As the fall semester gets underway, the release of the 2026 U.S. News Best College Rankings offers a snapshot of where nearly 1,700 schools stand in an era of shifting federal support. Some colleges and universities are navigating budget cuts and frozen aid under the Trump administration, raising questions about whether money troubles might influence reputations.
A benchmark for students and families
For decades, the rankings have been a benchmark for families deciding where to invest in higher education, weighing 17 measures of academic quality from graduation rates to faculty resources.
“Over the years, Best Colleges has evolved into a comprehensive tool that reflects the changing landscape of higher education, providing prospective students with a crucial starting point to identify schools that align with their academic and personal goals,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for Education at U.S. News.
Top national universities hold their ground
Despite ongoing funding disputes with the federal government, Princeton University and Harvard University remain firmly in the top three national universities. Princeton holds the top spot, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks second and Harvard follows at number three.
Stanford University keeps its hold on fourth place, while Yale University shares the rank in a tie.
Columbia University opted out of the U.S. News rankings in 2023 after a faculty member raised questions about the accuracy of past data. The university said it would review its data collection and not submit information while that work continues. This year, U.S. News placed Columbia at 15.
Other top colleges and specialized categories
Beyond the national universities, the rankings highlight how schools across the country measure up in specialized or specific categories. Williams College leads the list of Best National Liberal Arts Colleges, followed by Amherst College and the United States Naval Academy.
Public universities also earned recognition, with the University of California, Berkeley, topping the list of Top Public Schools. UCLA secured second place and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, came in third.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, known as HBCUs, were evaluated in their own category, with Spelman College once again in the number one spot. Howard University ranked second and Morehouse College placed third.
The rankings also emphasize access and equity when it comes to its students. Florida International University topped the list of Top Performers on Social Mobility, a measure of how well schools graduate students who receive federal Pell Grants. The University of California, Riverside, placed second and California State University, Long Beach, ranked third.
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