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Why This Matters

  • THE U.S. HAS ALMOST 3,000 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES

    According to the Department of Education, there are 2,832 degree-granting four-year institutions for students to choose from in the U.S.

  • MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF JOBS REQUIRE A POST-SECONDARY DEGREE

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nearly 37% of occupations require some type of post-secondary education, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

  • A COLLEGE DEGREE INCREASES YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL

    Full-time employees with a bachelor’s degree earn a median weekly salary of $1,416, compared to $789 for high school graduates.

Our Research

Our research for this list focused on finding the overall best colleges and universities in the U.S. This meant evaluating schools based on the factors most important to students and their families, including quality of programs, reputation, faculty, research, student life, graduation and retention, and cost.

A key indicator of quality for higher education institutions is the type of accreditation a school has. All of the programs on our list are regionally accredited, which means they achieve high standards of quality in post-secondary education. These schools are typically eligible for all federal financial aid programs, and credits are more easily transferred to other institutions.

We evaluated each program on the basis of flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score for each program on a scale from 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.

  • 68 hours to write this article
  • 5,832 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 23,746 education programs we compared

The Top 100 Colleges and Universities

Best Colleges in America Badge
01
Intelligent Pick
Princeton University
01
Best for Political Science
Harvard University
01
Best for Journalism Programs
Columbia University
01
Best Private Research University
Stanford University
01
Best for Performing Arts Programs
Yale University
01
Best for Business Programs
University of Pennsylvania
01
Most Selective
Brown University
01
Best in the Midwest
University of Chicago
01
Lowest Student-to-Faculty Ratio
California Institute of Technology
01
Best in the Southeast
Duke University
01
Best for Engineering Programs
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
01
Best Study Abroad Programs
Dartmouth College
01
Best in the Southwest
University of Arizona
01
Best in the South
Rice University
01
Best for Medical Programs
Johns Hopkins University
01
Best Catholic University
University of Notre Dame
01
Best Public Research University
University of Michigan
01
Best for Interdisciplinary Programs
Northwestern University
01
Best for Law Programs
Vanderbilt University
01
Best Liberal Arts Institution
Amherst College
01
Best for Hospitality Programs
Cornell University
01
Best Undergraduate Institution
Harvey Mudd College
01
Best in the West
Pomona College
01
Best Financial Aid Packages
Bowdoin College
01
Best for Small Classes
Davidson College
01
Best for International Students
Georgetown University
01
Best Sustainable Initiatives
Emory University
01
Most Diverse Student Body
University of Southern California
01
Best Honors Program
Swarthmore College
01
Best Mid-Sized University
Tufts University
01
Most Historical Campus
University of Virginia
01
Best Grant Opportunities
Williams College
01
Most Affordable Graduate Tuition
UCLA
01
Best for Double Majors
Washington University in St. Louis
01
Best Alumni Association
College of William and Mary
01
Best Degree Program Selection
University of California, Berkeley
01
Best Jesuit University
Boston College
01
Best for Veterans
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
01
Best Small University
Carleton College
01
Best for Computer Science Programs
Carnegie Mellon University
01
Best for English Programs
Middlebury College
01
Best Non-Traditional Academic Year
Washington and Lee University
01
Best for Community Service
Tulane University
01
Best Women's College
Barnard College
01
Best Internship Opportunities
Claremont McKenna College
01
Most Unique Learning Opportunities
Colby College
01
Most Scholarships Awarded
Augustana University
01
Best Retention Rate
Bucknell University
01
Best Fellowship Opportunities
The Cooper Union
01
Best for Self-Designed Programs
Grinnell College
01
Best Residential Campus
Hamilton College
01
Best Academic Centers
Haverford College
01
Best Research Funding
University of California San Diego
01
Best Athletics Program
University of Wisconsin-Madison
01
Best Large University
University of Florida
01
Best Green Initiatives
Vassar College
01
Best Return on Investment
Georgia Institute of Technology
01
Best College for Women
Wellesley College
01
Best Mormon University
Brigham Young University
01
Best for Dual Degree Programs
Case Western Reserve University
01
Best for Undergrad Research
Colgate University
01
Best for Chemistry Programs
Lafayette College
01
Best College Town
Lehigh University
01
Best Freshman Year Curriculum
Scripps College
01
Best University Hospital
University of California, Irvine
01
Best for Education Programs
University of California, Santa Barbara
01
Best Community Engagement
Macalester College
01
Best for Global Education
New York University
01
Best Conservatory Programs
Oberlin College and Conservatory
01
Most Innovative Programs
Olin College of Engineering
01
Best in the Northwest
Reed College
01
Best Student Organizations
University of Richmond
01
Best Internship Opportunities
Trinity College
01
Best for Agriculture Programs
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
01
Best for Military Careers
United States Naval Academy
01
Most Affordable Undergraduate Tuition
University of Washington
01
Best for Humanities Programs
Whitman College
01
Best Methodist University
Alaska Pacific University
01
Best Benedictine University
Saint Anselm College
01
Best Student Activities
Auburn University
01
Best Graduation Rate
Austin College
01
Best for Entrpreneurship Programs
Babson College
01
Best for Fulbright Scholars
Bates College
01
Best Career Services
Bentley University
01
Best for Continuing Studies
Brandeis University
01
Best Urban Campus
Brooklyn College
01
Best for Global Initiatives
Boston University
01
Best Student Government
Bryn Mawr College
01
Best for Architecture Programs
California Polytechnic State University
01
Best for International Students
Brigham Young University Hawaii
01
Best Faith-Based Programs
Calvin University
01
Best for Upward Mobility
California State University, Los Angeles
01
Best for Pre-Med Programs
Carroll College
01
Best Academic Opportunities
Centre College
01
Best Minor Programs
Clemson University
01
Best for Theological Studies Programs
College of the Ozarks
01
Best Faculty
Centenary College of Louisiana
01
Most Unique Curriculum
Colorado College
01
Best for Interdisciplinary Scholarship
Connecticut College
01
Best for Homeschooled Students
Covenant College

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What You Should Know About This Degree

When it comes to higher education in the U.S., there is a distinction between colleges and universities. Colleges are typically smaller institutions that focus primarily on undergraduate education, offering associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, and, in some cases, master’s degrees. Universities tend to be larger, and offer more post-graduate degrees, including doctoral degrees, in addition to bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Some institutions are comprehensive, offering degrees in a wide variety of areas, while others are more specialized, focusing on degrees in areas like liberal arts, technology, or visual and performing arts.

Many students, particularly those who are enrolling in undergraduate programs, fixate on the idea that there is a “dream” school. While having a strong idea of what you are looking for in a college is important, in truth, there are many schools which will provide an outstanding education and college experience, as this list demonstrates.

There are many metrics by which colleges and universities are evaluated, including the depth and breadth of programs they offer, the size and quality of their faculty, the research and initiatives in which they participate, and the learning experiences they offer students, including study abroad, internships, and extracurricular activities. However, what ultimately makes a college or university “the best” depends on the particular interests and needs of the student.

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching colleges and universities:

  • What are the eligibility requirements? Many of the schools on our list are among the most selective in the U.S. Whether you are applying for an undergraduate or graduate degree, it is important to understand what these institutions are looking for in their students. Applying to multiple institutions will increase your chances of being accepted at one of the top institutions in the country.
  • What types of visit opportunities do they offer to prospective students? One of the best ways to determine if a school is a good fit is to visit. Most schools offer opportunities for prospective students to get an up-close look, whether it’s a campus tour, open house, class observation, or pre-college program. As you begin researching schools, find out when and how you can visit the ones you like most to get a feel for the campus environment.

As you research programs, keep track of when application deadlines are and what application materials you must submit for each school. You can usually find this information by reviewing the school’s website or contacting their admissions department.

Financing your education is another important consideration. Be sure to submit financial aid applications on time, and research other sources of funding including scholarships, assistantships, and tuition benefits from your employer if you are currently employed.

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