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 to focus 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.
Washington Monthly has published rankings for over two decades, aiming to avoid rewarding an institution's wealth, prestige, and exclusivity, which is often the case with other prestigious rankings.
Most lists include the same top 10 or 20 elite universities, most of which are private.
In contrast, Washington Monthly's approach provides a different perspective, as seen in News & World Report's 2026 college rankings, which yielded predictable results.
Author's summary: Washington Monthly ranks colleges differently.