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College Index
The definitive College Index ranking — a proprietary composite of academics, value, social life, and more
Top 3
1.Stanford University
2.Princeton University
3.Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Top Salaries
Highest median salaries 10 years after enrollment
Top 3
1.Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2.Stanford University
3.Carnegie Mellon University
Best Value
Best return on investment for your tuition dollar
Top 3
1.CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
2.CUNY Hunter College
3.CUNY Brooklyn College
Most Affordable
Lowest net price and student debt
Top 3
1.Berea College
2.Uta Mesivta of Kiryas Joel
3.Atlantic University
Academic Excellence
Top academic quality and selectivity
Top 3
1.Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2.Harvard University
3.Princeton University
Best Athletics
Strongest college sports programs
Top 3
1.Ohio State University-Main Campus
2.University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
3.University of Florida
Best Social Life
Top social scene and nightlife
Top 3
1.University of Mississippi
2.University of Georgia
3.Indiana University-Bloomington
Most Diverse
Most racially and ethnically diverse campuses
Top 3
1.Academy of Art University
2.Art Center College of Design
3.Claremont McKenna College
Most Buzzy
Highest public interest and online buzz based on Google Trends data
Top 3
1.Harvard University
2.Stanford University
3.Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Safest Campuses
Lowest campus crime rates based on Clery Act reports
Top 3
1.Southern New Hampshire University
2.Western Governors University
3.Liberty University
Best Weather
Most pleasant climate during the academic year (Sep-May)
Top 3
1.Arizona Christian University
2.The University of Arizona Global Campus
3.American InterContinental University System
Religious Schools
Top religiously affiliated institutions
Top 3
1.Duke University
2.University of Notre Dame
3.Emory University
Highest Graduation Rates
Schools where students are most likely to finish what they start
Top 3
1.Harvard University
2.Princeton University
3.University of Pennsylvania
Lowest Student Debt
Schools where graduates carry the least student loan debt
Top 3
1.Berea College
2.University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo
3.Atlantic University
Best Retention
Schools with the highest freshman-to-sophomore return rate
Top 3
1.Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2.University of Pennsylvania
3.University of Chicago
Best for First-Gen Students
Schools with the strongest outcomes for first-generation college students
Top 3
1.Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2.Stanford University
3.University of California-Merced
Best HBCUs
Top Historically Black Colleges and Universities by overall excellence
Top 3
1.Howard University
2.Spelman College
3.Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Best Urban Schools
Top schools in cities — where campus meets the real world
Top 3
1.Princeton University
2.Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3.University of Florida
Best Rural & Small-Town Schools
Top schools in towns and rural settings — tight-knit campus life
Top 3
1.Dartmouth College
2.Williams College
3.Washington and Lee University
Best Public Universities
Top publicly funded universities ranked by overall excellence
Top 3
1.University of Florida
2.CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
3.University of California-Berkeley
Best Private Universities
Top private nonprofit universities ranked by overall excellence
Top 3
1.Stanford University
2.Princeton University
3.Massachusetts Institute of Technology
High-ROI Safeties
Schools with higher admission rates that still deliver top-tier earnings and value
Top 3
1.Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
2.Chamberlain University-New Jersey
3.Massachusetts Maritime Academy