City Journal Audio City Journal's New College Rankings
Oct 29, 2025
Neetu Arnold, a higher-education researcher and former Cornell student, teams up with Renu Mukherjee, a policy analyst focused on college rankings. They dive into new college rankings emphasizing free speech and curricular rigor. The conversation uncovers the experiences of conservative students feeling isolated, the critical role of faculty diversity, and challenges with identity politics in admissions. They also discuss how superficial diversity can hinder genuine debate, guiding parents in choosing colleges that offer meaningful educational environments.
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Rankings Beyond Prestige
- City Journal's rankings measure free speech, curricular rigor, and meritocracy, not just cost or prestige.
- This offers families a fuller picture of students' actual educational experience on campus.
Florida Tops For Campus Experience
- Renu Mukherjee says University of Florida ranks first because it fosters open speech, varied organization, and fun campus life.
- She contrasts that with Harvard, highly ranked by prestige lists but much lower in City Journal's system.
Outnumbered Conservatives On Campus
- Many conservative students feel outnumbered and sacrifice community to chase prestige at elite campuses.
- That minority status shapes daily campus life and students' sense of belonging.
