A Different Way to Rank Colleges
Columnist Elwood Watson highlights Washington Monthly's new roster of over 1,400 colleges, including public and private, large and small, with a reworked methodology focusing on current American public needs.
The list includes colleges such as Boricua College, Bluefield State University, Elizabeth City State University, and Mississippi University for Women, which are part of Washington Monthly's top 25 colleges and universities in 2025.
Over the past two decades, Washington Monthly has published rankings that avoid rewarding an institution's wealth, prestige, and exclusivity, unlike other prestigious rankings.
Most lists include the same top 10 or 20 elite universities, most of which are private.
For example, News & World Report's 2026 college rankings had predictable results.
Author's summary: Washington Monthly ranks colleges differently.