The guide ranks schools based on what they are doing for the country, not just on measures of money and prestige. The “Best Bang for the Buck” list rates colleges that are doing the best job of helping non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices. Schools on the “Top Master’s Universities” list are chosen for their contribution to the public good in three categories: social mobility, research and service.
According to Washington Monthly 2016 College Guide Guest Editor Kevin Carey, “It is far too easy for colleges to garner undeserved reputations for excellence by hiking tuition, burdening students with loans, and spending the money on things that have little to do with educational excellence. Meanwhile, colleges that are authentically committed to service and social mobility get far too little recognition or reward.”
These rankings are determined using a variety of data, including the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard. This was incorporated into the guide’s process for the first time this year, “marking the single-biggest change in our methodology to date,” says Carey.
The Washington Monthly College Guide is published annually in the fall, when many students are starting their college application process. To learn more about the 2016 guide, visit WashingtonMonthly.com.
Other recognition for Bethel College includes being named a College of Distinction for six years in a row and ranking number one on the list of “Top 50 Christian Colleges and Universities Exceeding Expectations” by Christian Universities Online. For more information, visit BethelCollege.edu/PridePoints.