2025 Best Colleges in the United States
2,152
Colleges
$100,029
Avg Salary*
83%
Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*
When pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Top Colleges ranking.
After analyzing 2,152 schools in the United States, we came up with our list of those that offered the highest quality education. Our ranking methodology focuses on over 20 different objective factors - such as graduation rate, post graduate earnings, and a school's average expenditure per student - to make this determination.
Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Customizing Your List
We know that one set of rankings doesn't always help you determine the best school for you, so we've created the ability to narrow your list by location and field of study as well as alternative rankings that prioritize different factors such as those of importance to veterans and returning adults or those who value diversity and value for your money.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head!
Top Colleges in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology tops this year’s ranking as the best school in the United States for overall quality.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty rate of 3 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from MIT make an average of $143,372 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Pennsylvania helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the United States.
The 4-year grad rate at the school is 86%. That’s impressive when you compare it to the national rate of 33%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UPenn make an average of $111,371 per year during the early years of their career.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2025 Best Colleges in the United States list.
The school boasts an average 4-year graduation rate of 91%, which is excellent when compared to the national rate of 33%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UChicago is $91,885 during the early years of their career.
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Out of the 2,152 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #4 spot on the list.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 98%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Harvard is $101,817 during the early years of their career.
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A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges in the United States list means Northwestern University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty rate of 6 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern make an average of $89,363 per year during the early years of their career.
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Johns Hopkins University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Colleges in the United States list.
The 4-year grad rate at the school is 89%. That’s impressive when you compare it to the national rate of 33%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $87,555 during the early years of their career..
Full Johns Hopkins University Report
Duke University did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in the United States ranking, coming in at #7.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $97,800 during the early years of their career..
Full Duke University Report
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #8 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in the United States ranking.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon go into careers with an average salary of $114,862 during the early years of their career.
Full Carnegie Mellon University Report
Cornell University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the United States ranking.
With a student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. During the early years of their career, graduates from Cornell make an average of $104,043 a year.
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Stanford University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the United States ranking.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Stanford go into careers with an average salary of $124,080 during the early years of their career.
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With a ranking of #11, Georgetown University did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in the United States list.
The school boasts an average 4-year graduation rate of 90%, which is excellent when compared to the national rate of 33%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown make an average of $103,494 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Georgetown University Report
Dartmouth College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges in the United States list.
With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $97,434 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Dartmouth College
University of Southern California landed the #13 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in the United States ranking.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from USC go into careers with an average salary of $92,498 during the early years of their career.
Full University of Southern California Report
With a ranking of #14, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in the United States list.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $92,446 during the early years of their career..
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Columbia University in the City of New York ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges in the United States list.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Columbia make an average of $102,491 a year.
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New York University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Colleges in the United States list.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. During the early years of their career, graduates from NYU make an average of $82,509 a year.
Full New York University Report
Boston College landed the #17 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in the United States ranking.
The 4-year grad rate at the school is 89%. That’s impressive when you compare it to the national rate of 33%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Boston College make an average of $103,937 a year.
Full Boston College Report
Vanderbilt University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the United States ranking.
The school boasts an average 4-year graduation rate of 88%, which is excellent when compared to the national rate of 33%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Vanderbilt make an average of $91,565 a year.
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Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus did quite well in the 2025 Best Colleges in the United States ranking, coming in at #19.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 98%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. During the early years of their career, graduates from Georgia Tech make an average of $102,772 a year.
Read full report on Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus
Yale University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the United States ranking.
The student-to-faculty rate of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $100,533 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Yale University
Washington University in St Louis ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges in the United States list.
The school boasts an average 4-year graduation rate of 88%, which is excellent when compared to the national rate of 33%. During the early years of their career, graduates from WUSTL make an average of $86,182 a year.
Full Washington University in St Louis Report
With a ranking of #22, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on the 2025 Best Colleges in the United States list.
Bachelor’s degree students at the school tend to finish their degree on-time. The 4-year graduation rate is 81%, which is impressive compared to the national rate of 33%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $83,648 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Boston University landed the #23 spot on the 2025 Best Colleges in the United States ranking.
The school boasts an average 4-year graduation rate of 84%, which is excellent when compared to the national rate of 33%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Boston U is $83,238 during the early years of their career.
Full Boston University Report
Bentley University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Colleges in the United States list.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Bentley make an average of $120,959 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Bentley University Report
George Washington University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the United States ranking.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from GWU make an average of $90,873 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on George Washington University