The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price

Naming Names

The folks behind the NSSE remain steadfastly opposed to collegiate rankings. But in 2005, George D. Kuh, the organization’s founder and others, published a book that names names. The book, Student Success in College: Creating Conditions That Matter, was the result of a 24-person research team that talked with 2,700 people during its visits to a diverse group of strong performing schools. The 20 schools enjoy higher than predicted graduation rates and, as measured by the NSSE, have successfully worked with students of differing abilities.

Here are the 20 schools that made the list:

• Alverno College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• California State University at Monterey Bay, Seaside, California

• Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington

• Fayetteville ...