Despite that success, a familiar front-runner holds the No. 1 position for the fifth straight year, and China is making big inroads into in impact of global research.

MIT and two other traditional education powerhouses lead the top three in Money's annual study, while several state universities and smaller colleges fare well.

Beloit College has expanded its Beloit Action Plan to offer tuition-free ninth and tenth semesters to students who enroll full-time during the 2020-21 school year.

What if colleges and universities added a senior administrator whose sole focus was to manage the coronavirus response and monitor whether everyone on campus is following safety precautions?