For as long as universities have existed, academics have struggled to impart their knowledge to students. The failing is fixable—if Washington demands it.
US News and World Report College Rankings
Posted inSeptember/October 2023
A Different Kind of College Ranking
America needs a new definition of higher education excellence, one that measures what colleges do for their country, instead of for themselves.
Posted inSeptember/October 2023
America’s Best Bang for the Buck Colleges
Our one-of-a-kind list of schools that help non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices.
Posted inEducation
Why the U.S. News College Rankings Are Subject to Cheating and How to Fix Them
Here’s how the Washington Monthly’s annual college guide avoids those pitfalls.
Posted inCollege Guide
When Gown Embraces Town
It’s time to judge colleges by their contribution to the economic and civic life of their communities. Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, passes the test brilliantly.
Posted inCollege Guide
The Invisible College Barrier
Admissions requirements for popular majors are robbing underprivileged students of future income—and their dreams.
Posted inCollege Guide
America’s Best Bang for the Buck Colleges
Our one-of-a-kind list of schools that help non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices.
Posted inCollege Guide
The Washington Monthly College Rankings: The Origin Story
The journalists James and Deborah Fallows are best known these days for their hit book and HBO documentary Our Towns, a journey-by-small-plane look at the resilience and renewal of unheralded communities across America. I’ve known them for almost four decades as colleagues, mentors, and friends, and I am delighted to publish features by each of […]
Posted inBooks
Wrecking the College Pecking Order
Much of higher education has a love/hate relationship with college rankings: love them when their college does well, and refuse to recognize their existence if they ever drop a spot. But most colleges—and selective institutions in particular—play the rankings game in two key ways. First, they spend considerable time and effort putting together data for […]
