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2022 Colleges With the Best Academics

Colleges With the Best Academics College Rankings

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

#1 Colleges With the Best Academics

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a large private university located in Cambridge, MA ranked 1st in the US. It has a total of 4,698 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, accepting 6.7% of applicants. Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers 114 different majors and is best known for its Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $53,450 per year, Massachusetts Institute of Technology is extremely expensive. 90% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, working. After finishing college, alumni go on to generate near $104,700 per year, which is 152% greater than the national median.

Cambridge, MA

web.mit.edu/

A+

Rating

7%

Acceptance

12,321

Students

#1

Ranking

$53,450

Tuition

Stanford University

#2 Colleges With the Best Academics

Stanford University is a large private university located in Stanford, CA ranked 2nd in the nation. It has a total of 8,290 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, accepting 4.34% of applicants. Stanford University offers 227 different majors and is best known for its Human Biology, Industrial Management, and Earth Sciences programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $52,857 per year, Stanford University is exceptionally pricey. 89.2% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to make roughly $94,000 per year, which is 126% above the national median.

Stanford, CA

www.stanford.edu/

A+

Rating

4%

Acceptance

20,993

Students

#2

Ranking

$52,857

Tuition

Johns Hopkins University

#3 Colleges With the Best Academics

Johns Hopkins University is a very large private university located in Baltimore, MD ranked 7th in the United States. It has a total of 8,185 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, accepting more or less one in every ten applicants. Johns Hopkins University offers 362 different majors and is best known for its Public Health, Neuroscience, and Biophysics programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $55,350 per year, Johns Hopkins University is very expensive. 83.58% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, entering the labor force. After finishing college, alumni go on to earn more or less $73,200 per year, which is 76% over the national median.

Baltimore, MD

www.jhu.edu

A+

Rating

11%

Acceptance

33,543

Students

#7

Ranking

$55,350

Tuition

Harvard University

#4 Colleges With the Best Academics

Harvard University is a very large private university located in Cambridge, MA ranked 3rd in America. It has a total of 14,467 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, accepting 4.64% of applicants. Harvard University offers 375 different majors and is best known for its History, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $47,730 per year, Harvard University is very high-priced. 77.7% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, employment. After finishing college, alumni go on to make more or less $89,700 per year, which is 116% above the national median.

Cambridge, MA

www.harvard.edu

A+

Rating

5%

Acceptance

41,987

Students

#3

Ranking

$47,730

Tuition

Yale University

#5 Colleges With the Best Academics

Yale University is a large private university located in New Haven, CT ranked 4th in the United States. It has a total of 6,748 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, accepting 6.08% of applicants. Yale University offers 297 different majors and is best known for its American Studies, Religious Studies, and History programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $55,500 per year, Yale University is very pricey. 89.63% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to generate about $83,200 per year, which is 100% greater than the national median.

New Haven, CT

https://www.yale.edu

A+

Rating

6%

Acceptance

14,389

Students

#4

Ranking

$55,500

Tuition

Princeton University

#6 Colleges With the Best Academics

Princeton University is a mid-sized private university located in Princeton, NJ ranked 5th in the nation. It has a total of 5,535 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, accepting 5.78% of applicants. Princeton University offers 125 different majors and is best known for its Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Molecular Biology, and Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $51,870 per year, Princeton University is extremely costly. 88.56% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, entering the labor force. After finishing college, alumni go on to earn more or less $74,700 per year, which is 80% greater than the national median.

Princeton, NJ

www.princeton.edu

A+

Rating

6%

Acceptance

8,720

Students

#5

Ranking

$51,870

Tuition

University of Chicago

#7 Colleges With the Best Academics

University of Chicago is a large private university located in Chicago, IL ranked 10th in the nation. It has a total of 7,674 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, accepting 6.17% of applicants. University of Chicago offers 218 different majors and is best known for its Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Economics, and Counseling Psychology programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $57,642 per year, University of Chicago is exceptionally expensive. 79.52% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, entering the labor force. After finishing college, alumni go on to earn more or less $68,100 per year, which is 64% over the national median.

Chicago, IL

WWW.UCHICAGO.EDU

A+

Rating

6%

Acceptance

19,659

Students

#10

Ranking

$57,642

Tuition

University of Pennsylvania

#8 Colleges With the Best Academics

University of Pennsylvania is a very large private university located in Philadelphia, PA ranked 8th in the US. It has a total of 14,000 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, with a 7.66% acceptance rate. University of Pennsylvania offers 355 different majors and is best known for its Finance, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, and Philosophy programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $51,156 per year, University of Pennsylvania is exceptionally pricey. 81.13% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, entering the labor force. Open graduating, alumni go on to earn more or less $85,900 per year, which is 107% greater than the national median.

Philadelphia, PA

www.upenn.edu

A+

Rating

8%

Acceptance

29,813

Students

#8

Ranking

$51,156

Tuition

Duke University

#9 Colleges With the Best Academics

Duke University is a large private university located in Durham, NC ranked 6th in America. It has a total of 7,338 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, with a 7.6% acceptance rate. Duke University offers 242 different majors and is best known for its Public Policy Analysis, Computer Engineering, and Education programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $55,880 per year, Duke University is very expensive. 94.41% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn close to $84,400 per year, which is 103% above the national median.

Durham, NC

WWW.DUKE.EDU

A+

Rating

8%

Acceptance

18,159

Students

#6

Ranking

$55,880

Tuition

California Institute of Technology

#10 Colleges With the Best Academics

California Institute of Technology is a small private university located in Pasadena, CA ranked 19th in the United States. It has a total of 989 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, accepting slightly north of 1 in 20 applicants. California Institute of Technology offers 93 different majors and is best known for its Computational Mathematics, Astrophysics, and Physics programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $52,506 per year, California Institute of Technology is very expensive. After college, alumni go on to take home near $85,900 per year, which is 107% over the national median.

Pasadena, CA

www.caltech.edu

A+

Rating

6%

Acceptance

2,334

Students

#19

Ranking

$52,506

Tuition

Brown University

#11 Colleges With the Best Academics

Brown University is a large private university located in Providence, RI ranked 12th in the US. It has a total of 7,428 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, accepting 7.07% of applicants. Brown University offers 265 different majors and is best known for its Entrepreneurship, African Studies, and Latin American and Caribbean Studies programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $57,112 per year, Brown University is very high-priced. 87.69% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, joining the labor force. Open graduating, alumni go on to earn about $67,500 per year, which is 63% greater than the national median.

Providence, RI

www.brown.edu

A+

Rating

7%

Acceptance

10,760

Students

#12

Ranking

$57,112

Tuition

Columbia University in the City of New York

#12 Colleges With the Best Academics

Columbia University in the City of New York is a very large private university located in New York, NY ranked 9th in the United States. It has a total of 8,628 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, with a 5.45% acceptance rate. Columbia University in the City of New York offers 467 different majors and is best known for its Sustainability Studies, Art History, and Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $58,920 per year, Columbia University in the City of New York is exceptionally high-priced. 78.72% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, working. After college, alumni go on to bring home around $83,300 per year, which is 101% greater than the national median.

New York, NY

www.columbia.edu

A+

Rating

5%

Acceptance

33,301

Students

#9

Ranking

$58,920

Tuition

Dartmouth College

#13 Colleges With the Best Academics

Dartmouth College is a mid-sized private university located in Hanover, NH ranked 14th in the US. It has a total of 4,797 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, with a 7.93% acceptance rate. Dartmouth College offers 113 different majors and is best known for its Engineering Science, Latin American Studies, and Native American Studies programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $55,605 per year, Dartmouth College is extremely expensive. 90.38% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, entering the workforce. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to take home more or less $75,500 per year, which is 82% greater than the national median.

Hanover, NH

www.dartmouth.edu

A+

Rating

8%

Acceptance

7,081

Students

#14

Ranking

$55,605

Tuition

Cornell University

#14 Colleges With the Best Academics

Cornell University is a very large private university located in Ithaca, NY ranked 11th in America. It has a total of 15,464 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, accepting 10.85% of applicants. Cornell University offers 323 different majors and is best known for its Human Resources, Agricultural Business and Management, and Agriculture programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $56,550 per year, Cornell University is very high-priced. 89.35% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to take home roughly $77,200 per year, which is 86% above the national median.

Ithaca, NY

www.cornell.edu

A+

Rating

11%

Acceptance

24,189

Students

#11

Ranking

$56,550

Tuition

Washington University in St Louis

#15 Colleges With the Best Academics

Washington University in St Louis is a large private university located in Saint Louis, MO ranked 15th in the nation. It has a total of 8,774 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, accepting 13.85% of applicants. Washington University in St Louis offers 291 different majors and is best known for its Anthropology, Design and Visual Communications, and Environmental Biology programs, which are all nationally ranked 2nd. With an annual tuition of $54,250 per year, Washington University in St Louis is exceptionally costly. 88.9% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to bring in approximately $70,100 per year, which is 69% greater than the national median.

Saint Louis, MO

www.wustl.edu

A+

Rating

14%

Acceptance

17,794

Students

#15

Ranking

$54,250

Tuition

University of Notre Dame

#16 Colleges With the Best Academics

University of Notre Dame is a large private university located in Notre Dame, IN ranked 16th in the United States. It has a total of 8,803 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, with a 15.83% acceptance rate. University of Notre Dame offers 173 different majors and is best known for its Pre-Medical Studies, Theological and Ministerial Studies, and Italian Language and Literature programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $55,046 per year, University of Notre Dame is exceptionally expensive. 94.34% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, working. After college, alumni go on to earn around $78,400 per year, which is 89% greater than the national median.

Notre Dame, IN

www.nd.edu

A+

Rating

16%

Acceptance

13,221

Students

#16

Ranking

$55,046

Tuition

Vanderbilt University

#17 Colleges With the Best Academics

Vanderbilt University is a large private university located in Nashville, TN ranked 17th in America. It has a total of 6,974 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, with a 9.12% acceptance rate. Vanderbilt University offers 245 different majors and is best known for its Teacher Education and Professional Development, Secondary Education and Teaching, and Social Sciences programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $50,800 per year, Vanderbilt University is exceptionally high-priced. 86.73% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, working. Open graduating, alumni go on to make approximately $69,000 per year, which is 66% greater than the national median.

Nashville, TN

www.vanderbilt.edu

A+

Rating

9%

Acceptance

13,634

Students

#17

Ranking

$50,800

Tuition

Northwestern University

#18 Colleges With the Best Academics

Northwestern University is a very large private university located in Evanston, IL ranked 18th in the US. It has a total of 9,906 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, accepting 9.05% of applicants. Northwestern University offers 406 different majors and is best known for its Manufacturing Engineering, Journalism, and Drama programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $56,232 per year, Northwestern University is exceptionally expensive. 76.5% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, employment. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to generate roughly $69,000 per year, which is 66% above the national median.

Evanston, IL

www.northwestern.edu

A+

Rating

9%

Acceptance

25,614

Students

#18

Ranking

$56,232

Tuition

Pomona College

#19 Colleges With the Best Academics

Pomona College is a small private liberal arts college located in Claremont, CA ranked 20th in the United States. It has a total of 1,680 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, with a 7.4% acceptance rate. Pomona College offers 52 different majors and is best known for its Molecular Biology, Public Policy Analysis, and Environmental Science programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 7th, and 8th respectively). With an annual tuition of $54,380 per year, Pomona College is very high-priced. 89.39% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, employment. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to earn roughly $58,100 per year, which is 40% above the national median.

Claremont, CA

www.pomona.edu

A+

Rating

7%

Acceptance

1,680

Students

#20

Ranking

$54,380

Tuition

Rice University

#20 Colleges With the Best Academics

Rice University is a mid-sized private university located in Houston, TX ranked 22nd in the US. It has a total of 4,145 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, with a 8.72% acceptance rate. Rice University offers 150 different majors and is best known for its Biochemistry, Fitness Administration, and Cognitive Science programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively). With an annual tuition of $48,330 per year, Rice University is exceptionally pricey. 85.71% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, working. Open graduating, alumni go on to make near $65,400 per year, which is 57% over the national median.

Houston, TX

www.rice.edu

A+

Rating

9%

Acceptance

7,542

Students

#22

Ranking

$48,330

Tuition

Georgetown University

#21 Colleges With the Best Academics

Georgetown University is a large private university located in Washington, DC ranked 13th in the United States. It has a total of 8,325 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, accepting 14.36% of applicants. Georgetown University offers 184 different majors and is best known for its Science, Technology and Society, International Economics, and Political Science and Government programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $55,440 per year, Georgetown University is very expensive. 87.04% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, entering the labor force. After college, alumni go on to take home roughly $93,500 per year, which is 125% above the national median.

Washington, DC

www.georgetown.edu

A+

Rating

14%

Acceptance

22,534

Students

#13

Ranking

$55,440

Tuition

Swarthmore College

#22 Colleges With the Best Academics

Swarthmore College is a small private liberal arts college located in Swarthmore, PA ranked 27th in the United States. It has a total of 1,660 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, accepting around one out of ten applicants. Swarthmore College offers 89 different majors and is best known for its Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Classical and Ancient Studies, and Mathematics programs (nationally ranked 5th, 7th, and 8th respectively). With an annual tuition of $54,256 per year, Swarthmore College is exceptionally expensive. 88.55% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, working. After college, alumni go on to bring in close to $56,700 per year, which is 37% over the national median.

Swarthmore, PA

www.swarthmore.edu

A+

Rating

9%

Acceptance

1,660

Students

#27

Ranking

$54,256

Tuition

New York University

#23 Colleges With the Best Academics

New York University is a very large private university located in New York, NY ranked 25th in America. It has a total of 29,902 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, accepting 16.2% of applicants. New York University offers 564 different majors and is best known for its Drama, Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, and Management Information Systems programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $50,684 per year, New York University is exceptionally expensive. 73.93% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, employment. After finishing college, alumni go on to make roughly $61,900 per year, which is 49% over the national median.

New York, NY

www.nyu.edu

A+

Rating

16%

Acceptance

58,091

Students

#25

Ranking

$50,684

Tuition

Williams College

#24 Colleges With the Best Academics

Williams College is a small private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, MA ranked 26th in the United States. It has a total of 2,237 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, accepting 12.6% of applicants. Williams College offers 38 different majors and is best known for its Chinese Language and Literature, Near and Middle Eastern Studies, and Comparative Literature programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 4th, and 10th respectively). With an annual tuition of $56,970 per year, Williams College is very high-priced. 92.56% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, working. After finishing college, alumni go on to make roughly $59,000 per year, which is 42% greater than the national median.

Williamstown, MA

https://www.williams.edu

A+

Rating

13%

Acceptance

2,291

Students

#26

Ranking

$56,970

Tuition

Carnegie Mellon University

#25 Colleges With the Best Academics

Carnegie Mellon University is a large private university located in Pittsburgh, PA ranked 21st in the nation. It has a total of 7,068 full-time undergraduate students and is quite competitive, accepting hardly above 1/7 of applicants. Carnegie Mellon University offers 321 different majors and is best known for its Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Statistics, and Information Technology programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $55,816 per year, Carnegie Mellon University is extremely high-priced. 78.26% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, working. After college, alumni go on to earn around $83,600 per year, which is 101% over the national median.

Pittsburgh, PA

www.cmu.edu/

A+

Rating

15%

Acceptance

15,143

Students

#21

Ranking

$55,816

Tuition