How Schools are Selected
Why We Don’t Rank Graduate Schools
Traditional graduate school rankings suggest that institutions can be stacked from “best” to “worst” using a single numerical formula. In reality, graduate education is highly specialized. Program structure, delivery format, faculty mentorship, research expectations, and professional outcomes vary widely by institution and by student goal.
Numerical rankings often overemphasize prestige-driven or narrow quantitative metrics that do not reflect how graduate students actually choose programs—especially working professionals balancing schedule, cost, and geographic constraints.
Abound does not rank graduate schools. Instead, we curate a focused cohort of institutions that demonstrate consistent strength in program design, student support, and long-term graduate outcomes. Our goal is not to declare a single “best” school—but to highlight credible options so students can determine their best fit.
Our Methodology
Each year, Abound refines its graduate school cohort to ensure we highlight institutions that remain aligned with evolving student needs and responsible program design.
Our review framework centers on what we call the Four As:
- Accessibility
- Affordability
- Acceleration
- Advancement
These categories guide both our initial data screening and our holistic institutional review process.
Accessibility
We evaluate whether graduate programs are realistically accessible to working professionals and adult learners. Indicators include:
- Online, hybrid, evening, or weekend formats
- Track record of delivering flexible graduate programs
- Availability of part-time enrollment pathways
- Clarity of admissions and program information
Affordability
Graduate education represents a significant financial investment. We review:
- Published tuition and fee transparency
- Per-credit pricing for part-time students
- Debt and repayment indicators when available
- Evidence of responsible borrowing outcomes
Acceleration
We assess whether institutions provide clear, efficient pathways to degree completion, including:
- Structured program sequencing
- Flexible pacing options
- Support systems that reduce time-to-completion barriers
- Demonstrated experience serving part-time graduate populations
Advancement
Graduate programs should meaningfully advance students’ professional and academic goals. We consider:
- Career services access for graduate students
- Faculty engagement and instructional investment
- Research infrastructure (when relevant)
- Membership in recognized graduate education organizations (e.g., CGS, OLC)
Evaluation Process
Our evaluation combines national data sources with qualitative institutional review:
1. National Data Review
We begin with publicly available data from the National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) and the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard to identify institutions that meet baseline standards for accreditation, outcomes, and program scope.
2. Institutional Context Review
We review graduate program offerings, support infrastructure, transparency of information, and long-term commitment to serving graduate students.
3. Holistic Editorial Review
After data screening, our editorial team evaluates each institution through a qualitative lens. We do not rely on a rigid weighted scoring formula. Data informs the process, but inclusion decisions reflect a holistic assessment of institutional consistency and graduate-student support.
What Isn’t Included
To protect students, we exclude institutions that raise concerns related to accreditation stability, financial health, or graduate program scope.
- Institutions without recognized institutional accreditation
- Schools with significant financial instability or compliance risk
- Institutions lacking meaningful graduate-level program infrastructure
Institutional Review Requests
Abound maintains a selective graduate school cohort. Institutions that believe their programs align with our standards may request consideration for a future review cycle through our institutional review process.
Review requests do not guarantee inclusion. All institutions are evaluated using the same standards and editorial framework described above.
Institutions may request review here:
Request Institutional Review