	17400	46	10	63
22	Oregon Institute of Technology (OR)*	50%	230	172	10	13229	22	34	68
23	Alaska Pacific University (AK)	41%	13	76	11	19131	47	26	35
24	William Jewell College (MO)	63%	60	148	102	17809	106	14	19
25	Central State University (OH)*	28%	188	10	42	11233	23	16	190
26	Keene State College (NH)*	63%	220	203	192	15787	81	52	4
27	Carroll College (MT)	67%	57	131	38	18914	75	18	44
28	Kentucky State University (KY)*	29%	128	165	118	6628	55	9	121
29	Lincoln University (MO)*	27%	114	150	143	8910	130	15	22
30	Emmaus Bible College (IA)	73%	15	9	105	12401	15	89	102
31	Fort Lewis College (CO)*	47%	216	143	222	13299	96	28	16
32	Dalton State College (GA)*	32%	187	113	101	5226	42	190	12
33	Le Moyne-Owen College (TN)	28%	86	8	50	8948	25	42	123
34	Texas Lutheran University (TX)	55%	98	158	33	16778	95	27	21
35	University of ME–Farmington (ME)*	55%	160	46	218	12047	79	31	32
36	Talladega College (AL)	41%	194	25	145	16225	12	112	148
37	Pacific Union College (CA)	58%	100	171	29	18515	76	21	65
38	Maine Maritime Academy (ME)*	74%	57	218	4	20875	14	131	114
39	Mansfield University of PA (PA)*	54%	200	67	54	12173	33	45	83
40	Bethel College (KS)	46%	36	99	75	21098	188	7	23
41	Tennessee Wesleyan University (TN)	53%	93	63	148	10700	59	152	7
42	Embry-Riddle Aero.–Prescott (AZ)	67%	90	78	3	33146	49	83	28
43	Taylor University (IN)	77%	89	200	203	20195	115	12	64
44	Bluefield State College (WV)*	41%	83	91	154	9018	69	87	13
45	SUNY College of Tech.–Delhi (NY)*	53%	139	133	107	13685	48	175	17
46	Warner Pacific University (OR)	50%	65	39	8	18225	26	48	151
47	NC Wesleyan College (NC)	61%	600	173	76	15431	17	134	128
48	Hastings College (NE)	58%	66	108	84	18240	90	32	37
49	Pacific Rim Christian Univ. (HI)	74%	12	180	120	17298	8	192	232
50	Univ. of Minnesota–Crookston (MN)*	53%	134	226	60	6949	34	171	45
51	Alma College (MI)	66%	94	147	132	20231	143	4	118
52	CUNY NYC College of Tech. (NY)*	30%	755	50	235	3547	19	81	193
53	Trinity Christian College (IL)	63%	107	176	43	15875	38	73	81
54	Baptist College of Florida (FL)	50%	100	109	25	9139	18	135	170
55	Spring Hill College (AL)	54%	66	178	87	19499	158	17	46
56	St. Francis College (NY)	54%	208	100	24	14513	24	109	138
57	Flagler College–St. Augustine (FL)	62%	280	199	66	20000	52	76	59
58	Trinity College of Florida (FL)	50%	45	94	100	14894	27	92	142
59	College of Mount Saint Vincent (NY)	57%	148	66	17	18385	43	94	86
60	College of Idaho (ID)	68%	83	114	224	20298	170	13	54
61	Olivet College (MI)	50%	85	81	92	21403	124	120	6
62	Hannibal-LaGrange University (MO)	58%	98	132	191	19221	93	29	78
63	Valley City State University (ND)*	47%	54	235	45	9950	108	115	14
64	Loras College (IA)	67%	74	137	71	17266	71	55	71
65	Barclay College (KS)	44%	16	29	79	23447	102	77	29
66	Univ. of Pittsburgh–Bradford (PA)*	44%	91	79	7	14281	32	105	155
67	Blackburn College (IL)	45%	45	44	106	15481	94	147	25
68	Millikin University (IL)	63%	173	170	81	17012	86	41	106
69	Philander Smith College (AR)	35%	53	14	31	14165	62	69	84
70	Univ. of Arkansas–Fort Smith (AR)*	38%	334	157	234	8654	89	142	33
71	Brigham Young Univ.–Hawaii (HI)	66%	120	154	88	11665	45	46	204
72	Utah Tech University (UT)*	40%	211	126	217	12698	126	178	9
73	Montana State Univ.–Northern (MT)*	42%	75	187	86	11355	53	156	70
74	Mars Hill University (NC)	39%	138	13	198	17686	147	33	41
75	Benedict College (SC)	26%	220	5	166	12780	80	49	95
76	University of Maine–Fort Kent (ME)*	50%	68	240	170	9771	118	184	11
77	College of Westchester (NY)	48%	91	43	114	14199	39	192	101
78	Alice Lloyd College (KY)	37%	53	102	113	14489	107	111	31
79	WV Wesleyan College (WV)	51%	83	217	94	16716	136	25	88
80	Voorhees College (SC)	36%	85	2	49	15313	41	192	105
81	Georgia Gwinnett College (GA)*	24%	599	30	172	11526	36	143	163
82	Eureka College (IL)	60%	56	175	56	18335	100	75	60
83	Calvary University (MO)	43%	22	197	70	12778	50	122	116
84	Newberry College (SC)	54%	85	151	189	17826	88	71	79
85	Univ. of Pittsburgh–Johnstown (PA)*	51%	139	129	32	14593	51	64	187
86	Berkeley College–New York (NY)	41%	444	179	55	17130	28	188	196
87	Wisconsin Lutheran College (WI)	62%	74	32	173	15469	103	43	126
88	Dickinson State University (ND)*	41%	61	220	68	10712	65	86	111
89	Wilmington College (OH)	57%	107	103	193	19221	142	59	48
90	Quincy University (IL)	55%	106	123	117	14727	121	106	38
91	SUNY College of Tech.–Canton (NY)*	50%	193	41	208	11409	73	150	74
92	Huntingdon College (AL)	51%	103	112	125	20505	116	30	141
93	LaGrange College (GA)	47%	67	138	85	21313	172	35	52
94	Kuyper College (MI)	70%	23	212	151	19066	31	192	191
95	Morris College (SC)	30%	91	4	146	13838	61	70	162
96	Colby-Sawyer College (NH)	60%	112	119	207	21463	180	56	30
97	Florida Memorial University (FL)	40%	175	23	144	17316	58	72	177
98	Wiley College (TX)	40%	269	15	35	13400	37	145	209
99	Faith Bapt. Bible Coll./Theo. Sem. (IA)	50%	14	17	129	14222	60	58	198
100	Life Pacific University (CA)	50%	43	38	41	19693	40	144	207
101	Univ. of Montana–Western (MT)*	47%	78	213	135	11261	137	133	34
102	Gods Bible School and College (OH)	44%	15	51	160	8432	30	192	213
103	Southwestern College (KS)	45%	110	141	18	23052	68	159	104
104	Rochester College (MI)	56%	133	222	22	18373	70	97	143
105	Livingstone College (NC)	28%	109	19	186	16603	67	63	189
106	Lewis-Clark State College (ID)*	42%	199	201	161	10297	134	99	49
107	Villa Maria College (NY)	41%	25	42	91	12138	44	151	208
108	Huston-Tillotson University (TX)	32%	84	57	78	13796	113	123	66
109	Culver-Stockton College (MO)	54%	83	97	139	19111	128	39	132
110	Lander University (SC)*	47%	167	174	123	13644	104	91	94
111	Barton College (NC)	55%	97	167	90	20486	105	82	103
112	Catawba College (NC)	49%	139	186	171	16860	155	65	56
113	Southwestern Adventist Univ. (TX)	52%	83	153	40	17516	135	68	75
114	Ohio State University–Lima (OH)*	16%	24	211	6	11491	66	118	154
115	Harris-Stowe State University (MO)*	18%	76	36	62	10574	92	125	96
116	LA State Univ.–Alexandria (LA)*	31%	112	209	195	6668	63	186	120
117	Union College (NE)	53%	46	59	141	20677	161	44	89
118	Averett University (VA)	47%	85	166	63	23164	152	121	39
119	York University (NE)	48%	33	116	216	16330	206	20	93
120	North Central University (MN)	50%	80	83	194	20230	157	53	87
121	Nevada State College (NV)*	29%	153	234	28	12607	140	146	53
122	Shaw University (NC)	22%	132	31	206	19120	200	57	36
123	Alderson Broaddus University (WV)	44%	74	160	44	18807	111	132	91
124	Mayville State University (ND)*	41%	47	227	96	10844	160	78	67
125	Central Christian Coll. of Kansas (KS)	37%	93	45	27	14254	64	192	153
126	Saint Augustine's University (NC)	29%	100	69	111	18164	83	126	156
127	Davis & Elkins College (WV)	44%	47	125	142	16851	153	67	82
128	University of the Ozarks (AR)	52%	40	183	174	11842	120	62	159
129	McMurry University (TX)	39%	92	62	80	19033	148	51	122
130	Paul Quinn College (TX)	22%	17	6	19	10725	91	102	166
131	Dakota Wesleyan University (SD)	54%	56	124	200	20134	178	104	40
132	Rasmussen College–Florida (FL)°	34%	244	139	225	18561	122	191	69
133	University of Maine–Augusta (ME)*	29%	168	182	169	9475	98	183	117
134	Williams Baptist University (AR)	43%	48	56	150	16195	127	85	129
135	Limestone College (SC)	45%	264	33	149	21995	119	101	134
136	Stillman College (AL)	21%	80	47	73	18030	132	61	164
137	Central Penn College (PA)°	39%	108	193	46	18079	114	192	97
138	University of ME–Presque Isle (ME)*	44%	60	223	178	8936	117	114	135
139	Hilbert College (NY)	58%	90	117	127	13730	84	129	197
140	Ferrum College (VA)	33%	110	48	188	18970	179	138	43
141	Drury U. Coll. Cont. Prof. Studies (MO)	33%	154	77	39	13123	77	176	188
142	Howard Payne University (TX)	45%	72	232	48	19920	176	47	112
143	WV Univ. Institute of Tech. (WV)*	29%	47	239	14	8707	78	154	203
144	Chowan University (NC)	30%	134	20	65	15826	85	128	202
145	Adrian College (MI)	49%	108	210	64	22064	194	54	76
146	Thiel College (PA)	50%	86	87	153	21337	169	36	168
147	Brescia University (KY)	37%	57	163	128	12373	173	169	47
148	SUNY Ag. and Tech.–Cobleskill (NY)*	47%	158	98	230	14624	123	84	174
149	Bacone College (OK)	19%	46	135	69	16586	97	192	149
150	Benedictine College (KS)	64%	102	85	212	21813	163	93	92
151	Bluffton University (OH)	56%	79	140	158	22988	145	79	139
152	Grace Christian University (MI)	37%	50	28	159	11903	74	192	200
153	Kansas Wesleyan University (KS)	43%	56	37	209	22075	217	103	26
154	Colorado Mesa University (CO)*	37%	322	146	219	13770	162	90	108
155	Central Baptist College (AR)	32%	39	118	93	17174	191	117	62
156	Lees-McRae College (NC)	56%	90	16	214	19895	174	136	72
157	Northland College (WI)	57%	49	24	237	17208	213	23	167
158	Sterling College (KS)	46%	62	101	167	19984	168	74	115
159	Miami Univ.–Hamilton (OH)*	14%	63	214	16	11050	101	187	171
160	Miles College (AL)	29%	172	18	183	14538	99	163	199
161	Tabor College (KS)	50%	69	136	134	21527	165	88	131
162	Trine University (IN)	61%	85	216	165	20298	159	157	98
163	DigiPen Institute of Tech. (WA)°	48%	36	52	2	33233	72	192	231
164	IN Inst. of Tech Coll. Prof. Studies (IN)	26%	173	89	20	17487	82	192	220
165	High Point University (NC)	65%	94	225	124	33245	230	98	20
166	Univ. of Advancing Technology (AZ)	32%	54	73	137	15975	87	166	225
167	South University–Montgomery (AL)°	20%	33	192	74	19841	166	192	77
168	Ctrl. Meth.–Lib. Arts/Sciences (MO)	51%	80	40	220	22009	207	60	85
169	Notre Dame College (OH)	40%	115	169	36	16879	138	192	133
170	Belmont Abbey College (NC)	48%	137	177	179	18090	181	113	100
171	Mount Aloysius College (PA)	53%	64	229	121	20904	201	179	42
172	University of TN–Southern (TN)*	40%	92	71	110	18012	151	168	125
173	Blue Mountain Christian Univ. (MS)	53%	49	121	196	12905	144	141	157
174	Kentucky Wesleyan College (KY)	44%	57	55	138	21809	196	137	73
175	University of Hawaii–West Oahu (HI)*	49%	186	206	238	11166	156	174	119
176	Miami Univ.–Middletown (OH)*	16%	45	236	9	11350	109	185	211
177	Rogers State University (OK)*	24%	123	185	126	13180	182	177	80
178	Welch College (TN)	43%	18	188	204	18425	110	192	205
179	Glenville State College (WV)*	31%	86	96	103	13489	175	116	124
180	Trinity Baptist College (FL)	35%	18	75	236	14882	139	192	150
181	Univ. of SC–Beaufort (SC)*	36%	111	196	98	14649	141	139	180
182	Jarvis Christian College (TX)	17%	34	26	147	13198	125	124	215
183	Brewton-Parker College (GA)	27%	29	231	30	17883	154	170	145
184	Texas College (TX)	18%	58	184	162	14784	129	192	173
185	University of Antelope Valley (CA)°	66%	30	207	241	26780	149	192	140
186	William Penn University (IA)	44%	114	84	136	19777	167	180	130
187	Bethany College (KS)	39%	42	54	175	23715	171	165	127
188	Ottawa University–Ottawa (KS)	46%	58	128	108	23276	164	127	175
189	OK Panhandle State Univ. (OK)*	25%	32	194	182	8307	192	95	146
190	Defiance College (OH)	40%	57	107	95	24102	205	192	61
191	South University–Austin (TX)°	23%	13	198	223	24579	212	192	58
192	Toccoa Falls College (GA)	52%	81	215	201	20798	184	96	182
193	Crowley's Ridge College (AR)	37%	17	90	226	14262	131	192	214
194	Arlington Baptist University (TX)	19%	11	72	115	21230	146	192	194
195	Warner Pacific Univ. Adult Prog. (OR)	61%	92	120	13	14477	186	110	184
196	Keystone College (PA)	44%	112	70	180	23108	183	181	152
197	College of Coastal Georgia (GA)*	29%	95	164	227	11891	190	192	137
198	Herzing University–Atlanta (GA)°	41%	47	27	197	24417	198	192	113
199	Johnson & Wales U.–Charlotte (NC)	59%	146	80	104	24190	133	192	232
200	McPherson College (KS)	46%	56	152	221	21312	216	108	110
201	Webber International University (FL)	39%	44	181	89	24615	193	162	179
202	William Peace University (NC)	48%	107	74	157	21444	187	192	176
203	Ecclesia College (AR)^^	24%	12	161	61	16359	150	192	232
204	Point University (GA)	45%	119	238	122	18504	185	173	206
205	University of Valley Forge (PA)	46%	51	105	181	20902	197	153	212
206	Reinhardt University (GA)	41%	81	115	184	22446	210	119	178
207	Bethesda University (CA)	22%	13	221	190	14790	177	192	228
208	Kentucky Christian University (KY)	26%	27	224	176	20265	240	158	50
209	DeVry University–Phoenix (AZ)°	25%	78	156	152	30519	208	80	221
210	Montreat College (NC)	44%	40	92	215	21207	224	167	136
211	Fisher College (MA)	30%	51	233	97	21289	211	192	147
212	St. Andrews University (NC)	39%	51	208	51	27044	220	107	183
213	Polytech. U. of PR–Orlando (FL)	49%	18	22	199	16791	218	66	232
214	Edward Waters College (FL)	23%	55	242	232	13207	219	182	158
215	Emmanuel College (GA)	43%	47	202	213	19304	209	172	186
216	Living Arts College (NC)°	51%	26	11	185	23858	189	192	232
217	Hallmark University (TX)	44%	21	49	240	10268	195	192	224
218	Wright State U.–Lake Campus (OH)*	19%	20	219	116	10142	215	192	172
219	DeVry Univ.–North Brunswick (NJ)°	25%	66	130	233	20262	235	37	232
220	Truett McConnell University (GA)	41%	49	241	202	17343	226	189	160
221	Rocky Mt. Coll. of Art & Design (CO)	31%	73	65	177	21389	202	192	217
222	Southwestern Christian Univ. (OK)	28%	65	195	163	17867	214	148	216
223	Art Institute of San Antonio (TX)°	22%	61	127	34	24379	199	192	232
224	Art Institute of Houston (TX)	16%	92	122	58	24191	204	192	226
225	Brevard College (NC)	41%	44	159	228	20837	227	130	201
226	Art Inst. of Virginia Beach (VA)°	25%	32	12	112	23379	203	192	232
227	Missouri Valley College (MO)	30%	85	228	168	19004	229	155	169
228	Art Institute of Atlanta (GA)	17%	125	86	99	25890	225	164	219
229	Vaughn Coll. of Aero. & Tech. (NY)	39%	62	61	83	38250	232	161	165
230	Paul Smith's College (NY)^^	54%	55	34	239	20699	223	192	222
231	AI Miami Int. U. of Art & Design (FL)	31%	183	168	187	22128	221	192	227
232	DeVry University–Columbus (GA)°	24%	159	144	140	26140	222	192	229
233	Mitchell College (CT)	41%	50	106	231	23958	233	192	192
234	Arizona Christian University (AZ)	47%	31	204	229	25314	238	149	185
235	South Univ.–Virginia Beach (VA)°	24%	82	145	119	22277	241	192	55
236	Cogswell Polytechnic College (CA)	42%	35	95	164	25396	228	192	232
237	Dallas Christian College (TX)	28%	20	237	52	26229	231	192	223
238	Montserrat College of Art (MA)	60%	29	82	210	29996	237	192	210
239	Dean College (MA)	41%	30	230	156	29357	239	192	195
240	Miami Int. U. of Art/Design–Art Inst. Dallas (TX)	18%	63	111	133	26185	234	192	230
241	Art Institute of Austin (TX)	15%	85	149	72	27831	236	192	232
242	Beacon College (FL)	64%	11	162	242	42154	242	192	218