Remixing Higher Ed: Paul Glastris on College Rankings, Democracy, and Who Higher Education Really Serves

In this in-depth conversation, Washington Monthly editor-in-chief Paul Glastris joins Gerardo to unpack how America’s obsession with elite college rankings distorts our sense of what higher education is for. From his days inside U.S. News & World Report to his years building an alternative ranking system rooted in upward mobility, research, and civic service, Glastris offers a powerful critique — and a hopeful vision for how colleges can once again serve democracy.

They dig into:

• The myth of “best” colleges and how exclusivity became a badge of honor
• Why schools like Fresno State and Berea College outshine Ivy League institutions in real impact
• How higher ed has become a political battleground — and what’s at stake for our democracy
• What vocational education really looks like when it’s not just political theater
• How students, families, and educators can use data wisely and choose institutions that serve the public good

Listen if you care about:

Educational equity • Democracy • College access • First-gen students • Public policy • Media and truth-telling

Guest:

Paul Glastris, Editor-in-Chief of The Washington Monthly

Follow him on X and BlueSky: @glastris

Explore the latest college rankings atwashingtonmonthly.com

Host:

Gerardo A. Muñoz — 2021 Colorado Teacher of the Year, educator, scholar, disruptor, and co-host of Too Dope Teachers and a Mic

Music by:

Kevin Adams

Links Mentioned:

• Washington Monthly 2025 College Rankings:washingtonmonthly.com/college-guide
• Washington Monthly Podcast