Best colleges

Ranked on what the records actually show: admit rate, net price, scores, graduation, and size. Methodology on every list.

National lists

150 schools The Best Colleges in America The top colleges in the country, ranked on selectivity and student outcomes. 100 schools Most Affordable Colleges The colleges with the lowest average net price after aid. 100 schools The Most Expensive Colleges The colleges with the highest total sticker cost of attendance. 100 schools Colleges With the Highest SAT Scores The colleges whose admitted students have the highest average SAT scores. 100 schools The Most Selective Colleges The hardest colleges to get into, by acceptance rate. 100 schools Easiest Colleges to Get Into Accredited four-year colleges with the highest acceptance rates. 100 schools Colleges With the Highest Graduation Rates The colleges where students are most likely to finish their degree. 100 schools The Largest Colleges in America The colleges with the biggest undergraduate enrollment. 50 schools Colleges with the Highest Graduation Rates Graduation rate is one of the cleanest signals of whether a college actually supports its students to a degree. These schools graduate the largest share of the students they admit. 50 schools Best Value Colleges Value is the average net price you actually pay weighed against whether students finish. These schools pair a low average net price with a graduation rate above 60 percent, sorted by net price. 50 schools Best Colleges for Low-Income Students For families earning under $30,000, the sticker price is meaningless; what matters is the net price after aid. These schools charge the lowest net price to the lowest income bracket. 50 schools Best Public Universities Public universities offer in-state tuition and enormous range. These are the strongest by graduation rate and selectivity, the ones worth a look whether or not you live in the state. 50 schools Best Private Colleges Private nonprofit colleges often post the highest graduation rates and the most generous aid, which can make the real net price lower than a public school for many families. Here are the strongest. 50 schools Test-Optional and Test-Blind Colleges These schools either do not require SAT or ACT scores (test-optional) or do not consider them at all (test-blind). Strong schools are listed first, so you can build a competitive list without a test score. 50 schools Best Small Colleges Small colleges (under 3,000 undergraduates) trade big-school breadth for small classes and close faculty contact. These are the strongest by graduation rate. 50 schools The Largest Universities in America The biggest undergraduate campuses in the country, ranked by enrollment. Scale brings a huge course catalog, deep alumni networks, and school spirit, alongside larger classes.