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About The Best Colleges According to Everyone

Un­der­stand­ing Our Consensus Scores

Publisher Consensus

A school’s average rating score from the most respected college rankings publishers.

Student Consensus

A school’s average student review score from around the web.

College Consensus

The combined average of a school’s Publisher Consensus and Student Consensus scores.

Publisher Rating Sources

The College Consensus only utilizes the most reputable national college ranking systems. These currently include:

Student Review Sources

College Consensus only utilizes reputable student review sites which include an overall review score for each school. These currently include:


The College Consensus Team

Jeremy Alder

Founder / Senior Editor

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Jeremy Alder has developed and managed several websites focused on higher education and career development. A Texas native, Jeremy graduated from The University of Texas at Austin 80 before heading east to Duke University 90 for graduate school. He currently resides in North Carolina with his four kids.

Eric Phillips

Designer / Developer

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Eric Phillips has worked on numerous projects centered around higher education. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Georgia Southern University. He lives in Hawaii with his wife and three kids.

Carrie Sealey-Morris

Managing Editor

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Carrie Sealey-Morris has been a writer and editor for a number of higher education websites. Carrie is a graduate of the University of New Mexico-Main Campus where she earned a B.A. in American Studies. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and three little girls.

Coby Cagle

Marketing & Communications Manager

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Coby has spent over 20 years helping high school and college students grow and flourish. He has a business degree from Rhodes College and a graduate degree from George Fox University. He currently resides in Houston with his wife and two children.

Tammie Cagle

Business & MBA Editor

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Tammie Cagle has enjoyed writing and editing on multiple education websites specifically focused on the business and management sector. Born and raised in Texas, Tammie received her bachelor’s degree from Texas A & M University-College Station 79 in 2002. In 2012, she graduated from Marylhurst University with her MBA. She currently lives in Houston with her husband and two children.

J.D. Scranton

Law School & Legal Studies Editor

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J.D. Scranton spent 12 years working in cybersecurity and data privacy law before focusing on writing about law school and the legal profession. He graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 85 School of Law but still roots for the North Carolina State University at Raleigh 76 Wolfpack, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife and three children.

Gabe Sealey-Morris, Ph.D.

Contributing Editor

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Gabe is a higher education consultant and former English professor with a doctorate in English from University of Georgia 76. With over a decade of experience in higher education, Gabe has taught at nearly every kind of institution, from major R1 public universities to small liberal arts colleges to community colleges.

Mendal Polish

Contributing Editor

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Mendal is a documentarian, adjunct professor in Media Production, and most recently, an active performer in a community puppet troupe! She holds a BA in Film and Digital Media from the University of California-Santa Cruz 63, and returned to school as a veteran educator/filmmaker to earn her MFA from Duke University 90‘s Experimental Documentary Program. Her film work focuses on a variety of contemporary issues, including transformative justice.

Ashe Harris

Contributing Editor

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Ashe is an anti-racist community organizer and southern prison abolitionist with a background in developmental psychology. She did her undergrad at Goddard College in Vermont. In her spare time, she founded a small media company and now makes noises and other art to that effect at her studio in Durham, NC.

Anna Zirkel

Contributing Editor

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Anna has worked with students for nearly a decade as a high school counselor, academic advisor, and admissions evaluator. She earned her master’s degree in school counseling from CUNY Hunter College 69 and has worked with students to develop educational plans at New York University 75 and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 85. She recently founded The Admissions Wayfinder, LLC to help students with the college application process.

Daniel Hall

Contributing Editor

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Daniel writes about career development and is a major advocate for transferable skills. He graduated from University of North Carolina at Greensboro 55 with a B.A. in Economics and University of North Carolina at Charlotte 53 with an M.A. in English. He’s worked in finance, higher ed, communications, and is currently in Tech. He currently resides in Raleigh, NC with his wife.