Forbes: Best American Colleges
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Princeton University
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Harvard University
Swarthmore College
Williams College
United States Military Academy
Amherst College
Wellesley College
Yale University
Columbia University
Northwestern University
Wabash College
Centre College
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Bowdoin College
United States Air Force Academy
Middlebury College
University of Chicago
Smith College
Pomona College
Wesleyan University
Haverford College
Stanford University
Hamilton College
Sarah Lawrence College
Barnard College
Brown University
Whitman College
New College of Florida
Brandeis University
Vassar College
Boston College
Bryn Mawr College
Kenyon College
Franklin and Marshall College
United States Naval Academy
Colby College
Washington and Lee University
Westminster College
Claremont McKenna College
Rice University
Cooper Union
University of Virginia
Colgate University
Bates College
Knox College
DePauw University
Tufts University
College of William and Mary
Hampden-Sydney College
Oberlin College
Harvey Mudd College
Lafayette College
Carleton College
St. John’s College
Hampshire College
Kalamazoo College
Trinity College
Doane College
Connecticut College
University of Pennsylvania
Wofford College
Drew University
Reed College
Huntington University
University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill
Sewanee University of the South
Lawrence University
Wake Forest University
Mount Holyoke College
Cornell College
Wesleyan College
University of California–Berkeley
Colorado College
Mills College
Georgetown University
University of Notre Dame
Nebraska Wesleyan University
College of the Holy Cross
Duke University
Johns Hopkins University
Emory University
Bellarmine University
Dickinson College
Salem College
Bucknell University
St. Olaf College
Bard College
Wheaton College
Clarke College
Wheaton College
Skidmore College
Davidson College
Earlham College
Erskine College
Carroll University
Hendrix College
Emory and Henry College
Union College
Bethany College
Principia College
Denison University
Gustavus Adolphus College
Pitzer College
Vanderbilt University
Wells College
Grinnell College
Virginia Military Institute
Ripon College
Hollins University
University of California–Los Angeles (UCLA)
Agnes Scott College
Juniata College
Lyon College
Randolph-Macon College
Carson-Newman College
Covenant College
St. Joseph’s College
State University of New York–Binghamton (SUNY)
Washington and Jefferson College
Cornell University
Samford University
College of Wooster
Millsaps College
St. John’s College
Macalester College
Dartmouth College
Sweet Briar College
Mississippi College
Birmingham-Southern College
George Fox University
Hanover College
Southwestern University
Bennington College
Eckerd College
St. Mary’s College of California
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Spring Hill College
Scripps College
St. Norbert College
Claflin University
Marlboro College
Washington College
University of Mary Washington
Tulane University
Washington University in St. Louis
Converse College
Transylvania University
Master’s College and Seminary
Muhlenberg College
Otterbein College
John Carroll University
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Furman University
University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign
University of Richmond
Maryville College
Lebanon Valley College
Goshen College
Lake Forest College
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Oklahoma Baptist University
Centenary College of Louisiana
Whitworth College
Hope College
University of Florida
Marietta College
United States Coast Guard Academy
Lewis and Clark College
Thomas Aquinas College
The Citadel
Allegheny College
College of Idaho
Warren Wilson College
University of Puget Sound
University of Georgia
University of Washington
Augustana College
Trinity University
Florida Southern College
Coe College
Roanoke College
Pacific University
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Southern Methodist University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Luther College
State University of New York–Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY)
Presbyterian College
Houghton College
Randolph College
St. Anselm College
Spelman College
James Madison University
Beloit College
University of Mississippi
Hamline University
University of California–Santa Barbara (UCSB)
University of Rochester
St. Joseph’s University
Cedar Crest College
College of the Atlantic
Berea College
Biola University
Hiram College
Georgetown College
St. Lawrence University
University of Dallas
Willamette University
Northwestern College
Providence College
Asbury College
Indiana University–Bloomington
University of Texas–Austin
Alfred University
Brigham Young University (BYU)
Siena College
Albion College
Ithaca College
Trinity International University
University of Delaware
University of Wyoming
Bethel University
Xavier University
Hastings College
Mississippi State University
Illinois Wesleyan University
University of North Carolina, Wilmington
Pacific Lutheran University
Ursinus College
Baldwin-Wallace College
Occidental College
Susquehanna University
St. Michael’s College
University of California–Riverside
University of North Carolina–Asheville
Mount St. Mary’s College
North Central College
Guilford College
Simpson College
University of Redlands
Austin College
Villanova University
Brigham Young University (Idaho)
Linfield College
Utah State University
Berry College
William Jewell College
Appalachian State University
California Lutheran University
University of Evansville
High Point University
University of California–Santa Cruz (UCSC)
University of Utah
University of California–San Diego (UCSD)
Westmont College
Gettysburg College
Loyola University New Orleans
Texas A&M University–College Station
Oglethorpe University
University of Southern Mississippi
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
University of Missouri–Columbia
Stetson University
Carnegie Mellon University
St. Mary’s University
St. Francis College
University of Scranton
Clark University
Northwestern College
Pennsylvania State University–University Park
Fordham University
Florida State University
University of Idaho
Miami University–Oxford
Le Moyne College
Loyola College in Maryland
Hillsdale College
University of Kansas
Grove City College
Union University
University of Alabama
University of California–Irvine (UCI)
Rocky Mountain College
Middle Tennessee State University
University of Oregon
St. Vincent College
Whittier College
University of New Mexico
Montana State University–Bozeman
Ohio State University–Columbus
Dillard University
Ouachita Baptist University
State University of New York–Albany
Monmouth College
University of Pittsburgh
Rockhurst University
University of Massachusetts–Amherst
University of Southern California (USC)
New School
Colorado State University
Bethel College
Drury University
Metropolitan State College of Denver
University of California–Davis
Virginia Tech
Taylor University
Catholic University of America
Lehigh University
West Virginia University
College of New Jersey
Wittenberg University
Lycoming College
Rollins College
Millikin University
Chapman University
Santa Clara University
St. Mary’s College
Syracuse University
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Murray State University
Utah Valley University
New York University
University of Louisiana–Lafayette
St. Mary’s University–San Antonio
Michigan State University
University of Tennessee–Knoxville
Simmons College
Fairfield University
University of Iowa
State University of New York–Stony Brook
Butler University
Manhattan College
University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of South Florida
University of Memphis
Emerson College
California State University–Fresno
Cedarville University
Louisiana State University
Florida Atlantic University
Gordon College
University of South Carolina–Columbia
Rhode Island College
University of San Diego
Yeshiva University
Ohio University
Elmhurst College
George Washington University
Hartwick College
Baylor University
St. John’s University
University of Alabama–Birmingham
CUNY, CCNY
University of Colorado–Boulder
Messiah College
Vanguard University of Southern California
Capital University
Belmont University
Northern Arizona University
Georgia State University
Pepperdine University
Rhodes College
University of Texas–El Paso (UTEP)
SUNY, Geneseo
CUNY, Brooklyn
University of Arkansas
Cal Poly–San Luis Obispo
St. John Fisher College
Washington State University
Calvin College
Carroll College
Dordt College
Old Dominion University
University of Maine–Orono
Moravian College
University of Denver
King’s College
University of Oklahoma–Norman
Concordia College Moorhead
George Mason University
University of Arizona
Boston University
Texas Tech University
Mercer University
Goucher College
Hood College
City University of New York–Queens
Mount Union College
University of New Hampshire
Auburn University
University of Nevada–Las Vegas (UNLV)
California State University–Sacramento
Arizona State University
Elon University
Florida International University
Western Washington University
California Maritime Academy
University of Louisville
Millersville University
University of Rhode Island
Case Western Reserve University
University of La Verne
Marquette University
Oklahoma State University
University of Montana
Russell Sage College
University of Colorado–Denver
University of Maryland–College Park
Miami Dade College
University of San Francisco
California State University–Long Beach
Westminster College
Wayne State University
Bradley University
University of Miami
California State University–Northridge (CSUN)
University of the Pacific
LaGrange College
College of Charleston
California State University–Chico
Meredith College
University of the Ozarks
Clemson University
La Salle University
Gonzaga University
Eastern Kentucky University
University of Connecticut
Wartburg College
Texas State University–San Marcos
University of Central Florida
Virginia Commonwealth University
Alma College
Seattle Pacific University
State University of New York–Buffalo
Wheeling Jesuit University
University of Vermont
California State University–Fullerton
Stonehill College
Creighton University
University of Texas–Arlington
Corban College
Abilene Christian University
Truman State University
Illinois State University
San Jose State University
Indiana University-Purdue University–Indianapolis
Southeastern Louisiana University
Seton Hall University
DePaul University
University of Alabama–Huntsville
University of Hawaii–Manoa
Colby-Sawyer College
Adelphi University
John Brown University
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
San Diego State University
Loyola Marymount University
Valparaiso University
Ball State University
North Carolina State University–Raleigh
Kennesaw State University
East Carolina University
Azusa Pacific University
Towson University
St. Edward’s University
University of Kentucky
Rutgers University–New Brunswick
California State Polytechnic University–Pomona
Missouri State University
University of Northern Iowa
St. Louis University
Georgia Southern University
College of St. Benedict
Western Kentucky University
Marist College
St. John’s University
Loyola University Chicago
Northern Illinois University
Ohio Northern University
Kent State University
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Illinois College
South Carolina State University
Drake University
Purdue University–West Lafayette
Elizabethtown College
Southern Illinois University–Carbondale
American University
University of Maryland–Baltimore County
Elmira College
Quinnipiac University
Merrimack College
Drexel University
University of Minnesota–Morris
San Francisco State University
Duquesne University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
University of Akron–Main Campus
Georgia Institute of Technology
University of Houston
Augustana College
Kansas State University
Bowling Green State University
University of St. Thomas
Clarkson University
University of North Texas
University of Texas–San Antonio
Tuskegee University
Grand Valley State University
Sam Houston State University
Texas Christian University
University of Massachusetts–Lowell
University of Tulsa
University of Cincinnati
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Colorado School of Mines
Christian Brothers University
Fisk University
University of Texas–Dallas
Oregon State University
Rutgers University–Newark
University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
Andrews University
University of Dayton
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Western Michigan University
Rider University
Polytechnic Institute of NYU
Central Michigan University
University of Portland
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Bentley College
University of North Carolina–Charlotte
Widener University
Montana Tech of the University of Montana
Seattle University
University of Missouri–Kansas City
College of St. Catherine
Illinois Institute of Technology
Oregon Institute of Technology
Eastern Michigan University
Albright College
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Temple University
University of Illinois–Chicago
Hofstra University
Bryant University
University of North Dakota
Morehouse College
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Iona College
Central College
Florida Institute of Technology
North Dakota State University
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Michigan Technological University
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Howard University
Pace University
St. Cloud State University
Iowa State University
University of Toledo
Stevens Institute of Technology
Roger Williams University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Northeastern University
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Source: Forbes
In conjunction with Dr. Richard Vedder, an economist at Ohio University, and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, Forbes.com inaugurates its first ranking of America’s Best Colleges, an annual list. In this report, the CCAP ranks 569 undergraduate institutions based on the quality of the education they provide, and how much their students achieve…
CCAP’s methodology attempts to put itself in a student’s shoes. How good will my professors be? Will the school help me achieve notable career success? If I have to borrow to pay for college, how deeply will I go into debt? What are the chances I will graduate in four years? Are students and faculty recognized nationally, or even globally?
To answer these questions, the staff at CCAP (mostly college students themselves) gathered data from a variety of sources. They based 25% of the rankings on 7 million student evaluations of courses and instructors, as recorded on the Web site RateMyProfessors.com. Another 25% depends on how many of the school’s alumni, adjusted for enrollment, are listed among the notable people in Who’s Who in America.
The other half of the ranking is based equally on three factors: the average amount of student debt at graduation held by those who borrowed; the percentage of students graduating in four years; and the number of students or faculty, adjusted for enrollment, who have won nationally competitive awards like Rhodes Scholarships or Nobel Prizes. (Click here for complete methodology.)






What is the criteria used for this list.
Great work.
Rod Colon
The only difference is that this one seemed to be constructed by throwing darts at a large map of the United States.
Oklahoma Baptist University is nearly 200 places in front of NYU? 400 places in front of Northeastern?
It takes a certain caliber of idiot to make US News and World Report look good. Congratulations.
Stanford #23? Berkeley #73? UCLA #111? Nice illustration of east coast bias…
no credibility whatsoever, I am a Northeastern University alum. how can Northeastern possibly be behind 75 percent of these schools? like iona college, pace, monmouth, NJIT, schools in which i am familiar within and i know are no where near the caliber of Northeastern in terms of academics, facilities, professors, student body, etc etc.
Umm, Northeastern was 568 out of 569 schools! That means it was behind 99.8% of all schools–not a mere 75%. Ouch! But, based on Craig’s math skills, the anecdotal evidence suggests Forbes was spot on.
Sorry about that, Craig, but you just can’t dis the Gaels.
iona grad…you’re the dumb one…he just meant that Northeastern didn’t deserve to be behind 75% or whatever of these schools, not that it was literally behind 75% of them…
Northeastern is pretty bad.
I LOVE the east coast responses on here. All we ever hear about in the midwest is how great the east coast schools are, how you have to pay more money than its worth, how you sit in lectures of hundreds of people, how student activities and student life is a joke, how professors have no relationship with their students… yea, really makes me want to go there. However, my alma matta, Westminster College in Fulton, MO made #39. Why you may ask? Well we have the human cadaver lab for all our undergraduates, we are under a 1,000 students, class size is 13:1, 15% of our student body is international, our business investment club invests really money in the stock market, our alumni rival the ranking and positions of the biggest ivy leagues. The lists goes on and on about why we are better than so many of those other “well known schools”. We take pride in our school, but beyond that, as alumni we recognize the importance of giving our new Westminster students the best education they can receive; because our degrees are only as good as the degrees being delivered each year to the new graduates. So in other words, get over yourselves. Your name does not simply mean that you can be ranked above someone else, you have to work hard at it and earn it, and that is why our tiny little school in Missouri beat out over 500 other schools across the nation!
Northeastern shouldn’t be ranked where it is, especially so far behind party schools like UNC-Wilmington and ECU where the only thing undergrads learn is how to binge drink and get their stomachs pumped. The only factor that killed Northeastern’s ranking is the cost of tuition.
I’m familiar with many so-called prestigious universities, ALL have their strengths and shortcomings! Not one of them is perfect or outstanding in every aspect. Too many today foolishly think a snap designer-label approach to choosing a school is the obvious way to go. To believe otherwise is the height of foolhardy naievite, to say the least.
An indepth study of each would make sense. Whether undergrads or just grads get access to highly touted Profs or are said Profs remote, in research or no where in sight. Are buildings decrepit and in disrepair, camouflaged under the ivy or are state of the art facilities and technologies online? Is there any opportunity for real-world learning as in actual work experience, or is it all theoretical? Like it or not, employers today are not very keen on newly minted multi-degreed grads with no real world workaday experience in their intended field of expertise, no clue of what is acceptable as professional attitude & conduct, & a hugely inflated opinion of self entitlement.
These rankings smack more of impressions and reputations-some of which are overblown or unearned! These rankings do little to give any real understanding about all important details for getting at any realistic true picture of these institutions and their real assets & foibles!
Seriously, I really can’t conceive of any thinking, intelligent person taking this or any survey ranking seriously! This list-ranking business is nothing more than subject to the personal bias of the persons who have set the parameters to their very own individual taste & perceptions, faulty as those found in ALL imperfect humans everywhere. So fond of ranking things for goodness knows what constructive purposes,… The TRUTH, Absolutely NONE!
ok i’m a current northeastern university student, and you idiots that say northeastern is bad (TIMMY)… you are so wrong. We’re 96th in the country in overall rankings:
“96th on the list of “Top National Universities” (US News and World Report’s list of hundreds of universities across the nation) (2009)”
quoted… so screw you dumb-asses.