The organizations of the tiers make no sense in relation to the article. For example, comparing the post graduate success of a Berkley grad with an Arizona State grad isn’t reliable. Similarly, Reed College has one of highest percentages of students who go on to earn Phds. And I can guarantee they are earning them at elite schools. However they are lumped with the likes of Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Before this article can be taken seriously, they need to figure this out.