When pursuing a college degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Colleges for a Bachelor's ranking - to help you make that decision.
After analyzing 1,480 schools in the United States, we came up with our list of those that offered the best bachelor's degree programs. Our ranking for the best schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. The following gives more info on what goes into our ranking factors and why we consider those factors.
Higher Than Average Earnings
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a bachelor's degree from the school. Recent students who earned a bachelor's degree in the United States entered the job market making an average of $39,682 while those in the top 25 schools on our list made an average of $60,051.
Starting Salary ( 36593 to 73905 )
Taking Out Student Loans
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that students take on while they are working on their bachelor's degree.
When attending a school in the United States, bachelor's degree students accumulate an average of $26,217 in student debt before graduation.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty bachelor's recipients will have paying back their loans.
More Ranking Factors That Are Important
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking.
On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
You may also want to narrow this list by location to find the best bachelor's degree schools nearest you. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in the United States
Massachusetts Institute of Technology tops this year’s ranking as the best school for bachelor’s degrees in the United States for overall quality. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 1,249 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $79,258 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $11,534 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $627.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Duke University. The school came in at #2 in the United States on this year’s best bachelor’s degree schools ranking. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,319 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Duke is $55,249 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $11,804 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $727 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Out of the 1,480 bachelor’s degree schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #3 spot on the list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,163 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UChicago go into careers with an average salary of $46,910 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $16,306 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $708 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Out of the 1,480 bachelor’s degree schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Stanford, California, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 1,511 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Stanford make an average of $60,327 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $9,768.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 3,499 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from UPenn make an average of $61,681 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $16,455. Average monthly loan payments are around $547 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #6, Brown University did quite well on the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. Brown is located in Providence, Rhode Island and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,987 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $49,153 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $15,013. This translates to an average monthly payment of $507 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Claremont McKenna College did quite well in the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #7. Claremont McKenna College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Claremont, California that handed out 431 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Claremont McKenna make an average of $95,566 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $15,000 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #8, Harvard University did quite well on the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,618 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Harvard make an average of $63,686 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $17,458.
Carnegie Mellon University did quite well in the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #9. Carnegie Mellon University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that handed out 1,953 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $74,627 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $23,648 in student loans.
With a ranking of #10, Cornell University did quite well on the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Ithaca, New York, and it awarded 4,287 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Cornell make an average of $54,196 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $15,079 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $570 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Northwestern University did quite well in the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Evanston, Illinois, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,722 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern go into careers with an average salary of $52,286 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $16,402. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $576.
Yale University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. Yale is located in New Haven, Connecticut and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,431 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Yale is $56,209 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $15,712.
Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well in the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #13. Columbia University in the City of New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in New York, New York that handed out 2,654 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $54,764 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $20,581 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $567 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Princeton University did quite well in the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #14. Princeton, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,175 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Princeton is $56,659 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $10,750 in student loans.
University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 2,848 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame go into careers with an average salary of $52,524 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $19,729 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $578 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #16, Dartmouth College did quite well on the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. Dartmouth College is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Hanover, New Hampshire that handed out 1,384 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth go into careers with an average salary of $52,174 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $15,241. This translates to an average monthly payment of $626 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Vanderbilt University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,365 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt go into careers with an average salary of $46,210 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $15,553 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $644.
University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Berkeley, California, the large public school handed out 10,523 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $48,418 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $14,272 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $323 for a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Southern California ranked #19 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. USC is located in Los Angeles, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5,745 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from USC go into careers with an average salary of $48,471 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $15,231 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $489.
Washington University in St Louis did quite well in the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 2,441 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $55,707 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $17,265 in student loans.
With a ranking of #21, California Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. California Institute of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 227 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Caltech make an average of $129,693 a year.
Johns Hopkins University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Johns Hopkins is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,847 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Johns Hopkins make an average of $41,996 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $16,659. Average monthly loan payments are around $599 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Georgetown University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Washington, District of Columbia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,120 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown go into careers with an average salary of $58,686 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $16,394. This translates to an average monthly payment of $769 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #24, Rice University did quite well on the 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. Rice is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 1,364 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $62,533 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $11,733.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 9,144 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $44,289 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $18,344. This translates to an average monthly payment of $419 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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