by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in the United States, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **1398** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 1398 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
The best college for you depends on what you want to study. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Start by picking a degree level:
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This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked colleges:
Here are the top-ranked colleges: No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year in the United States. Based in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Early-career graduates earn a median of $78,551. Northwestern University students take on a median of $16,616 in debt. The strong outcomes at Georgetown University earned it the #2 place in the United States. Located in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Early-career graduates earn a median of $79,632. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete a degree here. Duke University came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in the United States. Located in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Duke University posts a six-year graduation rate of 97%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $13,296. Stanford University came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in the United States. Set in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,910. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $100,827. Graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.1
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You'll be in good company at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #5 this year. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashville, TN. Vanderbilt University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Early-career graduates earn a median of $77,997. Vanderbilt University students take on a median of $13,975 in debt.5
University Of Chicago landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Early-career graduates earn a median of $81,002. Graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. University Of Pennsylvania ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Pennsylvania posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Median early-career earnings reach $99,682. University Of Pennsylvania students take on a median of $16,155 in debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #8 in this year's ranking. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school based in Ann Arbor, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,254. The median student debt is $19,137. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. Set in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $113,129. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete a degree here.6
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University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public school based in Charlottesville, VA. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $69,126. Typical student debt is $18,627.10
University Of California Berkeley came in at #11 in this year's ranking. University Of California Berkeley is a public school based in Berkeley, CA. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $70,847. The median student debt is $14,238. Santa Clara University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,293. Median early-career earnings reach $79,380. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete a degree here. The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Houston, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,748, compared with $43,132 for out-of-state students. The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston graduates report median early-career earnings of $101,165. The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston students take on a median of $21,988 in debt. Cornell University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $69,314. Early-career graduates earn a median of $75,976. Graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.11
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in University Park, PA. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students.15
Dartmouth College did well this year, earning the #16 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hanover, NH. About 96% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,019. Median early-career earnings reach $81,992. Dartmouth College students take on a median of $16,989 in debt. Boston College landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Boston College is a private not-for-profit school based in Chestnut Hill, MA. Boston College graduates 91% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $70,702 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,132. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete a degree here. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Atlanta, GA. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $83,560. Typical student debt is $24,323. University Of Wisconsin Madison did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete a degree here.16
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University Of Notre Dame ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Notre Dame, IN, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,025. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $69,494. University Of Notre Dame students take on a median of $19,891 in debt.20
University Of Southern California did well this year, earning the #21 position. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school based in Los Angeles, CA. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $75,677. Typical student debt is $15,625. San Jose State University landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. San Jose State University is a public school based in San Jose, CA. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Located in San Luis Obispo, CA, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,010 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $19,273. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Chapel Hill, NC. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Median early-career earnings reach $61,361. Typical student debt is $15,117. University Of Maryland College Park ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in College Park, MD. University Of Maryland College Park posts a six-year graduation rate of 89%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. The median student debt is $20,836.21
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Click any college name below to learn more:Rank College Location 51 College Of William And Mary Williamsburg, VA 52 Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX 53 University Of Minnesota Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN 54 Princeton University Princeton, NJ 55 University Of California San Diego La Jolla, CA 56 University Of Richmond University of Richmond, VA 57 University Of Maryland Baltimore Baltimore, MD 58 Wesleyan University Middletown, CT 59 Chapman University Orange, CA 60 Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA 61 Roseman University Of Health Sciences Henderson, NV 62 Emory University Atlanta, GA 63 Northeastern University Boston, MA 64 Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME 65 North Carolina State University At Raleigh Raleigh, NC
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | George Washington University | Washington, DC |
| 67 | New York University | New York, NY |
| 68 | Boston University | Boston, MA |
| 69 | California Institute Of Technology | Pasadena, CA |
| 70 | Colgate University | Hamilton, NY |
| 71 | Washington And Lee University | Lexington, VA |
| 72 | Ohio State University Main Campus | Columbus, OH |
| 73 | University Of California Irvine | Irvine, CA |
| 74 | Bentley University | Waltham, MA |
| 75 | University Of Florida | Gainesville, FL |
| 76 | Lafayette College | Easton, PA |
| 77 | Middlebury College | Middlebury, VT |
| 78 | Villanova University | Villanova, PA |
| 79 | Columbia University In The City Of New York | New York, NY |
| 80 | Claremont Mckenna College | Claremont, CA |
| 81 | Rutgers University New Brunswick | New Brunswick, NJ |
| 82 | Loma Linda University | Loma Linda, CA |
| 83 | University Of St Thomas Minnesota | Saint Paul, MN |
| 84 | University Of Dayton | Dayton, OH |
| 85 | George Mason University | Fairfax, VA |
| 86 | Colorado School Of Mines | Golden, CO |
| 87 | University Of Georgia | Athens, GA |
| 88 | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA |
| 89 | The College Of New Jersey | Ewing, NJ |
| 90 | Gonzaga University | Spokane, WA |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Davidson College | Davidson, NC |
| 92 | University Of Delaware | Newark, DE |
| 93 | San Diego State University | San Diego, CA |
| 94 | Harvey Mudd College | Claremont, CA |
| 95 | The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center | Houston, TX |
| 96 | Amherst College | Amherst, MA |
| 97 | University Of Connecticut | Storrs, CT |
| 98 | Elon University | Elon, NC |
| 99 | College Of The Holy Cross | Worcester, MA |
| 100 | University Of Missouri Columbia | Columbia, MO |
| 101 | Stevens Institute Of Technology | Hoboken, NJ |
| 102 | Clemson University | Clemson, SC |
| 103 | University Of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA |
| 104 | Wellesley College | Wellesley, MA |
| 105 | Pomona College | Claremont, CA |
| 106 | Baylor University | Waco, TX |
| 107 | Oregon Health And Science University | Portland, OR |
| 108 | Suny Downstate Medical Center | Brooklyn, NY |
| 109 | University Of Washington Bothell Campus | Bothell, WA |
| 110 | Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT |
| 111 | University Of Denver | Denver, CO |
| 112 | Butler University | Indianapolis, IN |
| 113 | Williams College | Williamstown, MA |
| 114 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI |
| 115 | University Of San Diego | San Diego, CA |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 116 | Drake University | Des Moines, IA |
| 117 | Barnard College | New York, NY |
| 118 | University Of The Pacific | Stockton, CA |
| 119 | Trinity College | Hartford, CT |
| 120 | Suny At Binghamton | Vestal, NY |
| 121 | Hamilton College | Clinton, NY |
| 122 | Bucknell University | Lewisburg, PA |
| 123 | California State University Sacramento | Sacramento, CA |
| 124 | American University | Washington, DC |
| 125 | University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 126 | Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA |
| 127 | Swarthmore College | Swarthmore, PA |
| 128 | Bates College | Lewiston, ME |
| 129 | Franklin And Marshall College | Lancaster, PA |
| 130 | University Of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, CO |
| 131 | University Of California Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz, CA |
| 132 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL |
| 133 | Carleton College | Northfield, MN |
| 134 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL |
| 135 | Colby College | Waterville, ME |
| 136 | University Of Nebraska Medical Center | Omaha, NE |
| 137 | Auburn University | Auburn, AL |
| 138 | Marquette University | Milwaukee, WI |
| 139 | University Of Rochester | Rochester, NY |
| 140 | Saint Marys College Of California | Moraga, CA |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 191 | Rowan University | Glassboro, NJ |
| 192 | Loyola University Baltimore | Baltimore, MD |
| 193 | Wheaton College Illinois | Wheaton, IL |
| 194 | St Olaf College | Northfield, MN |
| 195 | Grinnell College | Grinnell, IA |
| 196 | Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing | New York, NY |
| 197 | Dominican University Of California | San Rafael, CA |
| 198 | Washington State University | Pullman, WA |
| 199 | Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences | Boston, MA |
| 200 | Scripps College | Claremont, CA |
| 201 | University Of South Carolina Columbia | Columbia, SC |
| 202 | St Louis College Of Pharmacy | Saint Louis, MO |
| 203 | University Of Utah | Salt Lake City, UT |
| 204 | Emerson College | Boston, MA |
| 205 | University Of Wisconsin La Crosse | La Crosse, WI |
| 206 | Samford University | Birmingham, AL |
| 207 | University Of New Hampshire Main Campus | Durham, NH |
| 208 | Fashion Institute Of Technology | New York, NY |
| 209 | Rochester Institute Of Technology | Rochester, NY |
These colleges narrowly missed the top tiers:Rank College Location 210 Depaul University Chicago, IL 211 Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, NY 212 Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ 213 University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus Norman, OK 214 Furman University Greenville, SC 215 Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT 216 University Of Tulsa Tulsa, OK 217 Belmont University Nashville, TN 218 Cuny Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY 219 University Of Kansas Lawrence, KS 220 The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis, TN 221 Colorado State University Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO 222 The University Of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL 223 Denison University Granville, OH 224 University Of Minnesota Rochester Rochester, MN
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 225 | Ramapo College Of New Jersey | Mahwah, NJ |
| 226 | The University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, TN |
| 227 | University Of Arizona | Tucson, AZ |
| 228 | Gettysburg College | Gettysburg, PA |
| 229 | University Of Nebraska Lincoln | Lincoln, NE |
| 230 | Rhodes College | Memphis, TN |
| 231 | University At Buffalo | Buffalo, NY |
| 232 | University Of Oregon | Eugene, OR |
| 233 | Haverford College | Haverford, PA |
| 234 | University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences | Little Rock, AR |
| 235 | University Of Scranton | Scranton, PA |
| 236 | Connecticut College | New London, CT |
| 237 | Brandeis University | Waltham, MA |
| 238 | Western Washington University | Bellingham, WA |
| 239 | Rutgers University Camden | Camden, NJ |
| 240 | University Of California Riverside | Riverside, CA |
| 241 | University Of Rhode Island | Kingston, RI |
| 242 | Salisbury University | Salisbury, MD |
| 243 | University Of Cincinnati Main Campus | Cincinnati, OH |
| 244 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 245 | Xavier University | Cincinnati, OH |
| 246 | University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire | Eau Claire, WI |
| 247 | Vassar College | Poughkeepsie, NY |
| 248 | Brigham Young University Provo | Provo, UT |
| 249 | Christopher Newport University | Newport News, VA |
| 250 | Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown, PA |
| 251 | Seattle Pacific University | Seattle, WA |
| 252 | California State University Stanislaus | Turlock, CA |
| 253 | Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA |
| 254 | High Point University | High Point, NC |
| 255 | Temple University | Philadelphia, PA |
| 256 | Depauw University | Greencastle, IN |
| 257 | Occidental College | Los Angeles, CA |
| 258 | California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA |
| 259 | Endicott College | Beverly, MA |
| 260 | Saint Johns University | Collegeville, MN |
| 261 | Siena College | Loudonville, NY |
| 262 | University Of Mary Washington | Fredericksburg, VA |
| 263 | California State University Northridge | Northridge, CA |
| 264 | Missouri University Of Science And Technology | Rolla, MO |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 265 | Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington, IL |
| 266 | Kenyon College | Gambier, OH |
| 267 | California State University San Marcos | San Marcos, CA |
| 268 | Stonehill College | Easton, MA |
| 269 | Union College New York | Schenectady, NY |
| 270 | Albany College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences | Albany, NY |
| 271 | University Of Houston | Houston, TX |
| 272 | Whitman College | Walla Walla, WA |
| 273 | Simmons College | Boston, MA |
| 274 | Colorado College | Colorado Springs, CO |
| 275 | Suny College At Oneonta | Oneonta, NY |
| 276 | California State University Monterey Bay | Seaside, CA |
| 277 | University Of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, MI |
| 278 | Westmont College | Santa Barbara, CA |
| 279 | University Of Minnesota Duluth | Duluth, MN |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
