U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT RELEASES ITS ANNUAL BEST COLLEGES RANKINGS Find out which schools topped

The U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings are among the most widely recognized and influential systems for evaluating higher education institutions in the United States. Since their first publication in 1983, the annual rankings have become a significant tool for prospective students, families and high school counselors in the college search. 

The ultimate goal for any student should be to find the school that is the best personal fit academically, socially, and financially. The rankings are based on a transparent methodology that evolves over time, making changes to reflect a shifting landscape in higher education, but the core principle is to evaluate colleges on various measures of academic quality.