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Lists / U.S. News "Best College" Rankings 2022-23: #1 Schools

U.S. News "Best College" Rankings 2022-23: #1 Schools

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Created by College Confidential

Each year the U.S. News and World Reports releases their highly-anticipated college rankings. Many people disagree on how accurate these rankings are (some colleges opt-out all together, and others have admitted to providing misinformation), but many prospective students and their families still find these rankings to be a good way of identifying the top colleges in different categories. Read on to the the #1 schools by category, and click the links below to see the full ranking lists.

1. Princeton University

  • 1st
    Princeton University
    Princeton, NJ • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $59,710
    Out-of-State
    $59,710
    Acceptance Rate6%

    • Princeton was ranked #1 National University, followed by MIT and Harvard. Princeton was also awarded the #1 spot in the Senior Capstone, which looks at schools that ask seniors to create a final project that integrates and demonstrates wshowcases their

    2. Williams College

  • 2nd
    Williams College
    Williamstown, MA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $64,860
    Out-of-State
    $64,860
    Acceptance Rate8%

    • Williams ranked #1 for Liberal Arts Colleges, followed by its longtime rival, Amherst College, and Pomona in California. See the full list here.

    3. University of Pennsylvania

  • 3rd
    University of Pennsylvania
    Philadelphia, PA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $66,104
    Out-of-State
    $66,104
    Acceptance Rate7%

    • Penn ranked #1 for Best Undergrad Business program, followed by MIT and UC-Berkeley, who tied for second place. Penn was also #1 for Best Undergrad Nursing program.

    4. Harvard University

  • 4th
    Harvard University
    Cambridge, MA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $59,076
    Out-of-State
    $59,076
    Acceptance Rate3%

    • Harvard was ranked #1 for Best Value School, followed by Princeton and Yale. This category looks for high-quality programs with a low net cost. At Harvard, students who receive the average amount of financial aid have a total cost of attendance of around $15,415 per year. See the full list here.

    5. Spelman College

  • 5th
    Spelman College
    Atlanta, GA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $28,885
    Out-of-State
    $28,885
    Acceptance Rate28%

    • Spelman College, the oldest historically Black college for women in America, was ranked #1 HBCU, followed by Howard University. Howard University came in second. See the full list here.

    6. Elon University

  • 6th
    Elon University
    Elon, NC • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $42,241
    Out-of-State
    $42,241
    Acceptance Rate74%

    • Elon was ranked #1 for Undergrad Teaching Programs at a National University. Brown and Princeton were #2 and #3. Top-ranked universities in this category focus on undergrad instruction over graduate-level research. See the full list here.

    Elon also earned the #1 ranking in the Learning Communities category, which provides opportunities for students to take two or more classes with the same group of students and professor, in order to foster deeper understanding and connection.

    7. Carnegie Mellon University

  • 7th
    Carnegie Mellon University
    Pittsburgh, PA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $63,274
    Out-of-State
    $63,274
    Acceptance Rate11%

    • There was a four-way tie for the #1 spot for Undergrad Computer Science programs. Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Stanford, and UC-Berkeley share this honor. See the full list here.

    8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • 8th
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Cambridge, MA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $60,156
    Out-of-State
    $60,156
    Acceptance Rate4%

    • There was a four-way tie for the #1 spot for Undergrad Computer Science programs. Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Stanford, and UC-Berkeley share this honor.

    MIT was also ranked #1 for overall Undergrad Engineering programs at schools that offer doctorates, and for Undergrad Research/Creative Projects

    9. Stanford University

  • 9th
    Stanford University
    Stanford, CA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $63,936
    Out-of-State
    $63,936
    Acceptance Rate4%

    • There was a four-way tie for the #1 spot for Undergrad Computer Science programs. Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Stanford, and UC-Berkeley share this honor. See the full list here.

    10. University of California, Berkeley

  • 10th
    University of California, Berkeley
    Berkeley, CA • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $14,959
    Out-of-State
    $45,985
    Acceptance Rate11%

    • UC-Berkeley was ranked #1 [Public University], followed by UCLA and UMich. Berkeley also tied Carnegie Mellon, MIT and Stanford for the #1 spot for Undergrad Computer Science) programs.

    11. Agnes Scott College

  • 11th
    Agnes Scott College
    Decatur, GA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $48,150
    Out-of-State
    $48,150
    Acceptance Rate67%

    • Agnes Scott, a small women's college in Georgia, was ranked #1 for First-Year Experience Elon and University of South Carolina came in second and third.

    12. New York University

  • 12th
    New York University
    New York, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $60,438
    Out-of-State
    $60,438
    Acceptance Rate12%

    • NYU came in #1 for Study Abroad Programs. Middlebury College came in second, and Agnes Scott came in third.

    13. Northeastern University

  • 13th
    Northeastern University
    Boston, MA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $60,192
    Out-of-State
    $60,192
    Acceptance Rate7%

    • Northeastern was ranked #1 for Co-ops/Internship Programs. Drexel University came in second, followed by Berea University.

    14. Berea College

  • 14th
    Berea College
    Berea, KY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    Unknown
    Out-of-State
    Unknown
    Acceptance Rate25%

    • Berea College was ranked #1 for colleges that provide Service Learning. Schools in this category consider volunteer work an integral part of education, and require it for graduation. Tulane came in second, and Elon came in third in the Service Learning category.

    15. Brown University

  • 15th
    Brown University
    Providence, RI • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $68,230
    Out-of-State
    $68,230
    Acceptance Rate6%

    • Brown was ranked #1 in the Writing in the Disciplines category for schools that prioritize the writing process throughout the college experience. University of Iowa and Yale tied for second place.

    16. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

  • 16th
    Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
    Terre Haute, IN • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $54,174
    Out-of-State
    $54,174
    Acceptance Rate73%

    • Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology was ranked #1 for Undergrad Engineering program at schools that do NOT offer a doctorates. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering tied with Harvey Mudd for second place.

    17. Providence College

  • 17th
    Providence College
    Providence, RI • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    Unknown
    Out-of-State
    Unknown
    Acceptance Rate53%

    • Providence was ranked #1 Regional University in the North. Bentley University and RISD were ranked #2 and #3. Regional universities offer undergraduate and master's programs, but offer few or no doctorate degrees.

    18. Rollins College

  • 18th
    Rollins College
    Winter Park, FL • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $58,300
    Out-of-State
    $58,300
    Acceptance Rate50%

    • Rollins was ranked #1 Regional University in the South. The Citadel and Berry College were ranked #2 and #3. Regional universities offer undergraduate and master's programs, but offer few or no doctorate degrees.

    19. Butler University

  • 19th
    Butler University
    Indianapolis, IN • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $45,980
    Out-of-State
    $45,980
    Acceptance Rate82%

    • Butler was ranked #1 Regional University in the Midwest. John Carroll and Truman State tied for #2. Regional universities offer undergraduate and master's programs, but offer few or no doctorate degrees.

    20. University of Portland

  • 20th
    University of Portland
    Portland, OR • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $51,812
    Out-of-State
    $51,812
    Acceptance Rate81%

    • University of Portland was ranked #1 for Regional Universities in the West. Cal Poly Slo earned the #2 ranking, and Whitworth was #3. Regional universities offer undergraduate and master's programs, but offer few or no doctorate degrees.

    21. United States Coast Guard Academy

  • 21st
    United States Coast Guard Academy
    New London, CT • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    Unknown
    Out-of-State
    Unknown
    Acceptance Rate15%

    • The Coast Guard Academy was ranked #1 for Regional Colleges in the North. Cooper Union came in second, followed by the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Regional colleges are focused on undergraduate education, but offer fewer than half of their degrees in the liberal arts.

    22. High Point University

  • 22nd
    High Point University
    High Point, NC • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $41,916
    Out-of-State
    $41,916
    Acceptance Rate80%

    • High Point was ranked #1 Regional Colleges in the South, followed by Flagler College. Regional colleges focus on undergrad education, but offer fewer than half of their degrees in the liberal arts.

    23. Cottey College

  • 23rd
    Cottey College
    Nevada, MO • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $24,960
    Out-of-State
    $24,960
    Acceptance Rate80%

    • Cottey College was ranked #1 Regional College in the Midwest. Taylor University ranked second, and Illinois Wesleyan ranked third. Regional colleges focus on undergrad education, but offer fewer than half of their degrees in the liberal arts.

    24. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott

  • 24th
    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
    Prescott, AZ • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    Unknown
    Out-of-State
    Unknown
    Acceptance Rate74%

    • Embry-Riddle ranked #1 for Regional Colleges in the West. Carroll College and CSU-Maritime Academy came in second and third. Regional colleges focus on undergrad education, but offer fewer than half of their degrees in the liberal arts.

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