Washingtonmonthly iconWashingtonmonthlyAug 30, 2026

A Note on Methodology: Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars

To establish the set of colleges included in the rankings, we started with the 1,950 colleges in the 50 states and Washington, D.C., listed in the U.S.

A Note on Methodology: Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars

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To establish the set of colleges included in the rankings, we started with the 1,950 colleges in the 50 states and Washington, D.C., listed in the U.S.

Department of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) that awarded more bachelor's degrees than associate's degrees, participated in federal financial aid programs, were offering...

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To establish the set of colleges included in the rankings, we started with the 1,950 colleges in the 50 states and Washington, D.C., listed in the U.S. Department of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) that awarded more bachelor's degrees than associate's degrees, participated in federal financial aid programs, were offering classes, and had […] The post A Note on Methodology:

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  • Department of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) that awarded more bachelor's degrees than associate's degrees, participated in federal financial aid programs, were offering...

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