^ I suspect you’re right.
The universities on that list have a tremendous impact on their local communities and the nation as a whole. Using Washington as an example:
“More than 141,000 private donors contributed $684 million during the 2018-19 fiscal year, according to a recent report.”
“The school drove $15.7 billion of economic activity in Washington in the fiscal year that ended June 30; its operations supported or sustained more than 100,000 jobs and generated $752.7 million in state and local taxes, according to an economic impact study released last week.“
“[UW alumni] can be found in every sector of our economy — public and private. They are doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, elected officials and public servants. Moreover, state and local leaders frequently call on researchers and experts on UW campuses to help find solutions to challenges in governance, education and many other fields.“
I’m sure similar articles could be written about many of the universities on that list.