Washington Monthly Ranks Texas A&M Above Princeton in Annual College Rankings

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Washington Monthly magazine today releases its annual College Guide, designed as an alternative to U.S. News & World Report and similar guides. Texas A&M takes the number one spot among national universities on the Washington Monthly list, while Princeton, U.S. News's top-ranked school, comes in at 78.

UCLA and UC Berkeley place second and third respectively among national universities in the Washington Monthly rankings. Among liberal arts colleges, Presbyterian (SC), Smith (MA), and Wheaton (IL) take the top three spots respectively, far above their U.S. News rankings.

This year's guide also offers a first-of-its-kind list of America's Best Community Colleges, and reveals that these little-known two-year institutions actually offer more rigorous and successful teaching than do many four-year universities ranked in U.S. News' top tier.

The Washington Monthly's rankings come just weeks after sixty-one liberal arts college presidents announced that they will no longer participate in U.S. News's annual rankings because of what they charge is the magazine's flawed method for measuring academic excellence.

Unlike U.S. News' prestige-focused ranking system, the Washington Monthly rates individual schools based on their tangible contributions to the public interest: on the degree to which they recruit and graduate low-income students; produce PhDs and research; and encourage students to serve in ROTC, the Peace Corps and other service programs. While other guides ask, "what can colleges do for you?" The Washington Monthly asks, "what are colleges doing for the country?"

Also in the Washington Monthly's College Guide: -- Kevin Carey of Education Sector profiles arguably America's finest two- year institution of higher learning, Cascadia Community College in Bothell, Washington, and shows how any college or university in the country could use the school's innovative teaching methods. -- Journalist Ben Adler reveals the secrets behind One Dupont Circle, the DC building that is home to the country's most powerful higher education lobbyists and the place where "good reform ideas go to die." http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2007/0709.collegeguide.html Washington Monthly is the DC-based magazine and web site where Beltway

insiders go for high-quality, ahead-of-the-pack journalism. Since 1969, our

mission has been to uncover the evolving ways in which power works in Washington and the new ideas that can drive the country forward. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/ Contact: Ryan Anderson, Director of Development & Communications (202)393-5155 X3015 randerson@washingtonmonthly.com