Each fall marks the release of a new “Best Colleges” guide by U.S. News & World Report that ranks four-year colleges in the United States.
The long-awaited 2025 edition lists Princeton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard, Stanford, and Yale as the same “top five” best national universities as last year. Additionally, Caltech Duke, Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, Cornell University of Pennsylvania, Brown University of Chicago, Columbia University, Dartmouth, UCLA, University of California Berkeley, Rice, University of Notre Dame, and Vanderbilt.
School rankings are not the only criteria students and their parents should evaluate, but the factors considered provide a guideline for value. U.S. News uses a large amount of data to rank approximately 1,500 four-year colleges that offer bachelor’s degrees. This includes peer evaluations, graduation rates, per student resources, faculty salaries, student-faculty ratios, and borrower debt.
Students’ top criteria when choosing a college typically center around academic reputation, cost of attendance, and return on investment, which is one of the things U.S. News focuses on in its rankings.
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In addition to rankings of Best National Universities, U.S. News includes Best National Liberal Arts Colleges (often topped by Williams College and Amherst College, both in Massachusetts), Best Regional Universities and Colleges (Northern, Southern, Midwest, and Western). are also ranked. and top public national universities (usually some schools from the University of California, the University of Michigan, UNC-Chapel Hill, the University of Virginia, the University of Florida, the University of Texas at Austin, Georgia Tech, Rutgers University, etc.).
Students who have decided on their future college major will especially find the college rankings for Best Business Programs, Best Engineering Programs, Best Computer Science Programs, and Best Nursing Programs to be especially helpful. The rankings for business and engineering programs also include a “Best in Specialization” list. For business, students can see top-ranked schools in areas such as accounting, business analysis, entrepreneurship, and finance, among others. For engineering, this includes aviation, chemical, civil, mechanical, etc.
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There are many resources available to college-bound students to help them identify the best schools, but through campus tours, websites, YouTube videos, and numerous guidebooks on the market, U.S. News provides information on which schools to research further. It’s an ideal starting point to assess your needs.
Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of Collegebound Review, which offers PSAT/SAT® preparation and private college advice from Ivy League-educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362.
