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	CA State University–Northridge (CA)*	6270	59664	13872	71%	2	12	50	52
2	CA State University–Los Angeles (CA)*	3793	59756	13000	68%	3	2	46	139
3	CA State University–Fresno (CA)*	5531	59992	14505	70%	12	13	71	44
4	CA State University–Long Beach (CA)*	7146	63140	14289	83%	5	17	110	50
5	Western Governors University (UT)	10469	87445	11116	53%	1	9	84	125
6	CA State University–Sacramento (CA)*	8427	64511	15000	71%	11	28	77	40
7	California State Univ.–Fullerton (CA)*	4515	63753	13750	80%	4	5	107	107
8	CA State Univ.–San Bernardino (CA)*	4862	55441	14715	71%	18	10	45	49
9	Brigham Young University (UT)	10784	77018	11069	84%	13	11	9	174
10	Pomona College (CA)	6721	77544	11782	95%	104	3	5	37
11	Arizona State University (AZ)*	10927	66968	19500	68%	9	65	154	17
12	Stanford University (CA)	154	136959	12000	97%	86	1	3	187
13	CA State University–Stanislaus (CA)*	4613	58952	13540	70%	34	4	24	106
14	Claremont McKenna College (CA)	12511	110798	13500	92%	102	33	4	85
15	Harvey Mudd College (CA)	20333	137100	25000	93%	127	150	1	77
16	CA State Univ.–Dominguez Hills (CA)*	4934	58922	13807	69%	19	7	30	182
17	University of CA–Berkeley (CA)*	8583	96018	13000	94%	24	14	38	145
18	CA State University–Chico (CA)*	11399	65228	16552	74%	40	51	49	22
19	California Institute of Tech. (CA)	1101	152843	N/A	94%	155	8	2	185
20	Cal Poly Maritime Academy (CA)*	13241	108757	24965	69%	145	119	7	6
21	University of California–Davis (CA)*	10261	73086	13000	89%	22	23	166	39
22	University of California–LA (CA)*	8620	77677	14000	93%	26	22	145	34
23	CA State University–San Marcos (CA)*	7677	67891	17350	68%	38	41	60	38
24	CA State Univ.–Monterey Bay (CA)*	10081	62324	12750	73%	49	19	56	42
25	CA State University–Bakersfield (CA)*	4788	59109	16600	63%	31	25	57	104
26	Grand Canyon University (AZ)	19671	74343	22114	46%	6	126	133	79
27	Cal Poly Pomona (CA)*	9013	71138	16000	78%	14	37	127	137
28	San Jose State University (CA)*	11005	89614	15000	77%	21	38	109	115
29	University of WA–Tacoma (WA)*	6202	82515	14615	74%	44	15	28	121
30	Heritage University (WA)	10876	62898	14573	58%	54	34	14	110
31	San Francisco State University (CA)*	10425	67804	15371	67%	25	39	119	94
32	Portland State University (OR)*	12021	62060	20500	57%	37	81	91	20
33	University of CA–Riverside (CA)*	10183	64926	17500	80%	10	52	183	129
34	Utah State University (UT)*	10948	63484	14340	57%	47	31	106	28
35	University of CA–San Diego (CA)*	9113	83130	15500	90%	16	32	160	120
36	Univ. of California–Merced (CA)*	9739	65410	16144	72%	17	42	141	116
37	San Diego State University (CA)*	10353	68268	15000	82%	32	35	128	86
38	Brigham Young University–ID (ID)	4555	56787	13969	58%	33	6	55	190
39	Westminster University (UT)	20754	72401	22250	68%	124	131	16	5
40	Prescott College (AZ)	21259	49339	16300	51%	50	95	23	48
41	University of WA–Seattle (WA)*	7079	82515	14615	84%	66	20	156	18
42	University of California–Irvine (CA)*	8811	74438	15000	87%	15	30	197	126
43	Washington State University (WA)*	9362	73467	19500	65%	51	57	108	29
44	Cal Poly Humboldt (CA)*	9877	51571	18000	64%	55	53	92	51
45	University of NV–Las Vegas (NV)*	9573	62637	19450	53%	30	59	142	82
46	University of WA–Bothell (WA)*	6545	82515	14615	79%	53	16	114	88
47	University of Redlands (CA)	22851	75863	26000	67%	100	172	42	3
48	University of San Diego (CA)	18605	85309	22940	81%	148	128	74	2
49	Western Washington Univ. (WA)*	13889	58560	18500	71%	90	69	116	11
50	Soka University of America (CA)	11979	53646	15650	89%	169	45	8	138
51	Evergreen State College (WA)*	21449	44424	20500	57%	91	120	10	73
52	Northern Arizona University (AZ)*	11895	60629	19000	60%	43	66	136	45
53	University of CA–Santa Barbara (CA)*	9952	70323	13993	87%	36	27	100	169
54	University of Montana (MT)*	14785	50928	22400	46%	56	111	202	1
55	University of CA–Santa Cruz (CA)*	11081	67085	16666	80%	35	50	158	98
56	Colorado State University (CO)*	12982	67911	20000	70%	108	84	117	14
57	Whitman College (WA)	20434	56804	18437	89%	142	109	47	16
58	Southern CA Inst. of Technology (CA)°	29124	65954	10798	82%	29	92	20	204
59	Pacific Lutheran University (WA)	15917	63671	22578	72%	93	116	37	33
60	Scripps College (CA)	14742	75301	13500	85%	151	43	35	81
61	Pitzer College (CA)	16939	69786	16750	86%	173	72	40	27
62	Colorado College (CO)	12458	56959	18257	87%	162	63	69	21
63	University of Denver (CO)	22342	78504	21844	76%	156	136	68	4
64	CA State University–East Bay (CA)*	8613	72596	16544	69%	42	40	79	172
65	Lewis & Clark College (OR)	20265	57262	19500	74%	123	113	86	15
66	University of Arizona (AZ)*	13491	67420	19620	63%	27	83	151	122
67	Occidental College (CA)	19051	68467	23000	83%	120	129	26	25
68	Reed College (OR)	15492	44518	21500	78%	175	110	85	8
69	CA State Univ.–Channel Islands (CA)*	8711	59304	15000	72%	57	29	66	181
70	Central Washington University (WA)*	12437	63444	19500	62%	110	71	61	72
71	Eastern Washington University (WA)*	9370	60781	19500	59%	83	58	101	71
72	Gonzaga University (WA)	23307	80896	24454	87%	168	158	21	10
73	CO Technical Univ. (CO)°	15924	60707	29832	22%	7	169	132	188
74	University of Nevada–Reno (NV)*	13208	67498	18922	61%	76	70	171	19
75	University of Southern CA (CA)	15805	95739	18000	93%	46	79	65	149
76	University of Wyoming (WY)*	8539	61749	18000	62%	146	49	134	41
77	University of Portland (OR)	25144	80459	21370	81%	121	148	89	12
78	University of Utah (UT)*	10807	75345	19000	70%	74	61	124	93
79	Seattle University (WA)	25671	79426	19883	76%	137	139	115	7
80	University of Oregon (OR)*	16512	62174	20139	74%	80	104	102	69
81	Sonoma State University (CA)*	10493	65997	16705	69%	96	47	52	170
82	Naropa University (CO)	21587	41627	24712	52%	41	152	33	135
83	Whitworth University (WA)	18553	61291	25000	73%	109	144	13	97
84	NM Inst. of Mining and Tech (NM)*	5988	85232	19085	58%	184	44	12	183
85	NM State Univ.–Main (NM)*	7037	54874	17095	55%	111	36	164	84
86	University of Northern CO (CO)*	14876	56930	20470	58%	191	99	130	13
87	University of the Pacific (CA)	18386	81820	19500	75%	58	106	95	113
88	Willamette University (OR)	18670	54450	21500	74%	113	118	64	68
89	Metropolitan State U. Denver (CO)*	13168	60186	21500	38%	84	97	168	31
90	University of NM–Main (NM)*	14298	59818	18450	57%	78	74	172	56
91	Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (CA)*	9466	90662	18500	87%	89	54	78	163
92	Fresno Pacific University (CA)	12228	63285	23146	66%	71	105	59	136
93	University of La Verne (CA)	24305	64109	23500	63%	61	154	129	26
94	University of Phoenix–Phoenix (AZ)°	13130	61486	31553	27%	8	168	194	184
95	Oregon State University (OR)*	14400	71799	21221	67%	63	102	150	92
96	Touro College Los Angeles (CA)	16764	67614	25000	50%	81	134	18	156
97	California Lutheran University (CA)	21320	69695	21669	76%	106	130	54	95
98	Fort Lewis College (CO)*	16075	46601	18389	47%	94	88	131	89
99	AZ Coll. of Nursing–Las Vegas (NV)°	29660	38251	9500	31%	39	80	211	59
100	Saint Martin's University (WA)	18991	71704	22500	64%	133	125	22	124
101	University of Colorado–Boulder (CO)*	14297	76850	19500	73%	87	89	105	128
102	Santa Clara University (CA)	30108	108517	19162	91%	160	151	11	108
103	University of Idaho (ID)*	11577	60330	21982	62%	189	94	94	53
104	Azusa Pacific University (CA)	19458	71925	23219	72%	117	133	122	30
105	Brookline College–Phoenix (AZ)°	30073	41962	9500	56%	65	85	190	75
106	New Mexico Highlands Univ. (NM)*	12925	55864	11399	49%	180	24	152	112
107	Linfield University (OR)	22463	81180	25000	75%	152	159	48	47
108	University of Providence (MT)	17472	88535	18750	62%	195	96	29	123
109	Seattle Pacific University (WA)	20035	70115	24000	66%	88	142	87	78
110	St. John's College (NM)	17408	37727	N/A	63%	101	121	67	117
111	Saint Mary’s College of CA (CA)	21323	74325	23691	77%	149	146	36	87
112	Simpson University (CA)	24542	59198	18750	69%	112	123	15	178
113	Neumont Coll. Of Comp. Science (UT)°	28718	N/A	N/A	59%	23	188	39	204
114	University of San Francisco (CA)	32806	91483	23000	76%	85	186	82	32
115	Mount St. Mary's Univ.–LA (CA)	22972	79546	25949	63%	45	173	165	55
116	University of Colorado–Denver (CO)*	12319	74059	20500	50%	170	86	176	35
117	Chamberlain Univ.–Nevada (NV)°	32402	97262	20919	72%	129	177	51	59
118	Idaho State University (ID)*	14251	58142	20039	54%	166	93	148	58
119	Warner Pacific University (OR)	18940	65093	25000	47%	64	145	83	131
120	West Coast Univ.–Los Angeles (CA)°	50496	110100	32946	81%	62	215	6	57
121	Montana State Univ.–Northern (MT)*	11539	60505	18500	39%	186	60	111	102
122	Dominican University of CA (CA)	32889	95437	27000	75%	139	196	88	9
123	University of Hawaii–Hilo (HI)*	10508	49763	20500	43%	165	68	76	146
124	Menlo College (CA)	23318	79903	21750	60%	163	141	31	101
125	Chamberlain Univ.–Arizona (AZ)°	34562	97262	20919	70%	114	183	63	59
126	Univ. of Montana–Western (MT)*	14118	44338	21000	52%	154	100	97	105
127	Colorado School of Mines (CO)*	20508	100252	23000	84%	118	137	27	168
128	Rocky Mountain College (MT)	15277	60523	26000	51%	159	135	144	36
129	Pacific University (OR)	26737	62363	23223	70%	183	170	99	24
130	Boise State University (ID)*	17097	64791	20500	58%	132	108	178	74
131	Chaminade Univ. of Honolulu (HI)	28523	59437	23250	51%	48	176	175	80
132	University of Puget Sound (WA)	29261	59684	25000	76%	178	185	43	70
133	Thomas Aquinas College (CA)	19939	49755	18000	84%	157	103	25	202
134	Western Oregon University (OR)*	16700	54346	20609	54%	136	107	96	160
135	Eastern Oregon University (OR)*	12606	55565	20500	46%	176	87	75	180
136	University of Hawaii–Manoa (HI)*	10645	61903	18500	65%	144	56	181	133
137	Whittier College (CA)	23271	57988	24937	67%	95	163	123	96
138	Humphreys–Stockton/Modesto (CA)	6324	56489	35500	52%	92	164	73	143
139	Eastern NM University–Main (NM)*	5415	54827	16500	49%	211	26	138	142
140	Montana Technological Univ. (MT)*	14067	79369	18750	60%	198	75	153	109
141	Regis University (CO)	17944	81785	25000	57%	188	140	149	46
142	Embry-Riddle Aero.–Prescott (AZ)	36599	93582	23666	68%	141	194	44	83
143	Brigham Young Univ.–Hawaii (HI)	15101	N/A	9413	69%	212	18	93	191
144	University of Hawaii–West Oahu (HI)*	7758	53969	14500	52%	203	21	118	197
145	Platt College–Aurora (CO)°	41182	N/A	N/A	81%	204	195	19	59
146	Northwest University (WA)	17304	58404	20891	61%	167	112	147	103
147	Western New Mexico Univ. (NM)*	9254	54074	23000	46%	185	90	159	118
148	Southern Oregon University (OR)*	13672	52911	20332	54%	200	91	112	140
149	University of the Southwest (NM)	17777	51952	21303	38%	98	115	170	134
150	Univ. of CO–Colorado Springs (CO)*	12258	62980	20000	48%	105	76	189	144
151	George Fox University (OR)	23063	69145	24250	71%	131	153	80	132
152	National Paralegal College (AZ)°	15420	49547	24853	44%	103	127	62	204
153	Montana State Univ.–Billings (MT)*	13567	55549	18209	35%	197	67	182	114
154	Montana State University (MT)*	18412	65157	22500	56%	153	122	201	43
155	Los Angeles Film School (CA)°	32550	33557	25250	47%	28	192	113	203
156	Oregon Institute of Technology (OR)*	11568	87138	22500	53%	196	98	120	150
157	Concordia University–Irvine (CA)	23992	83064	24247	63%	171	160	81	119
158	Westmont College (CA)	22343	64044	23250	72%	134	149	155	99
159	West Coast Univ.–Ontario (CA)°	47075	110100	32946	73%	59	214	32	59
160	Adams State University (CO)*	10859	52621	19500	37%	174	64	157	179
161	Vanguard Univ. of So. California (CA)	17855	65874	22000	63%	126	117	137	167
162	California Baptist University (CA)	23258	68600	26063	61%	60	174	143	166
163	Western Colorado University (CO)*	11957	50666	20250	50%	213	78	204	23
164	Carroll College (MT)	17318	59396	25757	69%	199	143	169	54
165	Univ. of Advancing Technology (AZ)	21653	54762	28812	46%	52	182	72	201
166	Amer. InterCont. Univ.–Online (IL)°	14410	50399	31000	15%	20	171	208	196
167	Pepperdine University (CA)	39836	84459	23510	85%	135	200	17	159
168	Bushnell University (OR)	19809	59969	23500	58%	122	138	126	165
169	West Coast Univ.–Orange County (CA)°	31677	110100	32946	78%	67	206	125	67
170	Corban University (OR)	18597	48593	22625	56%	161	124	121	162
171	Utah Tech University (UT)*	13325	55624	15000	41%	181	48	191	176
172	Lewis-Clark State College (ID)*	11819	58274	18500	49%	210	62	146	152
173	CO State University–Pueblo (CO)*	10414	55898	21500	42%	202	82	193	111
174	University of Alaska–Anchorage (AK)*	11455	68777	20210	33%	207	73	205	76
175	Woodbury University (CA)	27536	66794	26960	65%	69	187	53	204
176	University of Alaska–Fairbanks (AK)*	7726	67252	20291	39%	208	55	162	175
177	Loyola Marymount University (CA)	32047	78039	19500	82%	177	162	90	155
178	La Sierra University (CA)	29673	57898	27000	47%	79	191	185	90
179	Walla Walla University (WA)	19101	68868	26842	66%	194	155	98	158
180	Otis College of Art and Design (CA)	41223	50900	27000	69%	70	205	70	153
181	Northwest Nazarene University (ID)	25584	60040	23750	60%	179	167	180	91
182	Point Loma Nazarene University (CA)	34848	72880	22990	77%	128	189	103	148
183	University of Alaska Southeast (AK)*	6411	61954	19111	38%	215	46	167	161
184	College of Idaho (ID)	17378	52628	24500	61%	192	132	174	141
185	Colorado Mesa University (CO)*	12617	58601	22000	42%	187	101	195	171
186	Lincoln University (CA)	28597	N/A	N/A	70%	209	166	41	189
187	Chapman University (CA)	35421	73336	20500	82%	125	184	135	173
188	Biola University (CA)	24168	61363	23875	69%	147	156	177	157
189	Los Angeles Pacific University (CA)	21498	68736	18750	46%	116	114	199	198
190	Colorado Christian University (CO)	22265	58576	28312	31%	107	181	198	164
191	DigiPen Institute of Tech. (WA)°	34227	93273	27000	56%	140	201	58	204
192	American Univ. of Health Sciences (CA)°	25963	120258	40326	76%	72	209	196	59
193	ArtCenter College of Design (CA)	43158	74009	31000	77%	68	210	34	204
194	Pacific Union College (CA)	22382	88027	27500	44%	205	179	186	100
195	William Jessup University (CA)	24890	55374	23700	62%	182	161	163	194
196	Hawaii Pacific University (HI)	27206	58128	22000	41%	190	157	203	127
197	Hope International University (CA)	26655	53687	23000	44%	150	165	188	186
198	Nevada State University (NV)*	12822	73626	19691	36%	206	77	215	130
199	Eagle Gate College–Murray (UT)°	28087	49128	43021	58%	143	211	139	59
200	California College of the Arts (CA)	39623	53517	27000	73%	138	204	140	153
201	Provo College (UT)°	30263	51307	41733	64%	97	212	184	59
202	Pacific Northwest Coll. of Art (OR)	33727	N/A	25000	46%	82	193	179	204
203	Northwest University–Online (WA)	25864	58404	20891	43%	214	147	161	192
204	California Institute of the Arts (CA)	37939	35256	25000	70%	158	202	187	151
205	University of Silicon Valley (CA)°	27282	56708	31000	49%	77	198	192	204
206	University of Arizona–Global (AZ)*	27033	56883	31250	20%	73	199	210	177
207	Rocky Mt. Coll. of Art & Design (CO)	26527	41363	31000	31%	75	197	206	199
208	Laguna Coll. of Art and Design (CA)	37911	48922	27000	62%	115	203	173	204
209	National University (CA)	26347	81115	25000	41%	193	178	213	147
210	DeVry University–Ontario (CA)°	32440	63172	24807	24%	99	190	209	200
211	Arizona Christian University (AZ)	29756	51181	23000	44%	164	180	212	193
212	New York Film Academy (CA)°	39770	29902	16000	65%	201	175	200	204
213	Newschool of Arch. & Design (CA)^^	49073	74029	31000	62%	172	213	104	204
214	CA Aeronautical University (CA)°	36180	47702	30705	44%	130	207	207	204
215	Academy of Art University (CA)°	37222	50255	31000	27%	119	208	214	195