The New Elite: Why Three Colleges Broke into the WSJ Top 20 Colleges

In this episode, ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice unpacks the 2025 Wall Street Journal Best Colleges in the U.S. list, highlighting its unique approach to evaluating higher education institutions. Unlike traditional rankings, the WSJ list emphasizes student outcomes, focusing on metrics like graduation rates, student debt, and post-graduation salaries. We dive into the stories behind three surprising Top 20 institutions: Babson College, San José State University, and Harvey Mudd College. These schools are redefining what it means to be a top college by providing exceptional value and outcomes for their students. For additional thoughts from Corey, visit coreyalderdice.com.You can also follow him on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, BlueSky, YouTube, Instagram, and Threads.