For several years The Washington Monthly has conducted its own college rankings, sort of as a counterpoint to the well-known U.S. News and World Report guide.

It's a different kind of college guide. As the editors say of The Washington Monthly College Rankings, "this guide asks not what colleges can do for you, but what colleges are doing for the country. It's a guide for all Americans who are concerned about our institutions of higher learning."

The Washington Monthly College Rankings consider things like whether colleges are using tax dollars they get effectively, whether the schools are turning out graduates who can keep America competitive, etc., not just how much money a given school's diploma can get you in the job market.

The Washington Monthly College Rankings also look at the country's best community college, and show why some are better than some top four-year schools.