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	Earnings 4 years after graduation	Student loan debt of graduates	8-year graduation rate	Access rank	Affordability rank	Outcomes rank	Service rank
1	Berea College (KY)	4297	42924	3591	66%	3	1	29	2
2	Univ. of TX–Rio Grande Valley (TX)*	5383	53888	12950	58%	1	4	55	14
3	Vanderbilt University (TN)	5270	101204	14000	93%	49	7	3	5
4	Rice University (TX)	3891	110080	11000	94%	73	2	1	40
5	University of Texas–El Paso (TX)*	9194	58771	18000	52%	4	20	37	13
6	University of Texas–San Antonio (TX)*	8988	60333	20500	59%	5	36	106	17
7	Northeastern State University (OK)*	9897	50752	17367	48%	50	19	15	37
8	University of Texas–Arlington (TX)*	12931	79176	17527	58%	6	34	49	93
9	Univ. of Houston–Downtown (TX)*	12910	60550	18750	54%	11	43	20	92
10	University of the Cumberlands (KY)	10099	51882	14911	55%	38	9	11	124
11	Texas A&M International Univ. (TX)*	3343	50288	15000	55%	20	5	127	62
12	University of North Texas (TX)*	12345	58743	19250	62%	7	48	47	74
13	University of Houston (TX)*	11218	68091	18194	63%	2	28	184	184
14	Mississippi Univ. for Women (MS)*	11369	62987	15000	66%	138	10	13	61
15	University of Texas–Austin (TX)*	14542	79115	20500	85%	8	76	129	35
16	Rhodes College (TN)	15439	65427	21761	83%	132	106	36	3
17	University of the South (TN)	14289	63966	22855	81%	157	112	10	16
18	Chamberlain University–Texas (TX)°	30595	97262	20919	56%	81	201	2	23
19	Texas Woman's University (TX)*	9533	64179	19218	58%	61	26	63	28
20	Texas A&M–College Station (TX)*	13988	76234	17804	85%	16	39	75	79
21	Sam Houston State University (TX)*	12802	57044	21983	62%	35	83	35	63
22	University of OK–Norman (OK)*	14461	73280	20654	69%	47	79	32	53
23	Tarleton State University (TX)*	17362	57758	19606	59%	78	89	48	19
24	Paul Quinn College (TX)	12896	N/A	23373	29%	51	107	14	82
25	Univ. of Houston–Clear Lake (TX)*	11612	59865	17831	63%	57	24	41	85
26	Centre College (KY)	13504	64933	27000	84%	128	154	4	47
27	University of Southern MS (MS)*	15448	48593	22500	53%	15	116	130	36
28	Southeastern OK State Univ. (OK)*	5773	56329	17000	40%	92	8	30	135
29	Jackson State University (MS)*	19468	47606	30470	42%	17	212	6	90
30	North American University (TX)	15921	56795	4925	36%	103	3	111	116
31	University of Memphis (TN)*	11757	57507	23300	54%	23	94	104	52
32	University of North TX–Dallas (TX)*	7315	62574	18606	57%	95	17	9	212
33	Texas State Univ.–San Marcos (TX)*	12950	58786	21000	62%	9	71	94	165
34	LA State Univ.–Baton Rouge (LA)*	16139	66893	20500	70%	30	92	97	59
35	Prairie View A&M University (TX)*	12429	60602	27000	47%	19	142	27	126
36	University of Central Arkansas (AR)*	14939	52203	20346	50%	64	78	185	7
37	Bellarmine University (KY)	18922	64564	25000	65%	152	173	80	1
38	Arkansas State Univ. (AR)*	10422	56631	20500	55%	76	49	70	51
39	Texas A&M–San Antonio (TX)*	10715	55112	18401	65%	54	25	16	214
40	University of Texas–Tyler (TX)*	11183	68633	17137	58%	80	22	42	128
41	Eastern Kentucky University (KY)*	8356	54691	22500	50%	59	56	135	33
42	Mississippi State University (MS)*	14228	59311	22142	64%	52	99	164	18
43	Southern Nazarene University (OK)	18343	60691	21900	62%	99	131	5	161
44	Texas Tech University (TX)*	15121	66144	21500	66%	36	98	92	78
45	Millsaps College (MS)	23629	67303	27000	67%	115	209	18	12
46	St. Edward's University (TX)	20416	59999	24803	63%	72	182	26	32
47	University of AR–Pine Bluff (AR)*	11055	46380	24202	43%	55	100	31	113
48	OK State University–Main (OK)*	11934	65492	20500	64%	58	59	103	66
49	Lipscomb University (TN)	21801	63007	19500	67%	151	129	125	4
50	Belmont University (TN)	23648	56202	20500	71%	102	150	95	10
51	Northern Kentucky University (KY)*	3459	58429	23000	51%	174	29	188	8
52	Univ. of TN–Chattanooga (TN)*	10833	57377	19500	55%	68	37	151	55
53	Trinity University (TX)	13112	67249	22954	79%	153	101	62	24
54	Middle Tennessee State Univ. (TN)*	10576	54525	20000	55%	43	41	161	71
55	Western Kentucky University (KY)*	10551	53602	22095	54%	166	65	157	9
56	Tennessee Technological Univ. (TN)*	11416	57413	15650	64%	65	14	107	140
57	Lamar University (TX)*	9663	66816	21250	45%	79	50	57	110
58	Tougaloo College (MS)	16329	42641	30046	33%	86	203	8	81
59	Philander Smith College (AR)	15528	42151	24736	37%	37	140	61	89
60	Lindsey Wilson College (KY)	13486	43852	16784	49%	44	27	76	190
61	Midwestern State University (TX)*	9336	62250	21030	55%	106	46	52	106
62	University of Louisville (KY)*	15351	67853	20500	58%	96	85	131	29
63	East Central University (OK)*	7356	53649	17671	40%	160	11	45	147
64	Delta State University (MS)*	11983	47248	20390	50%	125	58	64	76
65	University of Tennessee (TN)*	13460	67631	20500	71%	45	67	171	57
66	University of Mississippi (MS)*	10280	66243	20000	68%	120	38	163	30
67	University of Houston–Victoria (TX)*	7720	57364	18973	44%	70	21	58	201
68	Texas A&M–Texarkana (TX)*	10036	48048	18953	51%	84	30	38	198
69	Union College (KY)	15391	52077	24250	40%	164	134	24	46
70	University of Central Oklahoma (OK)*	16462	54402	21000	43%	77	102	117	44
71	Carson-Newman College (TN)	16243	53936	21500	56%	108	111	98	31
72	East Texas A&M University (TX)*	10126	57494	20500	53%	85	44	34	182
73	Austin Peay State University (TN)*	12256	52456	20547	45%	33	62	137	138
74	Houston Christian University (TX)	18312	62310	22642	49%	31	137	83	125
75	Galen Coll. of Nursing–Louisville (KY)	18335	79047	24166	67%	210	159	22	22
76	University of Texas–Dallas (TX)*	12776	76497	18000	71%	14	35	206	142
77	University of LA–Lafayette (LA)*	12128	58638	22902	55%	22	91	147	148
78	Southwestern OK State Univ. (OK)*	11257	57954	15954	48%	129	15	144	94
79	Henderson State University (AR)*	19313	47583	19500	40%	141	110	87	42
80	Christian Brothers University (TN)	10986	68058	27000	57%	165	135	19	87
81	Louisiana College (LA)	15138	53861	21875	36%	158	104	25	101
82	Univ. of Arkansas–Fort Smith (AR)*	9628	49998	18250	42%	88	23	191	64
83	East Tennessee State University (TN)*	13106	53033	19442	58%	46	55	192	77
84	Univ. of Science & Arts of Okla. (OK)*	5696	42786	21750	43%	67	32	89	193
85	Fisk University (TN)	28533	58830	27000	51%	10	215	50	114
86	So. Arkansas Univ.–Main (AR)*	14542	49008	18750	44%	94	57	152	68
87	Univ. of AR–Grantham (AR)	8881	62191	21956	22%	27	53	153	199
88	Texas Southern University (TX)*	18083	55112	29000	35%	13	205	44	181
89	Northwestern OK State Univ. (OK)*	8565	51228	17355	34%	180	13	91	115
90	Baptist Health Sciences Univ. (TN)	9713	73191	29500	55%	89	158	132	26
91	Our Lady of the Lake San Antonio (TX)	17773	55876	24999	46%	71	166	86	58
92	Univ. of Arkansas—Monticello (AR)*	12957	48735	19971	40%	119	61	99	99
93	Morehead State University (KY)*	8273	50224	22250	50%	155	52	166	38
94	West Texas A&M University (TX)*	18151	55166	19500	55%	62	96	59	166
95	University of Tulsa (OK)	17262	79396	21500	71%	98	117	21	192
96	Sul Ross State University (TX)*	10546	49811	15900	41%	63	12	170	177
97	University of St. Thomas (TX)	17539	66137	19928	64%	48	97	148	102
98	Langston University (OK)*	10709	49961	26000	32%	40	121	102	139
99	Alcorn State University (MS)*	13858	45495	27000	48%	24	160	133	127
100	Texas A&M–Kingsville (TX)*	9808	56982	22934	53%	28	70	162	188
101	Tennessee Wesleyan University (TN)	12075	53707	20000	56%	168	54	136	54
102	University of Kentucky (KY)*	12385	65922	22500	67%	109	86	190	27
103	Tennessee State University (TN)*	12099	53808	27000	39%	41	141	110	111
104	Wiley University (TX)	9012	39988	24989	21%	29	93	96	215
105	University of Pikeville (KY)	14797	55132	20679	57%	172	82	65	72
106	Le Moyne-Owen College (TN)	8627	N/A	28070	26%	26	132	180	103
107	OK Panhandle State Univ. (OK)*	7555	56708	12500	30%	144	6	205	120
108	Texas College (TX)	10727	43887	31000	18%	21	185	39	210
109	John Brown University (AR)	17117	55210	21250	68%	169	115	72	56
110	Lincoln Memorial University (TN)	16565	69633	20000	62%	161	87	88	73
111	Stephen F. Austin State Univ. (TX)*	11701	55013	23409	56%	69	95	85	149
112	Trevecca Nazarene University (TN)	12883	64175	18744	52%	184	42	74	100
113	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi (TX)*	11882	59765	23000	44%	66	90	183	69
114	Dillard University (LA)	19148	48421	31000	49%	25	213	108	70
115	Southern Methodist University (TX)	24908	95051	19500	82%	123	147	17	180
116	Kentucky State University (KY)*	8844	46766	25938	44%	143	109	28	172
117	University of AR–Little Rock (AR)*	15811	58470	22000	45%	111	114	68	118
118	Murray State University (KY)*	7601	50487	20500	59%	101	31	145	150
119	University of New Orleans (LA)*	10827	56037	18750	44%	167	33	149	91
120	Xavier University of Louisiana (LA)	16152	49328	24053	51%	42	139	179	75
121	Loyola University–New Orleans (LA)	19529	52459	26000	63%	93	188	43	88
122	King University (TN)	20970	61394	22750	67%	122	162	33	117
123	Texas Christian University (TX)	20263	76188	21500	81%	203	138	40	45
124	Lane College (TN)	13060	38716	30500	28%	12	192	93	204
125	Hendrix College (AR)	19484	50422	26688	67%	124	193	84	34
126	Tusculum College (TN)	19119	51271	23250	38%	114	149	193	20
127	Northwestern State Univ. of LA (LA)*	13154	56762	25000	46%	110	130	73	109
128	University of TN–Martin (TN)*	9284	47898	21024	52%	82	45	168	137
129	Midway University (KY)	22479	54588	21301	49%	53	151	71	146
130	University of LA–Monroe (LA)*	10943	53715	21500	55%	148	63	143	96
131	Transylvania University (KY)	18653	50923	27000	71%	134	191	53	60
132	Alice Lloyd College (KY)	16513	42268	19599	40%	60	81	128	191
133	Univ. of Texas–Permian Basin (TX)*	8892	63864	17750	49%	194	18	78	196
134	Angelo State University (TX)*	11033	54923	20000	48%	206	47	174	41
135	Maryville College (TN)	17529	49454	25375	53%	100	168	196	21
136	St. Mary's University (TX)	19948	58545	25563	58%	136	187	56	86
137	Cameron University (OK)*	9448	48413	21500	27%	118	51	140	178
138	Nossi College of Art & Design (TN)°	23410	35271	33498	60%	34	218	7	219
139	Schreiner University (TX)	18575	58631	23250	56%	130	143	165	50
140	William Carey University (MS)	14013	54242	20832	52%	195	77	175	49
141	LA State Univ.–Shreveport (LA)*	6457	51673	22500	38%	131	40	178	145
142	Hallmark University (TX)	11326	59410	25438	62%	56	119	120	202
143	Oklahoma City University (OK)	19389	64450	20835	68%	213	125	23	159
144	Baylor University (TX)	28821	69608	23000	80%	185	207	139	11
145	Cumberland University (TN)	18130	58091	17952	61%	173	74	69	183
146	University of Arkansas (AR)*	14176	68890	21500	68%	139	88	146	133
147	Southwestern University (TX)	23082	59994	25000	74%	193	198	54	48
148	Williams Baptist University (AR)	13113	41389	21820	41%	142	84	123	171
149	Campbellsville University (KY)	18928	47650	17156	42%	192	69	82	170
150	Belhaven University (MS)	16325	51795	26333	47%	140	171	66	134
151	Southeastern Louisiana Univ. (LA)*	10592	50215	22113	43%	83	66	198	157
152	Southern Univ./A&M College (LA)*	18674	54666	29251	37%	39	206	134	130
153	Georgetown College (KY)	10020	54370	25200	51%	154	108	158	108
154	Huston-Tillotson University (TX)	19760	N/A	30750	43%	104	214	12	207
155	South University–Austin (TX)°	25160	68975	26123	26%	127	210	122	43
156	Southwestern Assemb. of God U. (TX)	18957	46199	24725	47%	91	172	51	206
157	Tulane University (LA)	23192	73816	20500	74%	211	145	201	15
158	Mid-America Christian Univ. (OK)	15928	55200	26394	38%	87	169	60	208
159	Nicholls State University (LA)*	10469	51767	22675	50%	146	72	169	164
160	West Coast University–Dallas (TX)°	23387	110100	32946	63%	107	217	114	25
161	Oklahoma Christian University (OK)	18724	67575	26000	55%	137	184	46	194
162	Harding University (AR)	17172	53024	26500	69%	187	177	67	104
163	Lyon College (AR)	19246	N/A	21500	46%	105	133	116	203
164	Austin College (TX)	18403	57361	24500	70%	126	165	109	156
165	Blue Mountain Christian Univ. (MS)	18229	40841	18534	57%	215	80	79	158
166	Southwestern Christian Univ. (OK)	17817	45678	20715	27%	156	113	90	213
167	Johnson University (TN)	18128	42004	21500	60%	145	124	141	169
168	University of Dallas (TX)	15475	61870	23117	70%	133	122	100	211
169	Asbury University (KY)	18399	45728	24028	60%	188	155	121	98
170	Rogers State University (OK)*	12868	53237	20500	29%	150	64	195	167
171	Centenary College of Louisiana (LA)	19541	49479	27000	57%	112	197	118	132
172	LA State Univ.–Alexandria (LA)*	6387	51983	19000	36%	178	16	211	155
173	Spalding University (KY)	21990	64136	25250	53%	202	196	81	83
174	Milligan University (TN)	16260	55216	25219	65%	186	152	112	131
175	Lee University (TN)	15045	47559	25750	56%	163	148	126	153
176	Univ. of Mary Hardin–Baylor (TX)	25591	61024	26000	53%	117	211	159	65
177	Union University (TN)	25133	60152	20714	62%	149	170	172	95
178	Grambling State University (LA)*	17389	47043	36500	37%	32	216	124	143
179	Univ. of the Incarnate Word (TX)	19063	63004	27000	55%	113	195	150	122
180	Freed-Hardeman University (TN)	18094	50701	21500	64%	201	123	115	162
181	Mississippi Valley State Univ. (MS)*	10404	40972	28413	37%	179	144	105	168
182	Texas Wesleyan University (TX)	19950	57671	23125	40%	159	157	154	136
183	Texas Lutheran University (TX)	20546	56629	25000	56%	116	186	214	39
184	Franc. Missionaries of Our Lady U. (LA)	15828	63699	27672	45%	198	183	219	6
185	Jarvis Christian College (TX)	9088	40867	27000	27%	90	120	218	80
186	Ouachita Baptist University (AR)	19165	49862	21050	63%	181	127	155	152
187	Hardin-Simmons University (TX)	16447	53769	24711	55%	135	146	189	141
188	Kentucky Wesleyan College (KY)	22168	45592	23250	48%	175	176	167	97
189	Bethel University (TN)	16011	62152	27249	35%	176	179	77	186
190	Louisiana Tech University (LA)*	9385	61520	22135	58%	205	60	186	175
191	Rust College (MS)	9869	41313	26159	32%	74	118	207	200
192	University of the Ozarks (AR)	13390	46099	20875	46%	183	73	194	187
193	Randall University (OK)^^	16575	44913	22626	27%	182	126	113	217
194	McNeese State University (LA)*	9489	53563	23000	47%	196	68	197	179
195	Bryan College (TN)	16055	51604	23000	52%	214	128	142	151
196	Wayland Baptist University (TX)	19932	56530	23106	43%	207	156	101	174
197	Kentucky Christian University (KY)	21897	52466	22250	41%	189	163	176	123
198	Brescia University (KY)	12784	51492	29430	45%	121	181	204	121
199	Oral Roberts University (OK)	20568	54666	27000	49%	75	199	173	189
200	Thomas More College (KY)	15879	70208	26236	48%	191	167	119	195
201	Southern Adventist University (TN)	20643	58282	24500	62%	171	180	202	107
202	Concordia University–Texas (TX)	19516	64701	21852	44%	177	136	215	84
203	Central Baptist College (AR)	14629	46683	22250	40%	170	105	200	209
204	Mississippi Christian University (MS)	21523	55434	22500	58%	209	164	181	119
205	Lubbock Christian University (TX)	23203	57061	20948	55%	204	153	187	129
206	University of TN–Southern (TN)*	12748	46181	21500	37%	162	75	210	205
207	Arkansas Baptist College (AR)	9455	39577	25375	19%	97	103	213	218
208	Oklahoma Baptist University (OK)	19630	49999	24801	53%	212	175	156	144
209	Abilene Christian University (TX)	23444	59305	24250	61%	208	194	177	112
210	Southwestern Adventist Univ. (TX)	18297	55144	26998	50%	190	190	208	105
211	Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK)	24824	62310	24813	44%	199	204	160	176
212	Dallas Baptist University (TX)	26666	59308	21591	54%	216	189	138	197
213	McMurry University (TX)	16392	48273	27000	38%	147	178	216	173
214	Howard Payne University (TX)	21198	50567	26793	40%	197	202	182	185
215	East Texas Baptist University (TX)	19992	48425	23250	43%	200	161	212	163
216	Strayer University–Texas (TX)°	18053	68449	40621	19%	18	219	209	216
217	LeTourneau University (TX)	22279	65664	26000	52%	217	200	203	160
218	University of Holy Cross (LA)	16059	62842	26995	32%	219	174	217	67
219	Southern Univ. at New Orleans (LA)*	16104	47240	31000	36%	218	208	199	154