Too Dope Teachers and a Mic

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

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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 at washingtonmonthly.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
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