2026 College Guide Rankings

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.

What we measure

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.  

The Rankings – South

RankSchoolStateTypeNet priceEarnings 4 yrs outGraduates’ debt8-yr grad rateAccess rankAffordability rankOutcomes rankService rank
1Berea CollegeKYPrivate$4,297$42,924$3,59166%31292
2Univ. of TX–Rio Grande ValleyTXPublic$5,383$53,888$12,95058%145514
3Vanderbilt UniversityTNPrivate$5,270$101,204$14,00093%49735
4Rice UniversityTXPrivate$3,891$110,080$11,00094%732140
5University of Texas–El PasoTXPublic$9,194$58,771$18,00052%4203713
6University of Texas–San AntonioTXPublic$8,988$60,333$20,50059%53610617
7Northeastern State UniversityOKPublic$9,897$50,752$17,36748%50191537
8University of Texas–ArlingtonTXPublic$12,931$79,176$17,52758%6344993
9Univ. of Houston–DowntownTXPublic$12,910$60,550$18,75054%11432092
10University of the CumberlandsKYPrivate$10,099$51,882$14,91155%38911124
11Texas A&M International Univ.TXPublic$3,343$50,288$15,00055%20512762
12University of North TexasTXPublic$12,345$58,743$19,25062%7484774
13University of HoustonTXPublic$11,218$68,091$18,19463%228184184
14Mississippi Univ. for WomenMSPublic$11,369$62,987$15,00066%138101361
15University of Texas–AustinTXPublic$14,542$79,115$20,50085%87612935
16Rhodes CollegeTNPrivate$15,439$65,427$21,76183%132106363
17University of the SouthTNPrivate$14,289$63,966$22,85581%1571121016
18Chamberlain University–TexasTXFor-profit$30,595$97,262$20,91956%81201223
19Texas Woman’s UniversityTXPublic$9,533$64,179$19,21858%61266328
20Texas A&M–College StationTXPublic$13,988$76,234$17,80485%16397579
21Sam Houston State UniversityTXPublic$12,802$57,044$21,98362%35833563
22University of OK–NormanOKPublic$14,461$73,280$20,65469%47793253
23Tarleton State UniversityTXPublic$17,362$57,758$19,60659%78894819
24Paul Quinn CollegeTXPrivate$12,896$23,37329%511071482
25Univ. of Houston–Clear LakeTXPublic$11,612$59,865$17,83163%57244185
26Centre CollegeKYPrivate$13,504$64,933$27,00084%128154447
27University of Southern MSMSPublic$15,448$48,593$22,50053%1511613036
28Southeastern OK State Univ.OKPublic$5,773$56,329$17,00040%92830135
29Jackson State UniversityMSPublic$19,468$47,606$30,47042%17212690
30North American UniversityTXPrivate$15,921$56,795$4,92536%1033111116
31University of MemphisTNPublic$11,757$57,507$23,30054%239410452
32University of North TX–DallasTXPublic$7,315$62,574$18,60657%95179212
33Texas State Univ.–San MarcosTXPublic$12,950$58,786$21,00062%97194165
34LA State Univ.–Baton RougeLAPublic$16,139$66,893$20,50070%30929759
35Prairie View A&M UniversityTXPublic$12,429$60,602$27,00047%1914227126
36University of Central ArkansasARPublic$14,939$52,203$20,34650%64781857
37Bellarmine UniversityKYPrivate$18,922$64,564$25,00065%152173801
38Arkansas State Univ.ARPublic$10,422$56,631$20,50055%76497051
39Texas A&M–San AntonioTXPublic$10,715$55,112$18,40165%542516214
40University of Texas–TylerTXPublic$11,183$68,633$17,13758%802242128
41Eastern Kentucky UniversityKYPublic$8,356$54,691$22,50050%595613533
42Mississippi State UniversityMSPublic$14,228$59,311$22,14264%529916418
43Southern Nazarene UniversityOKPrivate$18,343$60,691$21,90062%991315161
44Texas Tech UniversityTXPublic$15,121$66,144$21,50066%36989278
45Millsaps CollegeMSPrivate$23,629$67,303$27,00067%1152091812
46St. Edward’s UniversityTXPrivate$20,416$59,999$24,80363%721822632
47University of AR–Pine BluffARPublic$11,055$46,380$24,20243%5510031113
48OK State University–MainOKPublic$11,934$65,492$20,50064%585910366
49Lipscomb UniversityTNPrivate$21,801$63,007$19,50067%1511291254
50Belmont UniversityTNPrivate$23,648$56,202$20,50071%1021509510
51Northern Kentucky UniversityKYPublic$3,459$58,429$23,00051%174291888
52Univ. of TN–ChattanoogaTNPublic$10,833$57,377$19,50055%683715155
53Trinity UniversityTXPrivate$13,112$67,249$22,95479%1531016224
54Middle Tennessee State Univ.TNPublic$10,576$54,525$20,00055%434116171
55Western Kentucky UniversityKYPublic$10,551$53,602$22,09554%166651579
56Tennessee Technological Univ.TNPublic$11,416$57,413$15,65064%6514107140
57Lamar UniversityTXPublic$9,663$66,816$21,25045%795057110
58Tougaloo CollegeMSPrivate$16,329$42,641$30,04633%86203881
59Philander Smith CollegeARPrivate$15,528$42,151$24,73637%371406189
60Lindsey Wilson CollegeKYPrivate$13,486$43,852$16,78449%442776190
61Midwestern State UniversityTXPublic$9,336$62,250$21,03055%1064652106
62University of LouisvilleKYPublic$15,351$67,853$20,50058%968513129
63East Central UniversityOKPublic$7,356$53,649$17,67140%1601145147
64Delta State UniversityMSPublic$11,983$47,248$20,39050%125586476
65University of TennesseeTNPublic$13,460$67,631$20,50071%456717157
66University of MississippiMSPublic$10,280$66,243$20,00068%1203816330
67University of Houston–VictoriaTXPublic$7,720$57,364$18,97344%702158201
68Texas A&M–TexarkanaTXPublic$10,036$48,048$18,95351%843038198
69Union CollegeKYPrivate$15,391$52,077$24,25040%1641342446
70University of Central OklahomaOKPublic$16,462$54,402$21,00043%7710211744
71Carson-Newman CollegeTNPrivate$16,243$53,936$21,50056%1081119831
72East Texas A&M UniversityTXPublic$10,126$57,494$20,50053%854434182
73Austin Peay State UniversityTNPublic$12,256$52,456$20,54745%3362137138
74Houston Christian UniversityTXPrivate$18,312$62,310$22,64249%3113783125
75Galen Coll. of Nursing–LouisvilleKYPrivate$18,335$79,047$24,16667%2101592222
76University of Texas–DallasTXPublic$12,776$76,497$18,00071%1435206142
77University of LA–LafayetteLAPublic$12,128$58,638$22,90255%2291147148
78Southwestern OK State Univ.OKPublic$11,257$57,954$15,95448%1291514494
79Henderson State UniversityARPublic$19,313$47,583$19,50040%1411108742
80Christian Brothers UniversityTNPrivate$10,986$68,058$27,00057%1651351987
81Louisiana CollegeLAPrivate$15,138$53,861$21,87536%15810425101
82Univ. of Arkansas–Fort SmithARPublic$9,628$49,998$18,25042%882319164
83East Tennessee State UniversityTNPublic$13,106$53,033$19,44258%465519277
84Univ. of Science & Arts of Okla.OKPublic$5,696$42,786$21,75043%673289193
85Fisk UniversityTNPrivate$28,533$58,830$27,00051%1021550114
86So. Arkansas Univ.–MainARPublic$14,542$49,008$18,75044%945715268
87Univ. of AR–GranthamARPrivate$8,881$62,191$21,95622%2753153199
88Texas Southern UniversityTXPublic$18,083$55,112$29,00035%1320544181
89Northwestern OK State Univ.OKPublic$8,565$51,228$17,35534%1801391115
90Baptist Health Sciences Univ.TNPrivate$9,713$73,191$29,50055%8915813226
91Our Lady of the Lake San AntonioTXPrivate$17,773$55,876$24,99946%711668658
92Univ. of Arkansas—MonticelloARPublic$12,957$48,735$19,97140%119619999
93Morehead State UniversityKYPublic$8,273$50,224$22,25050%1555216638
94West Texas A&M UniversityTXPublic$18,151$55,166$19,50055%629659166
95University of TulsaOKPrivate$17,262$79,396$21,50071%9811721192
96Sul Ross State UniversityTXPublic$10,546$49,811$15,90041%6312170177
97University of St. ThomasTXPrivate$17,539$66,137$19,92864%4897148102
98Langston UniversityOKPublic$10,709$49,961$26,00032%40121102139
99Alcorn State UniversityMSPublic$13,858$45,495$27,00048%24160133127
100Texas A&M–KingsvilleTXPublic$9,808$56,982$22,93453%2870162188
101Tennessee Wesleyan UniversityTNPrivate$12,075$53,707$20,00056%1685413654
102University of KentuckyKYPublic$12,385$65,922$22,50067%1098619027
103Tennessee State UniversityTNPublic$12,099$53,808$27,00039%41141110111
104Wiley UniversityTXPrivate$9,012$39,988$24,98921%299396215
105University of PikevilleKYPrivate$14,797$55,132$20,67957%172826572
106Le Moyne-Owen CollegeTNPrivate$8,627$28,07026%26132180103
107OK Panhandle State Univ.OKPublic$7,555$56,708$12,50030%1446205120
108Texas CollegeTXPrivate$10,727$43,887$31,00018%2118539210
109John Brown UniversityARPrivate$17,117$55,210$21,25068%1691157256
110Lincoln Memorial UniversityTNPrivate$16,565$69,633$20,00062%161878873
111Stephen F. Austin State Univ.TXPublic$11,701$55,013$23,40956%699585149
112Trevecca Nazarene UniversityTNPrivate$12,883$64,175$18,74452%1844274100
113Texas A&M–Corpus ChristiTXPublic$11,882$59,765$23,00044%669018369
114Dillard UniversityLAPrivate$19,148$48,421$31,00049%2521310870
115Southern Methodist UniversityTXPrivate$24,908$95,051$19,50082%12314717180
116Kentucky State UniversityKYPublic$8,844$46,766$25,93844%14310928172
117University of AR–Little RockARPublic$15,811$58,470$22,00045%11111468118
118Murray State UniversityKYPublic$7,601$50,487$20,50059%10131145150
119University of New OrleansLAPublic$10,827$56,037$18,75044%1673314991
120Xavier University of LouisianaLAPrivate$16,152$49,328$24,05351%4213917975
121Loyola University–New OrleansLAPrivate$19,529$52,459$26,00063%931884388
122King UniversityTNPrivate$20,970$61,394$22,75067%12216233117
123Texas Christian UniversityTXPrivate$20,263$76,188$21,50081%2031384045
124Lane CollegeTNPrivate$13,060$38,716$30,50028%1219293204
125Hendrix CollegeARPrivate$19,484$50,422$26,68867%1241938434
126Tusculum CollegeTNPrivate$19,118$51,271$23,25038%11414919320
127Northwestern State Univ. of LALAPublic$13,154$56,762$25,00046%11013073109
128University of TN–MartinTNPublic$9,284$47,898$21,02452%8245168137
129Midway UniversityKYPrivate$22,479$54,588$21,30149%5315171146
130University of LA–MonroeLAPublic$10,943$53,715$21,50055%1486314396
131Transylvania UniversityKYPrivate$18,653$50,923$27,00071%1341915360
132Alice Lloyd CollegeKYPrivate$16,513$42,268$19,59940%6081128191
133Univ. of Texas–Permian BasinTXPublic$8,892$63,864$17,75049%1941878196
134Angelo State UniversityTXPublic$11,032$54,923$20,00048%2064717441
135Maryville CollegeTNPrivate$17,529$49,454$25,37553%10016819621
136St. Mary’s UniversityTXPrivate$19,948$58,545$25,56358%1361875686
137Cameron UniversityOKPublic$9,448$48,413$21,50027%11851140178
138Nossi College of Art & DesignTNFor-profit$23,410$35,271$33,49860%342187219
139Schreiner UniversityTXPrivate$18,575$58,631$23,25056%13014316550
140William Carey UniversityMSPrivate$14,013$54,242$20,83252%1957717549
141LA State Univ.–ShreveportLAPublic$6,457$51,673$22,50038%13140178145
142Hallmark UniversityTXPrivate$11,326$59,410$25,43862%56119120202
143Oklahoma City UniversityOKPrivate$19,389$64,450$20,83568%21312523159
144Baylor UniversityTXPrivate$28,821$69,608$23,00080%18520713911
145Cumberland UniversityTNPrivate$18,130$58,091$17,95261%1737469183
146University of ArkansasARPublic$14,176$68,890$21,50068%13988146133
147Southwestern UniversityTXPrivate$23,082$59,994$25,00074%1931985448
148Williams Baptist UniversityARPrivate$13,113$41,389$21,82041%14284123171
149Campbellsville UniversityKYPrivate$18,928$47,650$17,15642%1926982170
150Belhaven UniversityMSPrivate$16,325$51,795$26,33347%14017166134
151Southeastern Louisiana Univ.LAPublic$10,592$50,215$22,11343%8366198157
152Southern Univ./A&M CollegeLAPublic$18,674$54,666$29,25137%39206134130
153Georgetown CollegeKYPrivate$10,020$54,370$25,20051%154108158108
154Huston-Tillotson UniversityTXPrivate$19,760$30,75043%10421412207
155South University–AustinTXFor-profit$25,160$68,975$26,12326%12721012243
156Southwestern Assemb. of God U.TXPrivate$18,957$46,199$24,72547%9117251206
157Tulane UniversityLAPrivate$23,192$73,816$20,50074%21114520115
158Mid-America Christian Univ.OKPrivate$15,928$55,200$26,39438%8716960208
159Nicholls State UniversityLAPublic$10,469$51,767$22,67550%14672169164
160West Coast University–DallasTXFor-profit$23,387$110,100$32,94663%10721711425
161Oklahoma Christian UniversityOKPrivate$18,724$67,575$26,00055%13718446194
162Harding UniversityARPrivate$17,172$53,024$26,50069%18717767104
163Lyon CollegeARPrivate$19,246$21,50046%105133116203
164Austin CollegeTXPrivate$18,403$57,361$24,50070%126165109156
165Blue Mountain Christian Univ.MSPrivate$18,229$40,841$18,53457%2158079158
166Southwestern Christian Univ.OKPrivate$17,817$45,678$20,71527%15611390213
167Johnson UniversityTNPrivate$18,128$42,004$21,50060%145124141169
168University of DallasTXPrivate$15,475$61,870$23,11770%133122100211
169Asbury UniversityKYPrivate$18,399$45,728$24,02860%18815512198
170Rogers State UniversityOKPublic$12,868$53,237$20,50029%15064195167
171Centenary College of LouisianaLAPrivate$19,541$49,479$27,00057%112197118132
172LA State Univ.–AlexandriaLAPublic$6,387$51,983$19,00036%17816211155
173Spalding UniversityKYPrivate$21,990$64,136$25,25053%2021968183
174Milligan UniversityTNPrivate$16,260$55,216$25,21965%186152112131
175Lee UniversityTNPrivate$15,045$47,559$25,75056%163148126153
176Univ. of Mary Hardin–BaylorTXPrivate$25,591$61,024$26,00053%11721115965
177Union UniversityTNPrivate$25,133$60,152$20,71462%14917017295
178Grambling State UniversityLAPublic$17,389$47,043$36,50037%32216124143
179Univ. of the Incarnate WordTXPrivate$19,063$63,004$27,00055%113195150122
180Freed-Hardeman UniversityTNPrivate$18,094$50,701$21,50064%201123115162
181Mississippi Valley State Univ.MSPublic$10,404$40,972$28,41337%179144105168
182Texas Wesleyan UniversityTXPrivate$19,950$57,671$23,12540%159157154136
183Texas Lutheran UniversityTXPrivate$20,546$56,629$25,00056%11618621439
184Franc. Missionaries of Our Lady U.LAPrivate$15,828$63,699$27,67245%1981832196
185Jarvis Christian CollegeTXPrivate$9,088$40,867$27,00027%9012021880
186Ouachita Baptist UniversityARPrivate$19,165$49,862$21,05063%181127155152
187Hardin-Simmons UniversityTXPrivate$16,447$53,769$24,71155%135146189141
188Kentucky Wesleyan CollegeKYPrivate$22,168$45,592$23,25048%17517616797
189Bethel UniversityTNPrivate$16,011$62,152$27,24935%17617977186
190Louisiana Tech UniversityLAPublic$9,385$61,520$22,13558%20560186175
191Rust CollegeMSPrivate$9,869$41,313$26,15932%74118207200
192University of the OzarksARPrivate$13,390$46,099$20,87546%18373194187
193Randall University^^OKPrivate$16,575$44,913$22,62627%182126113217
194McNeese State UniversityLAPublic$9,489$53,563$23,00047%19668197179
195Bryan CollegeTNPrivate$16,055$51,604$23,00052%214128142151
196Wayland Baptist UniversityTXPrivate$19,932$56,530$23,10643%207156101174
197Kentucky Christian UniversityKYPrivate$21,897$52,466$22,25041%189163176123
198Brescia UniversityKYPrivate$12,784$51,492$29,43045%121181204121
199Oral Roberts UniversityOKPrivate$20,568$54,666$27,00049%75199173189
200Thomas More CollegeKYPrivate$15,879$70,208$26,23648%191167119195
201Southern Adventist UniversityTNPrivate$20,643$58,282$24,50062%171180202107
202Concordia University–TexasTXPrivate$19,516$64,701$21,85244%17713621584
203Central Baptist CollegeARPrivate$14,629$46,683$22,25040%170105200209
204Mississippi Christian UniversityMSPrivate$21,523$55,434$22,50058%209164181119
205Lubbock Christian UniversityTXPrivate$23,203$57,061$20,94855%204153187129
206University of TN–SouthernTNPublic$12,748$46,181$21,50037%16275210205
207Arkansas Baptist CollegeARPrivate$9,455$39,577$25,37519%97103213218
208Oklahoma Baptist UniversityOKPrivate$19,630$49,999$24,80153%212175156144
209Abilene Christian UniversityTXPrivate$23,444$59,305$24,25061%208194177112
210Southwestern Adventist Univ.TXPrivate$18,297$55,144$26,99850%190190208105
211Oklahoma Wesleyan UniversityOKPrivate$24,824$62,310$24,81344%199204160176
212Dallas Baptist UniversityTXPrivate$26,666$59,308$21,59154%216189138197
213McMurry UniversityTXPrivate$16,392$48,273$27,00038%147178216173
214Howard Payne UniversityTXPrivate$21,198$50,567$26,79340%197202182185
215East Texas Baptist UniversityTXPrivate$19,992$48,425$23,25043%200161212163
216Strayer University–TexasTXFor-profit$18,053$68,449$40,62119%18219209216
217LeTourneau UniversityTXPrivate$22,279$65,664$26,00052%217200203160
218University of Holy CrossLAPrivate$16,059$62,842$26,99532%21917421767
219Southern Univ. at New OrleansLAPublic$16,104$47,240$31,00036%218208199154

How to read the table. Click any column header to sort. Search by school, state or type (Public, Private, For-profit). Net price is for families earning under $75,000, after aid. Earnings are four years after graduation; graduation rate is within eight years. For category ranks, 1 is best. A dash means no data.

Definitions:
Pell/non-Pell graduation gap: graduation rate for Pell students minus the graduation rate for non-Pell students; a positive number indicates that students who receive Pell grants graduate at a higher rate than those who don’t, and vice versa.
* = public
° = for-profit

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