50 Best Colleges & Universities of 2021
If you are serious about attending a top college or university, begin here. Our ranking of the 50 best undergraduate schools in the US is accurate and unbiased.
Every fall, more than 2 million high-school graduates will enroll in colleges and universities across the United States. With nearly 3,000 4-year schools to choose from, finding the best college for your educational, personal, and professional goals may be challenging. The purpose of this ranking is to help you manage this challenge with an accurate, objective, and up-to-date ranking of the best colleges and universities for earning a bachelor’s degree.
We’ve identified a total of 1,392 colleges and universities in the US that meet our criteria. Of those, 637 are public institutions and 755 are private institutions. This list focuses on schools that offer four-year undergraduate degrees, and includes both public and private colleges and universities. In order to be included in this list of best colleges, a school needs to satisfy the following two conditions:
- It must be fully accredited.
- It must have a student body of at least 1,000 students.
How do we determine the best?
The best colleges pound for pound!
The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why, at the undergraduate level, we rank the best colleges and universities based on what we call Concentrated Influence.
Concentrated Influence takes the combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers (including faculty and alums) and divides it by the school’s total number of undergraduates.
Using concentrated influence gives small and mid-sized schools an opportunity to shine by taking away the size advantage of larger universities. A small school with proportionately more influential faculty than a large school, whose influence in absolute terms may be bigger, will nonetheless score higher in a concentrated influence ranking. Our approach highlights undergraduate schools that truly rank for excellence, regardless of size.
Check out the best colleges and universities in the US!– @AcademicInflux
50 Best Colleges & Universities in the US
- #1California Institute of Technology#32 institution's overall influence#9 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
89%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1545/35
Pasadena, CAView profile
What is California Institute of Technology known for?
California Institute of Technology's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Physics
- Biology
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Engineering
- Chemistry
- Business
- Literature
- Economics
- History
Most Influential Alumni
- #2Harvard University#1 institution's overall influence#2 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$52K
Acceptance
5%
Graduation
96%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1515/34
Cambridge, MAView profile
What is Harvard University known for?
Harvard University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Biology
- Literature
- Philosophy
- Law
- Medical
- Mathematics
- Business
- Political Science
- Economics
- Psychology
Most Influential Alumni
- #3Massachusetts Institute of Technology#9 institution's overall influence#3 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$54K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
94%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1540/35
Cambridge, MAView profile
What is Massachusetts Institute of Technology known for?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Economics
- Business
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Philosophy
- Psychology
Most Influential Alumni
- #4Stanford University#10 institution's overall influence#1 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$54K
Acceptance
5%
Graduation
94%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1505/33
Stanford, CAView profile
What is Stanford University known for?
Stanford University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Computer Science
- Biology
- Engineering
- Business
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Economics
- Law
- Literature
- Physics
Most Influential Alumni
- #5University of Chicago#7 institution's overall influence#8 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
93%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/34
Chicago, ILView profile
What is University of Chicago known for?
University of Chicago's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Mathematics
- Economics
- Philosophy
- Biology
- Physics
- Literature
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Law
- Business
Most Influential Alumni
- #6Princeton University#11 institution's overall influence#5 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$53K
Acceptance
6%
Graduation
97%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1515/34
Princeton, NJView profile
What is Princeton University known for?
Princeton University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Mathematics
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Computer Science
- Literature
- Economics
- Political Science
- Engineering
- History
- Psychology
Most Influential Alumni
- #7Columbia University#3 institution's overall influence#6 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
95%
Student body
28K
Median SAT/ACT
1505/34
New York, NYView profile
What is Columbia University known for?
Columbia University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Philosophy
- Biology
- Law
- Mathematics
- Political Science
- Business
- Communications
- Psychology
- Medical
Most Influential Alumni
- #8Yale University#5 institution's overall influence#4 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
97%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1515/34
New Haven, CTView profile
What is Yale University known for?
Yale University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Law
- Literature
- Biology
- Philosophy
- Mathematics
- Political Science
- Economics
- Psychology
- History
- Medical
Most Influential Alumni
- #9Johns Hopkins University#22 institution's overall influence#21 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
93%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1510/34
Baltimore, MDView profile
What is Johns Hopkins University known for?
Johns Hopkins University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Biology
- Medical
- Mathematics
- Philosophy
- Literature
- Psychology
- Physics
- Political Science
- Engineering
- Education
Most Influential Alumni
- #10Duke University#29 institution's overall influence#12 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
8%
Graduation
95%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1525/34
Durham, NCView profile
What is Duke University known for?
Duke University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Biology
- Medical
- Philosophy
- Literature
- Business
- Law
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Computer Science
- Education
Most Influential Alumni
- #11Swarthmore College#140 institution's overall influence#22 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
94%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1460/33
Swarthmore, PAView profile
What is Swarthmore College known for?
Swarthmore College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Philosophy
- Literature
- Biology
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Economics
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Education
Most Influential Alumni
- #12Northwestern University#30 institution's overall influence#24 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
94%
Student body
19K
Median SAT/ACT
1495/34
Evanston, ILView profile
What is Northwestern University known for?
Northwestern University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Business
- Medical
- Literature
- Mathematics
- Law
- Philosophy
- Economics
- Communications
- Engineering
- Education
Most Influential Alumni
- #13Amherst College#112 institution's overall influence#26 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
12%
Graduation
95%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1415/32
Amherst, MAView profile
What is Amherst College known for?
Amherst College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Law
- Biology
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Economics
- History
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Physics
Most Influential Alumni
- #14Rice University#115 institution's overall influence#15 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$49K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
91%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/34
Houston, TXView profile
What is Rice University known for?
Rice University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Mathematics
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Philosophy
- Literature
- Education
- History
Most Influential Alumni
- #15Carnegie Mellon University#36 institution's overall influence#35 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
89%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1510/34
Pittsburgh, PAView profile
What is Carnegie Mellon University known for?
Carnegie Mellon University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Economics
- Business
- Psychology
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Political Science
- Education
Most Influential Alumni
- #16Cornell University#15 institution's overall influence#14 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
93%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1480/33
Ithaca, NYView profile
What is Cornell University known for?
Cornell University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Biology
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Engineering
- Literature
- Computer Science
- Business
- Philosophy
- Medical
- Psychology
Most Influential Alumni
- #17Sarah Lawrence College#386 institution's overall influence#1422 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
55%
Graduation
79%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1331/29
Bronxville, NYView profile
What is Sarah Lawrence College known for?
Sarah Lawrence College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Education
- Medical
- Sociology
- Social Work
Most Influential Alumni
- #18Reed College#170 institution's overall influence#79 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
42%
Graduation
80%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1422/32
Portland, ORView profile
What is Reed College known for?
Reed College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Computer Science
- Literature
- Psychology
- Philosophy
- Biology
- Economics
- Mathematics
- Political Science
- History
- Physics
Most Influential Alumni
- #19University of Pennsylvania#17 institution's overall influence#10 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
96%
Student body
28K
Median SAT/ACT
1505/34
Philadelphia, PAView profile
What is University of Pennsylvania known for?
University of Pennsylvania's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Business
- Biology
- Medical
- Literature
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Psychology
- Mathematics
- Law
- Economics
Most Influential Alumni
- #20Brown University#34 institution's overall influence#7 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
8%
Graduation
95%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1505/34
Providence, RIView profile
What is Brown University known for?
Brown University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Mathematics
- Literature
- Computer Science
- Business
- Biology
- Philosophy
- Engineering
- Medical
- History
- Education
Most Influential Alumni
- #22Brandeis University#95 institution's overall influence#167 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
33%
Graduation
90%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1435/31
Waltham, MAView profile
What is Brandeis University known for?
Brandeis University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Philosophy
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Literature
- Biology
- Computer Science
- Political Science
- Business
- History
- Physics
Most Influential Alumni
- #23University of California, Berkeley#6 institution's overall influence#29 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
91%
Student body
42K
Median SAT/ACT
1430/33
Berkeley, CAView profile
What is University of California, Berkeley known for?
University of California, Berkeley's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Engineering
- Physics
- Literature
- Philosophy
- Economics
- Chemistry
- Business
Most Influential Alumni
- #24Wesleyan University#103 institution's overall influence#34 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
21%
Graduation
90%
Student body
4K
Middletown, CTView profile
What is Wesleyan University known for?
Most Influential Alumni
- #25Vassar College#169 institution's overall influence#88 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
25%
Graduation
91%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1445/32
Poughkeepsie, NYView profile
What is Vassar College known for?
Vassar College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Computer Science
- Education
- Psychology
- Philosophy
- History
- Communications
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Biology
Most Influential Alumni
- #26Hampshire College#613 institution's overall influence#955 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$52K
Acceptance
59%
Graduation
62%
Student body
1K
Amherst, MAView profile
What is Hampshire College known for?
Hampshire College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Education
- Physics
- Psychology
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
- History
- Political Science
- Communications
- Biology
Most Influential Alumni
- #27Dartmouth College#61 institution's overall influence#11 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
96%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1500/33
Hanover, NHView profile
What is Dartmouth College known for?
Dartmouth College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Computer Science
- Biology
- Medical
- Mathematics
- Political Science
- Engineering
- History
- Philosophy
- Psychology
Most Influential Alumni
- #28Georgetown University#39 institution's overall influence#19 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
95%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1465/33
Washington, DCView profile
What is Georgetown University known for?
Georgetown University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Law
- Political Science
- Business
- Medical
- Education
- Philosophy
- Literature
- Communications
- Biology
- History
Most Influential Alumni
- #29Tufts University#87 institution's overall influence#25 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
16%
Graduation
93%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1465/33
Medford, MAView profile
What is Tufts University known for?
Tufts University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Medical
- Business
- Biology
- Political Science
- Philosophy
- Literature
- Engineering
- Economics
- Psychology
- Computer Science
Most Influential Alumni
- #30Wellesley College#188 institution's overall influence#33 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
20%
Graduation
89%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1445/32
Wellesley, MAView profile
What is Wellesley College known for?
Wellesley College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Biology
- History
- Physics
- Psychology
- Economics
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
Most Influential Alumni
- #31Williams College#162 institution's overall influence#27 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
15%
Graduation
94%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1480/33
Williamstown, MAView profile
What is Williams College known for?
Williams College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Political Science
- History
- Philosophy
- Economics
- Biology
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology
- Chemistry
Most Influential Alumni
- #32Cooper Union#262 institution's overall influence#62 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$47K
Acceptance
18%
Graduation
83%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1417/32
New York, NYView profile
What is Cooper Union known for?
Cooper Union's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Engineering
Most Influential Alumni
- #33Pomona College#311 institution's overall influence#13 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
93%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1465/33
Claremont, CAView profile
What is Pomona College known for?
Pomona College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
- History
- Communications
- Psychology
Most Influential Alumni
- #34Oberlin College#118 institution's overall influence#114 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
35%
Graduation
86%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1380/31
Oberlin, OHView profile
What is Oberlin College known for?
Oberlin College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Philosophy
- Biology
- Education
- Political Science
- Psychology
- History
- Religious Studies
- Economics
- Mathematics
Most Influential Alumni
- #35Bryn Mawr College#245 institution's overall influence#119 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$54K
Acceptance
38%
Graduation
83%
Student body
2K
Bryn Mawr, PAView profile
What is Bryn Mawr College known for?
Bryn Mawr College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Philosophy
- History
- Anthropology
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Medical
- Chemistry
Most Influential Alumni
- #36Yeshiva University#154 institution's overall influence#136 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$45K
Acceptance
67%
Graduation
82%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1270/27
New York, NYView profile
What is Yeshiva University known for?
Yeshiva University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Medical
- Biology
- Law
- Philosophy
- Religious Studies
- Mathematics
- Education
- Psychology
- Literature
- Physics
Most Influential Alumni
- #37New York University#14 institution's overall influence#44 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$53K
Acceptance
21%
Graduation
84%
Student body
48K
Median SAT/ACT
1440/32
New York, NYView profile
What is New York University known for?
New York University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Mathematics
- Business
- Philosophy
- Law
- Biology
- Medical
- Economics
- Computer Science
- Engineering
Most Influential Alumni
- #38Bard College#313 institution's overall influence#998 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
57%
Graduation
74%
Student body
2K
Annandale-On-Hudson, NYView profile
What is Bard College known for?
Bard College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Education
- History
- Economics
- Biology
- Sociology
Most Influential Alumni
- #39Haverford College#325 institution's overall influence#73 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
18%
Graduation
93%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1460/33
Haverford, PAView profile
What is Haverford College known for?
Haverford College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Mathematics
- History
- Biology
- Religious Studies
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
Most Influential Alumni
- #40Washington University in St. Louis#69 institution's overall influence#20 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
16%
Graduation
94%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/34
Saint Louis, MOView profile
What is Washington University in St. Louis known for?
Washington University in St. Louis's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Biology
- Medical
- Engineering
- Business
- Literature
- Law
- Psychology
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Education
Most Influential Alumni
- #41Vanderbilt University#98 institution's overall influence#16 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$52K
Acceptance
12%
Graduation
92%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1510/34
Nashville, TNView profile
What is Vanderbilt University known for?
Vanderbilt University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Medical
- Biology
- Business
- Law
- Literature
- Education
- Psychology
- Mathematics
- History
- Philosophy
Most Influential Alumni
- #42George Washington University#71 institution's overall influence#76 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
43%
Graduation
81%
Student body
21K
Median SAT/ACT
1375/31
Washington, DCView profile
What is George Washington University known for?
George Washington University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Law
- Political Science
- Business
- Medical
- Biology
- Literature
- Engineering
- Communications
- Education
- Mathematics
Most Influential Alumni
- #43Smith College#150 institution's overall influence#111 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$54K
Acceptance
37%
Graduation
88%
Student body
3K
Northampton, MAView profile
What is Smith College known for?
Most Influential Alumni
- #44University of Michigan#12 institution's overall influence#37 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
26%
Graduation
92%
Student body
43K
Median SAT/ACT
1435/32
Ann Arbor, MIView profile
What is University of Michigan known for?
University of Michigan's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Business
- Biology
- Engineering
- Law
- Philosophy
- Medical
- Literature
Most Influential Alumni
- #45The New School#129 institution's overall influence#1438 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$51K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
67%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1265/27
New York, NYView profile
What is The New School known for?
The New School's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Engineering
- Philosophy
- Economics
- Psychology
- Political Science
- Business
- Education
- Sociology
- Communications
Most Influential Alumni
- #46Claremont McKenna College#594 institution's overall influence#18 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
13%
Graduation
90%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1435/32
Claremont, CAView profile
What is Claremont McKenna College known for?
Claremont McKenna College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Business
- Political Science
- Economics
- Law
- Literature
- Philosophy
- History
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Computer Science
Most Influential Alumni
- #47Emory University#104 institution's overall influence#41 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$54K
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
91%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1445/32
Atlanta, GAView profile
What is Emory University known for?
Emory University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Medical
- Literature
- Biology
- Religious Studies
- Education
- Law
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Business
- History
Most Influential Alumni
- #48The Catholic University of America#273 institution's overall influence#261 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$48K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
74%
Student body
5K
Washington, DCView profile
What is The Catholic University of America known for?
The Catholic University of America's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Religious Studies
- Law
- Philosophy
- Literature
- Political Science
- Physics
- Education
- History
- Engineering
- Communications
Most Influential Alumni
- #49University of Rochester#82 institution's overall influence#61 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
35%
Graduation
85%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1405/32
Rochester, NYView profile
What is University of Rochester known for?
University of Rochester's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Biology
- Physics
- Medical
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Literature
- Psychology
- Mathematics
- Engineering
- Business
Most Influential Alumni
- #50Morehouse College#437 institution's overall influence#1436 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$29K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
55%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1081/20
Atlanta, GAView profile
What is Morehouse College known for?
Morehouse College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Political Science
- Education
- Religious Studies
- Literature
- Philosophy
- History
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Biology
- Psychology
Most Influential Alumni
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