Top Colleges and Universities in the US, Ranked

Harvard has long been regarded as one of America’s best schools. And for many decades, some of its top graduates have been international students. In fact, foreign individuals have accounted for roughly 27% of Harvard’s student community, representing upwards of 6,700 people. However, the Trump administration has just put a halt on all enrollment of foreign students, claiming ‘non-compliance with federal regulations’ on behalf of the centuries-old institution. Additionally, the administration claims a federal investigation found the esteemed school guilty of failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitism. Trump’s administration has formally notified the university’s accrediting body, saying the institution violated civil rights laws. Harvard has also been subpoenaed by the DHS for all records on international students. The actions are part of an ongoing government effort to improve accreditation practices. For now, Harvard’s accreditation remains intact.

For current US citizens and those who do get to study abroad here, attending a college or university in recent years has become significantly more challenging. The rising costs of an advanced education have contributed to many pondering tough questions. Is college attendance really worth the money spent? Are there alternatives to a college degree? According to the Federal Reserve Board, as of 2024, student loan debt in the U.S. has soared to about $1.74 trillion. Even with these additional costs and knowing their potential debt, a college degree is still perceived as key to entering the American middle class.

To identify America’s top colleges and universities, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the education and community research platform Niche’s Best Colleges in America ranking and university websites. Niche-ranked schools on a weighted index of multiple measures from the U.S. Department of Education and reviews from students and alumni. The measures used in this ranking are related to academics, value, student life, overall student experience, diversity, safety, and assessments of professors, the school campus, and the surrounding community. A detailed explanation of the methodology is available here.

Those colleges and universities that ranked at the top have some similar characteristics. All but two are East Coast schools. Seven of the top 10 are Ivy League institutions. The top 10 colleges and universities have less than 10% acceptance rates, making them highly selective and enhancing their reputation as the top colleges in the country.

This post was updated July 10, 2025 to include the Trump administration’s recent claims against Harvard.

Why Are We Talking About the Colleges and Universities in the US?

Rear view of university graduates wearing graduation gown and cap in the commencement day

The colleges and universities that have made this list offer a long-standing history of academic excellence. Attending and completing college with a four-year degree or higher has the potential to allow one to earn more on average, increase the chances of employment, expand opportunities available, and prepare one for the future with valuable life skills.

Here are America’s top colleges and universities.

35. Barnard College (New York, NY)

Acceptance rate: 11.5%
Student-faculty ratio: 10-to-1
Graduation rate: 92.8%
College founded: 1889
Average annual net price of tuition: $28,366
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 46.2% of 3,043 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $57,900
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 95.7

34. Tufts University (Medford, MA)

Acceptance rate: 11.4%
Student-faculty ratio: 6-to-1
Graduation rate: 93.8%
College founded: 1852
Average annual net price of tuition: $31,630
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 45.7% of 6,676 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $75,800
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 94.4

33. Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, PA)

Acceptance rate: 7.8%
Student-faculty ratio: 7-to-1
Graduation rate: 94.1%
College founded: 1860s
Average annual net price of tuition: $19,733
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 78.1% of 1,651 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $56,700
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 98.5

32. Williams College (Williamstown, MA)

Acceptance rate: 8.8%
Student-faculty ratio: 6-to-1
Graduation rate: 93.8%
College founded: 1793
Average annual net price of tuition: $14,487
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 60.5% of 2,174 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $59,000
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 92.8

31. Davidson College (Davidson, NC)

Acceptance rate: 17.8%
Student-faculty ratio: 9-to-1
Graduation rate: 89.6%
College founded: 1837
Average annual net price of tuition: $25,794
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 69.6% of 1,973 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $58,900
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: unavailable

30. University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)

Acceptance rate: 20.7%
Student-faculty ratio: 7-to-1
Graduation rate: 93.7%
College founded: 1819 (by Thomas Jefferson)
Average annual net price of tuition: $20,401
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 62.5% of 17,294 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $61,200
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 94

29. Bowdoin College (Brunswick, ME)

Acceptance rate: 8.8%
Student-faculty ratio: 8-to-1
Graduation rate: 93.8%
College founded: 1794
Average annual net price of tuition: $26,727
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 61.6% of 1,915 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $65,500
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 96.4

28. Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA)

Acceptance rate: 16.0%
Student-faculty ratio: 13-to-1
Graduation rate: 91.9%
College founded: 1885, as the Georgia School of Technology, changing its name in 1948
Average annual net price of tuition: $17,360
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 72.1% of 17,360 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $79,100
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 95.9

27. University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN)

Acceptance rate: 15.1%
Student-faculty ratio: 7-to-1
Graduation rate: 95.9%
College founded: 1842
Average annual net price of tuition: $30,510
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 68.2% of 8,973 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $78,400
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 95.1

26. University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)

Acceptance rate: 12.5%
Student-faculty ratio: 7-to-1
Graduation rate: 92.0%
College founded: 1880
Average annual net price of tuition: $26,021
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 76.1% of 20,790 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $74,000
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 92.4

25. Claremont McKenna College (Claremont, CA)

Acceptance rate: 11.2%
Student-faculty ratio: 8-to-1
Graduation rate: 92.7%
College founded: 1946 (originally a college for men, women were admitted beginning in 1976)
Average annual net price of tuition: $21,663
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 66% of 1,416 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $72,900
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 96.2

24. Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)

Acceptance rate: 7.5%
Student-faculty ratio: 2-to-1
Graduation rate: 94.6%
College founded: 1876
Average annual net price of tuition: $20,680
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 71.4% of 6,132 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $73,200
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 95.3

23. University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)

Acceptance rate: 6.5%
Student-faculty ratio: 3-to-1
Graduation rate: 95.9%
College founded: 1890
Average annual net price of tuition: $33,727
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 58% of 7,636 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $68,100
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 93.2

22. Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)

Acceptance rate: 8.7%
Student-faculty ratio: 8-to-1
Graduation rate: 94.1%
College founded: 1865
Average annual net price of tuition: $24,262
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 57.7% of 15,735 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $77,200
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 91.4

21. University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)

Acceptance rate: 20.2%
Student-faculty ratio: 4-to-1
Graduation rate: 93.7%
College founded: 1817
Average annual net price of tuition: $19,485
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 70.2% of 32,282 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $63,400
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 94.8

20. Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA)

Acceptance rate: 13.5%
Student-faculty ratio: 5-to-1
Graduation rate: 92.8%
College founded: 1900, founded by Andrew Carnegie as Carnegie Technical School, later becoming Carnegie Institute of Technology. In 1967, it merged with Mellon University.
Average annual net price of tuition: $30,695
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 58.9% of 6,932 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $83,600
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 93.4

19. University of California – Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)

Acceptance rate: 10.8%
Student-faculty ratio: 7-to-1
Graduation rate: 92.1%
College founded: 1919
Average annual net price of tuition: $11,994
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 56.3% of 32,122 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $60,700
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 91.1

18. Pomona College (Claremont, CA)

Pomona College Reunion by Dave & Margie Hill / Kleerup

Pomona College Reunion (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Dave & Margie Hill / Kleerup

Acceptance rate: 6.6%
Student-faculty ratio: 7-to-1
Graduation rate: 93.0%
College founded: 1887
Average annual net price of tuition: $18,694
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 58.9% of 1,777 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $58,100
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 96.8

17. California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA)

Acceptance rate: 3.9%
Student-faculty ratio: 3-to-1
Graduation rate: 92.9%
College founded: 1891 as Throop University, later changing to Caltech in 1920.
Average annual net price of tuition: $25,429
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 67.1% of 982 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $85,900
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: unknown

16. Washington University (St. Louis, MO)

Acceptance rate: 13.0%
Student-faculty ratio: 4-to-1
Graduation rate: 93.1%
College founded: 1853
Average annual net price of tuition: $28,298
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 52.6% of 8,132 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $70,100
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 96.8

15. Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)

Acceptance rate: 7.0%
Student-faculty ratio: 3-to-1
Graduation rate: 95.2%
College founded: 1851
Average annual net price of tuition: $26,861
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 65.7% of 8,847 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $69,000
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 94.5

14. Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)

Acceptance rate: 7.1%
Student-faculty ratio: 5-to-1
Graduation rate: 93.4%
College founded: 1873
Average annual net price of tuition: $25,606
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 69.9% of 7,111 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $69,000
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 95.5

13. Duke University (Durham, NC)

Acceptance rate: 5.9%
Student-faculty ratio: 2-to-1
Graduation rate: 95.9%
College founded: 1838
Average annual net price of tuition: $27,297
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 60.9% of 6,640 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $84,400
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 94.1

12. Georgetown University (Washington, DC)

Acceptance rate: 12.0%
Student-faculty ratio: 4-to-1
Graduation rate: 95.2%
College founded: 1789
Average annual net price of tuition: $23,049
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 53.1% of 7,598 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $93,500
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 94.4

11. Harvey Mudd College (Claremont, CA)

Acceptance rate: 10.0%
Student-faculty ratio: 9-to-1
Graduation rate: 94.4%
College founded: 1955
Average annual net price of tuition: $33,838
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 70% of 905 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $88,800
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 98.4

10. Brown University (Providence, RI)

Acceptance rate: 5.5%
Student-faculty ratio: 7-to-1
Graduation rate: 95.8%
College founded: 1764
Average annual net price of tuition: $25,028
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 55.1% of 7,349 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $67,500
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 93.5

9. Rice University (Houston, TX)

Acceptance rate: 9.5%
Student-faculty ratio: 5-to-1
Graduation rate: 92.3%
College founded: 1912
Average annual net price of tuition: $18,521
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 69.8% of 4,240 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $65,400
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 95.4

8. Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH)

Acceptance rate: 6.2%
Student-faculty ratio: 6-to-1
Graduation rate: 93.6%
College founded: 1769
Average annual net price of tuition: $24,078
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 59.7% of 4,555 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $75,500
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 96.2

7. University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)

Acceptance rate: 5.9%
Student-faculty ratio: 5-to-1
Graduation rate: 96.2%
College founded: 1740, by Benjamin Franklin
Average annual net price of tuition: $14,578
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 63% of 10,106 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $85,900
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 96.1

6. Columbia University (New York, NY)

Acceptance rate: 4.1%
Student-faculty ratio: 2-to-1
Graduation rate: 97.4%
College founded: 1754
Average annual net price of tuition: $12,411
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 57.6% of 8,161 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $83,300
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 93.2

5. Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)

Acceptance rate: 4.4%
Student-faculty ratio: 5-to-1
Graduation rate: 97.6%
College founded: 1746
Average annual net price of tuition: $20,908
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: unknown
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $74,700
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 92%

4. Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)

Acceptance rate: 4.0%
Student-faculty ratio: 4-to-1
Graduation rate: 96.7%
College founded: 1636 (oldest in the country)
Average annual net price of tuition: $13,910
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 73.3% of 9,579 undergraduates
Median income for graduates six years after graduation: $89,900
Percentage of graduates employed after 2 years: 93.9