ACTA on the Manhattan Institute’s 2025 College Rankings

What makes for a great college education? It is a question that goes beyond prestige or price. It is about what truly equips students for lives of purpose and impact. Last week, the Manhattan Institute launched a new college rankings system in its City Journal magazine that marks a fresh approach to evaluating higher education in the United States. By refocusing attention on what really matters, student outcomes, academic rigor, and value, this holistic model has the potential to inspire lasting reform. Below, we outline how the rankings align with ACTA’s “three A’s”—accountability, academic excellence, and academic freedom.

Accountability

The Manhattan Institute’s college rankings help hold institutions accountable for providing a truly valuable college education. As the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board put it, the rankings “look closely at the strength of the general curriculum and whether the university is providing excellence or coasting on a fancy reputation.” A holistic approach to ranking institutions underscores the importance of preparing students to become successful and engaged citizens. This requires a well-rounded and intellectually stimulating curriculum, as well as a campus that welcomes diversity of thought and the free exchange of ideas. It is up to university governing boards, elected officials, and the public at large to hold institutions accountable. By committing to a culture of academic excellence and intellectual freedom, higher education leaders can ensure that our universities are the engines of student success and societal progress.

ACTA hopes that trustees and alumni who love their alma maters will take these illuminating rankings with utmost seriousness. We hope that state legislators will likewise consider the information the Manhattan Institute provides in their decisions about investments of public money in their state institutions.

Academic Excellence

The Manhattan Institute’s college rankings highlight the enduring value of a rigorous liberal arts education. ACTA is delighted that our What Will They Learn?® initiative has been helpful in constructing these rankings. What Will They Learn?® evaluates colleges on the strength of their core curricula, shining light on institutions that are committed to providing an intellectually stimulating education that cultivates a broad range of knowledge and practical skills. These are the qualities that prepare graduates to think critically, contribute meaningfully to their communities, and pursue successful careers.

We are also glad to see that ACTA’s Hidden Gems and Oases of Excellence initiatives have a role in the Manhattan Institute’s rankings. These initiatives spotlight academic centers and programs that foster free inquiry, civic literacy, and intellectual vitality. The Manhattan Institute’s dedication to these measures reveals what truly defines academic quality: exposure to a diverse array of disciplines and an intellectually stimulating curriculum.

Notably, the Manhattan Institute scores institutions on whether they require U.S. history or government in their curricula. Shockingly, What Will They Learn?® reveals that fewer than one in five four-year colleges and universities ensure students receive this essential grounding. ACTA remains committed to revitalizing civic education at our nation’s colleges and universities to prepare students for the world and educate our future leaders. ACTA has established a National Commission on American History and Civic Education, composed of 24 of the country’s top historians and education leaders. The commission aims to define what a required undergraduate course in U.S. history and government should look like and to create an implementation blueprint for higher education leaders. By including U.S. history and government requirements in its rankings, the Manhattan Institute has raised the bar for how we measure educational excellence. Understanding the American story is not optional, it is foundational. The Manhattan Institute has brilliantly profiled this urgent need.

 Academic Freedom

A core tenet of the Manhattan Institute’s new rankings is a university’s commitment to academic freedom. The rankings evaluate whether institutions uphold the spirit of the Chicago Principles on Freedom of Expression, which are guidelines to safeguard free expression and open debate on campus. ACTA has long championed these principles, urging colleges and universities to adopt them through the ACTA Gold Standard for Freedom of Expression™. We applaud the Manhattan Institute for recognizing that true institutional excellence depends on protecting the free exchange of ideas.

ACTA is proud to serve as a trusted resource for organizations like the Manhattan Institute in their efforts to strengthen higher education. For more than 30 years, ACTA has championed academic freedom, academic excellence, and accountability on our nation’s campuses. This innovative college rankings system highlights the importance of these principles in shaping a truly great college education.