Rank

For those who dislike ranking

The Washington Monthly has a ranking of universities that puts heavy weight on universities that are giving disadvantaged students a hand:

The top five are:
UC-SD, UC-R, UC-B, Texas A&M, and UCLA

Not surprisingly, public universities do well in such rankings.  But well-endowed privates - which have money for student aid - also show up.  Stanford is number 6.  Harvard is number 10.

You can find the full listing at:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings-2014/national-universities-rank.php

Maybe not surprisingly, the Monthly also carries a lengthy defense of public universities by UC prez Napolitano:

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/ten-miles-square/2014/08/public_universities_need_to_be051811.php