U.S. News, Forbes and Business Insider each publish an annual college ranking list for both private and public universities. This article shares their rankings, along with estimates of yearly costs. The costs we mention include room, board, tuition, books and miscellaneous. Finally, we also include their ranking methodology. So, let’s dive in to how these organizations list college rankings.
Best Fit vs Best Ranked
Education professionals stress the importance of finding the right fit for each individual student. This is opposed to compelling students to attend a university which is ranked but not a comfortable match.
On the other hand, there are those who assert attending ranked colleges/universities will lead to more success down the road. These charts contain a garden of possibilities.
Be sure to investigate your choices thoroughly. The schools listed are linked to their specific websites, as are U.S. News, Forbes and Business Insider. Keep in mind that rankings don’t always translate into the right experience for every individual. Students and parents should seek out the school which will serve the individual’s unique preferences and requirements in order to provide an excellent college experience and a greater chance for academic success.
How to think about your college choice
In all reality, you are finding a new place to live your life for four years or more. For this reason it is imperative to visit the campus before committing. With this in mind, read through these questions before examining the colleges/universities below.
- What is your away-from-home comfort zone?
- How do you feel about using a common area bathroom?
- Do you want to be in charge of your diet or do you want the convenience of a cafeteria?
- What type of weather do you prefer?
- Will you mind having roommates (including a one or two who may be unpleasant)?
- Are you comfortable with the campus environment?
- If you were not attending school, would you still want to live in the area?
- Do you mind large auditorium classes or prefer smaller classroom-size classes?
Keep your personal preferences and academic comfort zone in mind as you research colleges and universities. You will be a stranger in a strange land! Choosing the ideal environment will alleviate some of the inevitable stress that comes from jumping into your future with both feet. We list college rankings which you can use as a starting point for your search.
TOP 15 UNITED STATES COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES
(Out-of-State Tuition, Books, Room and Board Estimates)*
|
| U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT | Tuition & Costs | Tuition & Costs | Tuition & Costs | ||
| 1 | Princeton University | 63,420 | 63,670 | Massachusetts Institute of Tech | 63,250 | |
| 2 | 67,659 | 65,000 | 64,749 | |||
| 3 | 65,725 | 64,749 | 67,659 | |||
| 4 | Columbia University | 65,860 | Princeton University | 63,420 | Princeton University | 63,420 |
| 5 | 64,749 | 65,725 | 63,471 | |||
| 6 | University of Chicago | 66,765 | 67,659 | 65,725 | ||
| 7 | Massachusetts Institute of Tech | 63,250 | 64,000 | Duke University | 67,654 | |
| 8 | Duke University | 67,654 | 65,380 | Columbia University | 65,860 | |
| 9 | 66,800 | Amherst College | 69,000 | 66,800 | ||
| 10 | 63,471 | Massachusetts Institute of Tech | 63,250 | Dartmouth College | 67,124 | |
| 11 | 63,200 | U.S. Military Academy | 0 | 65,564 | ||
| 12 | Dartmouth College | 67,124 | 66,800 | 63,200 | ||
| 13 | 64,095 | 64,775 | 64,095 | |||
| 14 | 65,380 | Dartmouth College | 67,124 | Carnegie Mellon U. | 65,895 | |
| 15 | 65,564 | Columbia University | 65,860 | 57,300 |
* Estimates are do not reflect exact costs. Amounts may change and vary depending on student’s major field of study.
TOP 15 UNITED STATES PUBLIC COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES
(Out-of-State Tuition, Books, Room and Board Estimates)*
| | U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT | Tuition & Costs | Tuition & Costs | Tuition & Costs | ||
1 | $57,300 | U.S. Military Academy | 0 | $57,300 | ||
2 | Univ. of California at Los Angeles | $58,606 | 0 | Univ. of California at Los Angeles | $58,606 | |
3 | Univ. of Virginia | $60,000 | $57,300 | $57,432 | ||
4 | $57,432 | Univ. of Virginia | $60,000 | Univ. of California at San Diego | $56,073 |
Conclusion: how to read a list of college rankings
We hope this information provides a useful insight into college rankings. Further, we hope this inspires you to build a great college list! If you need help with either of these matters, you can always reach us via consultation to learn more.
