2026 Rankings

Best Colleges in America

Data-driven rankings of 5,439 colleges based on student outcomes, retention, and program quality

5,439
Schools Ranked
3,466
Full Data Rankings
1,973
Partial Data Rankings
5
Ranking Criteria
Rankings based on IPEDS data: completion rates, retention, program productivity, breadth, and institutional scale.
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Top Colleges

Showing 1-10 of 5,439 ranked schools

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#1

Durham, NC

Complete Data Private Non-Profit
Overall Score
88.4 / 100
88.4
Completion
96%
99%
Retention
96%
90%
Productivity
7761 completions
64%

Duke University is a top-performing institution in the overall ranking with a score of 88, ranking in the 99th percentile for completion rate.

The college enrolls 17,499 students with in-state tuition of $63,450 (excl. fees).

96% of students complete their programs, placing the school in the 99th percentile nationally for completion.

#2

Chicago, IL

Complete Data Private Non-Profit
Overall Score
88.1 / 100
88.1
Completion
93.9%
98%
Retention
99%
93%
Productivity
7789 completions
62%

University of Chicago is a top-performing institution in the overall ranking with a score of 88, ranking in the 98th percentile for completion rate.

The college enrolls 18,566 students with in-state tuition of $63,801 (excl. fees).

94% of students complete their programs, placing the school in the 98th percentile nationally for completion.

#3

Evanston, IL

Complete Data Private Non-Profit
Overall Score
86.8 / 100
86.8
Completion
95.9%
99%
Retention
97%
91%
Productivity
9772 completions
61%

Northwestern University is a top-performing institution in the overall ranking with a score of 87, ranking in the 99th percentile for completion rate.

The college enrolls 23,856 students with in-state tuition of $64,887 (excl. fees).

96% of students complete their programs, placing the school in the 99th percentile nationally for completion.

#4

St. Louis, MO

Complete Data Private Non-Profit
Overall Score
85.8 / 100
85.8
Completion
83.5%
93%
Retention
96%
90%
Productivity
6251 completions
59%

Washington University in St Louis is a top-performing institution in the overall ranking with a score of 86, ranking in the 98th percentile for student faculty ratio.

The college enrolls 16,357 students with in-state tuition of $61,750 (excl. fees).

84% of students complete their programs, placing the school in the 93rd percentile nationally for completion.

#5

Ann Arbor, MI

Complete Data Public
Overall Score
84.5 / 100
84.5
Completion
88.1%
95%
Retention
98%
92%
Productivity
17020 completions
50%

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a top-performing institution in the overall ranking with a score of 85, ranking in the 99th percentile for institutional scale.

The college enrolls 52,855 students with in-state tuition of $17,977 (excl. fees).

88% of students complete their programs, placing the school in the 95th percentile nationally for completion.

#6

Gainesville, FL

Complete Data Public
Overall Score
84 / 100
84
Completion
79.3%
90%
Retention
97%
91%
Productivity
19056 completions
53%

University of Florida is a top-performing institution in the overall ranking with a score of 84, ranking in the 100th percentile for institutional scale.

The college enrolls 56,311 students with in-state tuition of $4,477 (excl. fees).

79% of students complete their programs, placing the school in the 90th percentile nationally for completion.

#7

Rochester, NY

Complete Data Private Non-Profit
Overall Score
83.7 / 100
83.7
Completion
86.8%
95%
Retention
93%
87%
Productivity
4101 completions
54%

University of Rochester is a top-performing institution in the overall ranking with a score of 84, ranking in the 95th percentile for completion rate.

The college enrolls 11,946 students with in-state tuition of $63,150 (excl. fees).

87% of students complete their programs, placing the school in the 95th percentile nationally for completion.

#8

Madison, WI

Complete Data Public
Overall Score
83.4 / 100
83.4
Completion
83.1%
92%
Retention
95%
89%
Productivity
19400 completions
59%

University of Wisconsin-Madison is a top-performing institution in the overall ranking with a score of 83, ranking in the 99th percentile for institutional scale.

The college enrolls 51,044 students with in-state tuition of $9,644 (excl. fees).

83% of students complete their programs, placing the school in the 92nd percentile nationally for completion.

#9

Charlottesville, VA

Complete Data Public
Overall Score
83.2 / 100
83.2
Completion
85.1%
94%
Retention
97%
91%
Productivity
9170 completions
55%

University of Virginia-Main Campus is a top-performing institution in the overall ranking with a score of 83, ranking in the 97th percentile for institutional scale.

The college enrolls 26,409 students with in-state tuition of $18,823 (excl. fees).

85% of students complete their programs, placing the school in the 94th percentile nationally for completion.

#10

Nashville, TN

Complete Data Private Non-Profit
Overall Score
83.1 / 100
83.1
Completion
94.5%
98%
Retention
96%
90%
Productivity
5295 completions
60%

Vanderbilt University is a top-performing institution in the overall ranking with a score of 83, ranking in the 98th percentile for completion rate.

The college enrolls 13,575 students with in-state tuition of $61,618 (excl. fees).

95% of students complete their programs, placing the school in the 98th percentile nationally for completion.

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