University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlights the best colleges in the U.S.
Learning about the best colleges in the U.S. can be difficult, especially when they have a wide variety of locations, settings, social styles, and academic offerings. We have rankings that try to provide a picture of the school as a helpful guide to students and their families engaged in the selection process. It is equally important to determine if you are going to attend a campus college, or an online college and then determine the best school that fits what you are looking for.Â
When using rankings and ratings to determine the best colleges, students should remember they are not based on the same criteria nor do they have the same weight for common factors. For example, some of the best university rankings place a high rating, as much as 25%, on the success rate of graduates. Other rankings may value the on-time graduation rate as a chief factor. Students should take a glance at the rating factors when using college rankings and find the types of bachelor's degrees that fits your needs.
Featured Online Programs
State-By-State Best College Guides and Rankings
Select a State to Search Colleges & Universities
- Select a State
-
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top 50 Best Colleges in the US
1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Score: 93.9
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $60,156
- Out-of-State:$60,156
- Net Price: $20,232
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Retention Rate: 99%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 11,858
- Undergrad Students: 4,657
- Graduate Students: 7,201
- Grads Salary: $118,000
- Student-to-faculty: 3:1
2
Stanford University
Score: 93.59
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $62,484
- Out-of-State:$62,484
- Net Price: $18,279
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 18,283
- Undergrad Students: 8,049
- Graduate Students: 10,234
- Grads Salary: $116,000
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
3
California Institute of Technology
Score: 93.1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,255
- Out-of-State:$63,255
- Net Price: $20,755
- Acceptance Rate: 3%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 2,401
- Undergrad Students: 982
- Graduate Students: 1,419
- Grads Salary: $117,000
- Student-to-faculty: 3:1
4
Princeton University
Score: 89.36
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $59,710
- Out-of-State:$59,710
- Net Price: $18,698
- Acceptance Rate: 6%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 97%
- Total Enrollment: 8,842
- Undergrad Students: 5,604
- Graduate Students: 3,238
- Grads Salary: $103,000
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
5
Yale University
Score: 87.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,700
- Out-of-State:$64,700
- Net Price: $18,647
- Acceptance Rate: 5%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 98%
- Total Enrollment: 14,776
- Undergrad Students: 6,645
- Graduate Students: 8,131
- Grads Salary: $96,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
6
Harvard University
Score: 87.12
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $59,076
- Out-of-State:$59,076
- Net Price: $19,491
- Acceptance Rate: 3%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 98%
- Total Enrollment: 30,631
- Undergrad Students: 9,368
- Graduate Students: 21,263
- Grads Salary: $96,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
7
Dartmouth College
Score: 86.3
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,739
- Out-of-State:$65,739
- Net Price: $19,208
- Acceptance Rate: 6%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 6,744
- Undergrad Students: 4,458
- Graduate Students: 2,286
- Grads Salary: $96,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
8
Harvey Mudd College
Score: 85.44
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $66,255
- Out-of-State:$66,255
- Net Price: $39,850
- Acceptance Rate: 13%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 922
- Undergrad Students: 922
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $116,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
9
University of California-Berkeley
Score: 85.16
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,850
- Out-of-State:$45,627
- Net Price: $19,257
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 45,307
- Undergrad Students: 32,479
- Graduate Students: 12,828
- Grads Salary: $97,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
10
Duke University
Score: 85.04
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,805
- Out-of-State:$65,805
- Net Price: $23,694
- Acceptance Rate: 6%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 97%
- Total Enrollment: 18,023
- Undergrad Students: 6,640
- Graduate Students: 11,383
- Grads Salary: $95,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
11
Carnegie Mellon University
Score: 84.98
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,829
- Out-of-State:$63,829
- Net Price: $33,499
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 16,002
- Undergrad Students: 7,059
- Graduate Students: 8,943
- Grads Salary: $108,000
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
12
Georgia Institute of Technology
Score: 84.69
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,764
- Out-of-State:$32,876
- Net Price: $17,402
- Acceptance Rate: 17%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 93%
- Total Enrollment: 45,296
- Undergrad Students: 18,415
- Graduate Students: 26,881
- Grads Salary: $95,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
13
Rice University
Score: 84.39
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $58,128
- Out-of-State:$58,128
- Net Price: $19,902
- Acceptance Rate: 9%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 8,672
- Undergrad Students: 4,494
- Graduate Students: 4,178
- Grads Salary: $92,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
14
Columbia University
Score: 83.89
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $69,045
- Out-of-State:$69,045
- Net Price: $22,058
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 34,782
- Undergrad Students: 8,902
- Graduate Students: 25,880
- Grads Salary: $91,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
15
Johns Hopkins University
Score: 83.79
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,340
- Out-of-State:$63,340
- Net Price: $24,034
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 31,275
- Undergrad Students: 6,044
- Graduate Students: 25,231
- Grads Salary: $94,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
16
University of Pennsylvania
Score: 83.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $66,104
- Out-of-State:$66,104
- Net Price: $26,123
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 96%
- Total Enrollment: 28,201
- Undergrad Students: 11,250
- Graduate Students: 16,951
- Grads Salary: $94,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
17
Northwestern University
Score: 83.55
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,997
- Out-of-State:$65,997
- Net Price: $22,095
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 97%
- Total Enrollment: 23,161
- Undergrad Students: 8,993
- Graduate Students: 14,168
- Grads Salary: $89,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
18
Brown University
Score: 83.18
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $68,230
- Out-of-State:$68,230
- Net Price: $26,723
- Acceptance Rate: 5%
- Retention Rate: 99%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 11,189
- Undergrad Students: 7,639
- Graduate Students: 3,550
- Grads Salary: $93,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
19
Amherst College
Score: 83.18
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $67,280
- Out-of-State:$67,280
- Net Price: $21,367
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 1,898
- Undergrad Students: 1,898
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $92,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
20
University of California-Los Angeles
Score: 82.91
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,747
- Out-of-State:$44,524
- Net Price: $16,999
- Acceptance Rate: 9%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 46,430
- Undergrad Students: 32,423
- Graduate Students: 14,007
- Grads Salary: $89,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
21
Cornell University
Score: 82.89
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $66,014
- Out-of-State:$66,014
- Net Price: $26,060
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 25,898
- Undergrad Students: 15,735
- Graduate Students: 10,163
- Grads Salary: $93,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
22
Williams College
Score: 82.23
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,860
- Out-of-State:$64,860
- Net Price: $20,965
- Acceptance Rate: 8%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 2,222
- Undergrad Students: 2,169
- Graduate Students: 53
- Grads Salary: $86,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
23
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Score: 82.02
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,228
- Out-of-State:$58,072
- Net Price: $19,318
- Acceptance Rate: 18%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 93%
- Total Enrollment: 51,225
- Undergrad Students: 32,695
- Graduate Students: 18,530
- Grads Salary: $88,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
24
Washington and Lee University
Score: 81.99
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,525
- Out-of-State:$64,525
- Net Price: $24,733
- Acceptance Rate: 17%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 2,243
- Undergrad Students: 1,867
- Graduate Students: 376
- Grads Salary: $90,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
25
Vanderbilt University
Score: 81.2
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,946
- Out-of-State:$63,946
- Net Price: $25,606
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 93%
- Total Enrollment: 13,710
- Undergrad Students: 7,151
- Graduate Students: 6,559
- Grads Salary: $89,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
26
Bowdoin College
Score: 81.08
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,910
- Out-of-State:$64,910
- Net Price: $22,776
- Acceptance Rate: 9%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 1,915
- Undergrad Students: 1,915
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $86,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
27
University of California-Irvine
Score: 81.01
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,237
- Out-of-State:$45,014
- Net Price: $14,033
- Acceptance Rate: 21%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 87%
- Total Enrollment: 35,937
- Undergrad Students: 28,662
- Graduate Students: 7,275
- Grads Salary: $88,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
28
University of California-San Diego
Score: 80.94
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,265
- Out-of-State:$46,042
- Net Price: $16,111
- Acceptance Rate: 24%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 88%
- Total Enrollment: 42,006
- Undergrad Students: 33,096
- Graduate Students: 8,910
- Grads Salary: $89,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
29
University of Virginia
Score: 80.87
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $20,986
- Out-of-State:$58,014
- Net Price: $19,469
- Acceptance Rate: 19%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 26,082
- Undergrad Students: 17,444
- Graduate Students: 8,638
- Grads Salary: $84,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
30
Colgate University
Score: 80.68
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $67,024
- Out-of-State:$67,024
- Net Price: $27,074
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 3,141
- Undergrad Students: 3,130
- Graduate Students: 11
- Grads Salary: $92,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
31
Claremont McKenna College
Score: 80.55
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,150
- Out-of-State:$64,150
- Net Price: $28,701
- Acceptance Rate: 10%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 1,389
- Undergrad Students: 1,386
- Graduate Students: 3
- Grads Salary: $92,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
32
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Score: 80.11
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,989
- Out-of-State:$39,330
- Net Price: $10,614
- Acceptance Rate: 17%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 31,705
- Undergrad Students: 20,029
- Graduate Students: 11,676
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
33
University of Notre Dame
Score: 80.05
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $62,693
- Out-of-State:$62,693
- Net Price: $28,474
- Acceptance Rate: 13%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 96%
- Total Enrollment: 13,105
- Undergrad Students: 8,971
- Graduate Students: 4,134
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
34
University of Florida
Score: 80.04
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,381
- Out-of-State:$28,659
- Net Price: $11,740
- Acceptance Rate: 23%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 90%
- Total Enrollment: 55,211
- Undergrad Students: 34,552
- Graduate Students: 20,659
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
35
Wellesley College
Score: 79.94
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,320
- Out-of-State:$64,320
- Net Price: $21,362
- Acceptance Rate: 14%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 90%
- Total Enrollment: 2,447
- Undergrad Students: 2,447
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
36
Swarthmore College
Score: 79.85
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $62,412
- Out-of-State:$62,412
- Net Price: $20,715
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 1,625
- Undergrad Students: 1,625
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
37
Washington University in St. Louis
Score: 79.83
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $62,982
- Out-of-State:$62,982
- Net Price: $23,432
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 17,012
- Undergrad Students: 8,132
- Graduate Students: 8,880
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
38
University of Washington
Score: 79.7
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,643
- Out-of-State:$41,997
- Net Price: $10,603
- Acceptance Rate: 48%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
- Total Enrollment: 52,319
- Undergrad Students: 36,213
- Graduate Students: 16,106
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
39
Tufts University
Score: 78.93
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $67,844
- Out-of-State:$67,844
- Net Price: $30,479
- Acceptance Rate: 10%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 13,431
- Undergrad Students: 6,815
- Graduate Students: 6,616
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
40
University of California-Davis
Score: 78.82
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,247
- Out-of-State:$46,024
- Net Price: $17,385
- Acceptance Rate: 37%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 86%
- Total Enrollment: 39,679
- Undergrad Students: 31,532
- Graduate Students: 8,147
- Grads Salary: $88,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
41
University of California-Santa Barbara
Score: 78.78
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,965
- Out-of-State:$45,742
- Net Price: $16,874
- Acceptance Rate: 26%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 86%
- Total Enrollment: 26,420
- Undergrad Students: 23,459
- Graduate Students: 2,961
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
42
Hamilton College
Score: 78.77
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,740
- Out-of-State:$65,740
- Net Price: $24,503
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 2,072
- Undergrad Students: 2,072
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
43
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,075
- Out-of-State:$30,995
- Net Price: $19,184
- Acceptance Rate: 30%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 22,000
- Undergrad Students: 21,026
- Graduate Students: 974
- Grads Salary: $88,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
44
Bellin College
Score: 78.45
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $28,211
- Out-of-State:$28,211
- Net Price: $25,811
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 748
- Undergrad Students: 563
- Graduate Students: 185
- Grads Salary: $111,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
45
The University of Texas at Austin
Score: 78.4
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,678
- Out-of-State:$42,778
- Net Price: $17,434
- Acceptance Rate: 31%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 88%
- Total Enrollment: 52,384
- Undergrad Students: 41,309
- Graduate Students: 11,075
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
46
University of Maryland
Score: 78.31
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,505
- Out-of-State:$40,306
- Net Price: $16,210
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- Total Enrollment: 40,792
- Undergrad Students: 30,353
- Graduate Students: 10,439
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
47
University of Southern California
Score: 78.23
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $68,237
- Out-of-State:$68,237
- Net Price: $36,808
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 48,945
- Undergrad Students: 20,699
- Graduate Students: 28,246
- Grads Salary: $92,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
48
Emory University
Score: 77.99
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $60,774
- Out-of-State:$60,774
- Net Price: $26,680
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 90%
- Total Enrollment: 14,841
- Undergrad Students: 7,101
- Graduate Students: 7,740
- Grads Salary: $84,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
49
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Score: 77.86
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,205
- Out-of-State:$40,603
- Net Price: $13,376
- Acceptance Rate: 49%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- Total Enrollment: 48,956
- Undergrad Students: 36,306
- Graduate Students: 12,650
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
50
Binghamton University
Score: 77.85
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,363
- Out-of-State:$29,453
- Net Price: $19,535
- Acceptance Rate: 42%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 18,312
- Undergrad Students: 14,402
- Graduate Students: 3,910
- Grads Salary: $90,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Select the Best Type of College to Fit You
Education is an investment in your future. You should invest wisely. Some general guidelines are outlined in the items below.
- Schools with High-Quality Standards
Students should only consider a school with a reputation for excellence. - Pick Colleges That Best Fit Your Lifestyle and Goals
The school’s lifestyle is part of the learning environment. It can be supportive or competitive or somewhere in between. Depending on how you prefer to learn, a competitive atmosphere could change your mind about going to a specific institution. - Decide How Much Flexibility You Need
The online education format is the ultimate in flexibility. On-campus has the least but students can pick from either or use both types as they think best with a hybrid program. - Synchronous
This is the type of learning that is traditional in schools and colleges. It is classroom or lecture hall sessions. The students must meet at a place and time to attend a class. The learning is synchronous which means everyone learns at the same time and place. - Asynchronous
In this type of learning atmosphere the students do not learn at the same place and time. Online learning is asynchronous. Students have the flexibility to log on to the classroom links whenever they can. They all learn the same things but not at the same time. The advantage of asynchronous learning is that students will not be tied to rigid schedules for class attendance. - Open Schedule
This type of learning permits flexible participation in coursework. Students have the option of selecting among options for taking part in classroom lessons. Open learning does not require admissions and processing. Students can sign up for coursework as they wish. Many colleges offer this option for a limited range of courses. It is an emerging style of learning. - Hybrid Online Courses
Hybrid online courses permit students to take all or part of a course online. The student can have the flexibility to choose whether to take the entire course online, on-campus, or in a mix of online and on-campus attendance.
School Types
- Vocational Schools are low-cost alternatives to four-year colleges. Some programs may be completed in one year or less. The costs vary with the vocation or training offered, but they typically involve hands-on occupational training that prepares graduates to work in a business or trade.
- Community Colleges are typically lower in cost than a trade school. Community colleges require two-to-three years for completion. When compared to a vocational school, the lower per year costs must be multiplied by the number of years. Community colleges offer a well-rounded education; students can choose among general, specialty, or trade education.
- Public Universities are typically four-year institutions that offer associate, bachelor’s, and advanced degrees. Public universities offer high-quality education and lower rates for in-state students.
- Private Universities are typically four-year institutions that set rates based upon private policies. These colleges tend to be more expensive than a public school. They may offer unique faculty and educational resources. Some private schools enjoy bold reputations and provide graduates with advantages based on their reputation and ranking.
- Historically Black Colleges and universities are a mix of both private and public institutions. Find out which HBCUs are the best.
Online College
The best reasons to attend an online school relate to the student’s choice to attend while still at home and/or engaged in other matters. Online education is ideal for working students, students with family obligations, and students that run businesses. Online education makes learning accessible to millions of young adults and older persons that cannot, or prefer not, to leave their existing life arrangement to attend school.
Online education removes distance barriers and colleges that may be in faraway locations are as close as the nearest Internet connection. When it comes to scholarships and student loan programs at accredited online colleges, online students have access similar to on-campus students. One area of difference for online students is the lack of work-study type programs that require an on-campus presence.
Online education may be less expensive than on-campus education. The majority of the savings come in the form of living expenses. Online students do not have to relocate and obtain housing near the school. The extra expenses of online education are usually minimal. This stands in contrast to the requirements for on-campus education where the daily expenses of housing, food, and travel ad up to thousands over the course of a year.
Find Your Online Program
What to Look for in the Best Vocational or Trade Schools
Faculty is important. Students should look to see that the faculty have good educational backgrounds and that they have experience in the field of instruction. Job placement assistance is also an important factor for career development. Students should look past the number of graduate hires and examine the school resources committed to career counseling, job coaching, hands-on experience, and internships.
Accreditation is an important feature of vocational education. Federal laws have changed in recent years to protect students against programs that charged a lot and delivered very little of value. Students must make sure that the accreditation is from an agency approved by the US Department of Education.
Reviews & Experience
Students should examine the school information on the Department of Education College Scorecard and on the school’s website. You should look carefully at graduation rates and student satisfaction surveys. The experiences of other students may not always be predictive, but they can always help students ask the right questions.
Average Annual Tuition and Fees by Type of Institution
| Type of Institution | Two-Year | Four-Year |
|---|---|---|
| Public – in-state | $13,500 | $22,000 |
| Public – out-of-state | $13,500 | $36,500 |
| Private Non-profit | $24,600 | $47,000 |
| Private for Profit | $37,000 | $65,000 |
| Vocational | $17,000 | $33,000 |
State-By-State Best Online College Rankings
Select a State to Search Colleges & Universities
- Select a State
-
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming