The Top 50 Best Colleges in the US is College Raptor’s most prestigious rankings list. Updated annually, these schools are celebrated for their rich histories, stunning campuses, excellent academics, and vibrant student life. The institutions on this list are known for both academic excellence and impressive extracurricular opportunities, making them “dream schools” for students around the world. Use these rankings as a jumping-off point for you to create your own personalized rankings using our college match tool.
Each of these rankings is based on an analysis of data about the school’s selectivity, financial health, graduation rates, student success, and more. We’ve outlined our full methodology here.
| Rank | Institution | Undergraduates | Acceptance Rate | SAT Score | Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price | Median Starting Salary | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rice University | 4789 | 8 | 1,510 – 1,570 | 20587 | 79751 |
#1
Rice University
|
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin | 43165 | 26.64 | 1,250 – 1,490 | 18036 | 60896 |
#2
The University of Texas at Austin
|
| 3 | Southern Methodist University | 7285 | 63.35 | 1,360 – 1,500 | 45792 | 65556 |
#3
Southern Methodist University
|
| 4 | Trinity University | 2518 | 25.92 | 1,330 – 1,490 | 32264 | 55224 |
#4
Trinity University
|
| 5 | Texas Christian University | 11049 | 44.49 | 1,190 – 1,380 | 39005 | 60435 |
#5
Texas Christian University
|
| 6 | Baylor University | 14915 | 51.28 | 1,180 – 1,380 | 49727 | 56532 |
#6
Baylor University
|
| 7 | Texas A&M University-College Station | 60710 | 57.32 | 1,170 – 1,400 | 21610 | 59386 |
Texas A&M University-College Station
|
| 8 | University of Tulsa | 2852 | 61.5 | 1,220 – 1,510 | 23681 | 54779 |
University of Tulsa
|
| 9 | St. John's College | 368 | 52.79 | 1,300 – 1,480 | 28368 | 33770 |
St. John's College
|
| 10 | The University of Texas at Dallas | 21858 | 65.13 | 1,170 – 1,420 | 13464 | 57249 |
The University of Texas at Dallas
|
| 11 | Southwestern University | 1440 | 43.05 | 1,160 – 1,320 | 30687 | 49249 |
Southwestern University
|
| 12 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 23351 | 76.6 | 1,140 – 1,340 | 19900 | 52216 |
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
|
| 13 | Austin College | 1167 | 47.65 | 1,110 – 1,320 | 24777 | 45242 |
Austin College
|
| 14 | University of Dallas | 1444 | 53.44 | 1,120 – 1,360 | 31221 | 45950 |
University of Dallas
|
| 15 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | 65450 | 89.89 | 1,090 – 1,320 | 16401 | 52843 |
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
|
| 16 | Oklahoma City University | 1514 | 77.02 | 1,070 – 1,280 | 23143 | 42312 |
Oklahoma City University
|
| 17 | University of Arizona | 45025 | 86.14 | 1,100 – 1,330 | 18144 | 47665 |
#17
University of Arizona
|
| 18 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | 3229 | 76.58 | 1,160 – 1,360 | 41209 | 65391 |
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
|
| 19 | Saint Edward's University | 2731 | 83.69 | 1,040 – 1,230 | 28351 | 47743 |
Saint Edward's University
|
| 20 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | 22351 | 75.04 | 1,040 – 1,280 | 18291 | 46855 |
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
|
| 21 | Texas Tech University | 32580 | 72.65 | 1,110 – 1,290 | 16773 | 52588 |
#21
Texas Tech University
|
| 22 | Oral Roberts University | 5017 | 98.9 | 1,020 – 1,260 | 24347 | 39112 |
Oral Roberts University
|
| 23 | St. Mary's University | 2150 | 97.76 | 890 – 1,310 | 20562 | 44130 |
#23
St. Mary's University
|
| 24 | Southern Nazarene University | 1465 | 77.03 | 930 – 1,180 | 19825 | 48255 |
Southern Nazarene University
|
| 25 | Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology | 744 | 76.87 | 860 – 1,060 | 29383 | 44028 |
#25
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
|
| 26 | Northern Arizona University | 22991 | 89.61 | 1,040 – 1,250 | 16544 | 47308 |
Northern Arizona University
|
| 27 | University of St Thomas | 3395 | 89.93 | 960 – 1,200 | 20469 | 49971 |
University of St Thomas
|
| 28 | Criswell College | 118 | 91.67 | 1,090 – 1,150 | 11464 | 42026 |
Criswell College
|
| 29 | Oklahoma Christian University | 2012 | 97.07 | 1,010 – 1,270 | 21810 | 43281 |
Oklahoma Christian University
|
| 30 | University of North Texas | 34458 | 72.23 | 990 – 1,240 | 14675 | 46304 |
University of North Texas
|
| 31 | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | 1217 | 54.05 | 1,130 – 1,330 | 9133 | 54530 |
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
|
| 32 | LeTourneau University | 3184 | 38.01 | 1,030 – 1,350 | 27007 | 51058 |
LeTourneau University
|
| 33 | Nelson University | 1413 | 84.23 | 930 – 1,110 | 19834 | 37425 |
Nelson University
|
| 34 | Texas State University | 36268 | 89.08 | 990 – 1,210 | 15307 | 46716 |
Texas State University
|
| 35 | Dallas Baptist University | 2785 | 88.84 | 980 – 1,230 | 30275 | 45138 |
Dallas Baptist University
|
| 36 | The King's University | 272 | 100 | 870 – 1,130 | 23878 | 30883 |
The King's University
|
| 37 | University of the Incarnate Word | 4638 | 98.15 | 920 – 1,150 | 21246 | 47625 |
University of the Incarnate Word
|
| 38 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus | 17771 | 79.33 | 910 – 1,180 | 7528 | 37150 |
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
|
| 39 | University of Advancing Technology | 892 | 95.15 | 950 – 1,180 | 21148 | 39016 |
University of Advancing Technology
|
| 40 | Oklahoma Baptist University | 1409 | 55.68 | 1,010 – 1,210 | 25099 | 42581 |
Oklahoma Baptist University
|
| 41 | Sam Houston State University | 17787 | 90.26 | 930 – 1,130 | 14556 | 45337 |
Sam Houston State University
|
| 42 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 31127 | 86.79 | 1,010 – 1,220 | 10831 | 46340 |
The University of Texas at San Antonio
|
| 43 | Grand Canyon University | 70929 | 60.36 | 960 – 1,150 | 22239 | 47280 |
Grand Canyon University
|
| 44 | University of Houston-Clear Lake | 6029 | 91.73 | 980 – 1,170 | 10488 | 52098 |
University of Houston-Clear Lake
|
| 45 | Hardin-Simmons University | 1291 | 86.2 | 1,010 – 1,210 | 21321 | 44392 |
Hardin-Simmons University
|
| 46 | Stephen F Austin State University | 9129 | 74.45 | 970 – 1,150 | 15498 | 43144 |
Stephen F Austin State University
|
| 47 | Southwest University at El Paso | 1817 | 0 | -- | 17365 | 29611 | |
| 48 | East Texas Baptist University | 1634 | 57.76 | 930 – 1,120 | 24388 | 41759 |
East Texas Baptist University
|
| 49 | Prescott College | 257 | 98.57 | 1,020 – 1,260 | 23163 | 33539 |
Prescott College
|
| 50 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 28674 | 94.01 | 870 – 1,090 | 6978 | 35812 |
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
|
| 51 | The University of Texas at Arlington | 31112 | 81.29 | 990 – 1,240 | 14956 | 60902 |
The University of Texas at Arlington
|
| 52 | Texas Lutheran University | 1319 | 95.71 | 1,040 – 1,240 | 23600 | 48125 |
Texas Lutheran University
|
| 53 | The University of Texas at Tyler | 7683 | 94.02 | 1,020 – 1,220 | 14043 | 49355 |
The University of Texas at Tyler
|
| 54 | Lubbock Christian University | 1322 | 73.19 | 950 – 1,190 | 25351 | 46464 |
Lubbock Christian University
|
| 55 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | 2803 | 95.76 | 990 – 1,180 | 29904 | 48368 |
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
|
| 56 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus | 12498 | 88.96 | 890 – 1,130 | 8353 | 32960 |
New Mexico State University-Main Campus
|
| 57 | Texas A&M International University | 7004 | 45.96 | 920 – 1,120 | 3833 | 37327 |
Texas A&M International University
|
| 58 | Tarleton State University | 15130 | 52.56 | 1,010 – 1,180 | 15363 | 46729 |
Tarleton State University
|
| 59 | Houston Christian University | 2899 | 84.58 | 990 – 1,190 | 20530 | 44595 |
Houston Christian University
|
| 60 | West Texas A & M University | 6930 | 58.63 | 960 – 1,160 | 17182 | 44399 |
West Texas A & M University
|
| 61 | Schreiner University | 1120 | 85.3 | 820 – 1,050 | 21786 | 45527 |
Schreiner University
|
| 62 | Angelo State University | 9779 | 83.01 | 940 – 1,170 | 12518 | 41050 |
Angelo State University
|
| 63 | Chamberlain University-Arizona | 745 | 87.5 | -- | 31755 | 84533 |
Chamberlain University-Arizona
|
| 64 | Texas Woman's University | 10034 | 96.13 | 950 – 1,160 | 10763 | 48773 |
Texas Woman's University
|
| 65 | The University of Texas at El Paso | 20609 | 99.9 | 880 – 1,100 | 10333 | 37978 |
The University of Texas at El Paso
|
| 66 | Midwestern State University | 4303 | 93.47 | 950 – 1,160 | 11798 | 46637 |
Midwestern State University
|
| 67 | University of North Texas at Dallas | 3018 | 93.86 | 800 – 1,040 | 9109 | 51716 |
University of North Texas at Dallas
|
| 68 | University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma | 914 | 55.77 | 1,080 – 1,210 | 8685 | 35520 |
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
|
| 69 | Southwestern Oklahoma State University | 4347 | 100 | 890 – 1,140 | 14761 | 42896 |
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
|
| 70 | Southwestern Adventist University | 813 | 55.52 | 920 – 1,210 | 20198 | 43643 |
Southwestern Adventist University
|
| 71 | Prairie View A & M University | 8836 | 77.94 | 860 – 1,080 | 14065 | 36350 |
Prairie View A & M University
|
| 72 | Howard Payne University | 768 | 67.69 | 920 – 1,140 | 25768 | 38212 |
Howard Payne University
|
| 73 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville | 5386 | 90.92 | 890 – 1,100 | 10474 | 44882 |
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
|
| 74 | Cameron University | 3307 | 100 | 850 – 1,040 | 11094 | 33447 |
Cameron University
|
| 75 | Texas A&M University-Commerce | 9666 | 74.98 | 930 – 1,150 | 11902 | 43157 |
Texas A&M University-Commerce
|
| 76 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | 4218 | 93.07 | 910 – 1,130 | 10143 | 50020 |
The University of Texas Permian Basin
|
| 77 | Concordia University Texas | 1391 | 91.06 | 860 – 1,120 | 23621 | 48058 |
Concordia University Texas
|
| 78 | The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary | 351 | 52.75 | 1,050 – 1,260 | 11654 | 63721 |
#78
The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
|
| 79 | Arizona Christian University | 1210 | 74.42 | 970 – 1,210 | 32397 | 39524 |
Arizona Christian University
|
| 80 | McMurry University | 3167 | 57.04 | 960 – 1,170 | 20817 | 38647 |
McMurry University
|
| 81 | Southeastern Oklahoma State University | 3207 | 80.34 | 970 – 1,150 | 8064 | 40734 |
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
|
| 82 | Northeastern State University | 5085 | 99.35 | 930 – 1,140 | 11153 | 41207 |
Northeastern State University
|
| 83 | Our Lady of the Lake University | 1147 | 72.46 | 880 – 1,100 | 17961 | 41195 |
Our Lady of the Lake University
|
| 84 | Northwestern Oklahoma State University | 1724 | 66.43 | 890 – 1,110 | 12067 | 39997 |
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
|
| 85 | Texas Wesleyan University | 1910 | 62.39 | 950 – 1,150 | 21169 | 44773 |
Texas Wesleyan University
|
| 86 | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | 8320 | 88.58 | 950 – 1,200 | 14991 | 42933 |
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
|
| 87 | University of Central Oklahoma | 10454 | 81.76 | 930 – 1,180 | 18893 | 43074 |
University of Central Oklahoma
|
| 88 | Lamar University | 8218 | 85.7 | 940 – 1,150 | 10999 | 47077 |
Lamar University
|
| 89 | East Central University | 2644 | 58.15 | 930 – 1,180 | 9355 | 40677 |
East Central University
|
| 90 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 824 | 77.03 | 960 – 1,160 | 26811 | 55700 |
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
|
| 91 | Rogers State University | 3141 | 66.83 | 800 – 1,070 | 13953 | 39324 |
Rogers State University
|
| 92 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | 4250 | 91.66 | 860 – 1,080 | 6683 | 33619 |
Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus
|
| 93 | Texas A&M University-Texarkana | 1760 | 80.14 | 890 – 1,110 | 13320 | 41785 |
Texas A&M University-Texarkana
|
| 94 | University of Houston-Downtown | 12622 | 89.96 | 890 – 1,080 | 14269 | 49120 |
University of Houston-Downtown
|
| 95 | Langston University | 1743 | 0 | 760 – 1,040 | 10589 | 29691 | |
| 96 | Sul Ross State University | 1441 | 95.62 | 900 – 1,100 | 12240 | 34340 |
Sul Ross State University
|
| 97 | Oklahoma Panhandle State University | 1071 | 97.07 | 890 – 1,080 | 5274 | 39089 |
Oklahoma Panhandle State University
|
| 98 | Jarvis Christian University | 730 | 93.36 | 760 – 930 | 10674 | 27077 |
Jarvis Christian University
|
| 99 | Navajo Technical University | 1523 | 92.52 | -- | 4233 | 23280 |
Navajo Technical University
|
| 100 | Huston-Tillotson University | 982 | 67.69 | 830 – 1,020 | 19638 | 38342 |
Huston-Tillotson University
|
| 101 | Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development | 755 | 100 | 780 – 1,010 | 14334 | 20816 |
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development
|
| 102 | Mid-America Christian University | 1636 | 0 | -- | 16187 | 39265 | |
| 103 | University of Houston | 39257 | 73.92 | 1,160 – 1,340 | 13738 | 52768 | |
| 104 | Abilene Christian University | 3233 | 66.04 | 1,010 – 1,250 | 28311 | 46727 | |
| 105 | Texas Southern University | 6619 | 93.35 | 820 – 1,010 | 15021 | 32986 |
Texas Southern University
|
| 106 | American InterContinental University-Houston | 124 | 92.44 | -- | 18558 | 27823 |
American InterContinental University-Houston
|
| 107 | University of Houston-Victoria | 2707 | 76.71 | 850 – 1,010 | 9912 | 44888 |
University of Houston-Victoria
|
| 108 | Southwestern Christian University | 351 | 80.34 | 850 – 1,010 | 20714 | 34574 |
Southwestern Christian University
|
| 109 | Wayland Baptist University | 2087 | 55.96 | 840 – 1,010 | 20222 | 44159 |
Wayland Baptist University
|
| 110 | Randall University | 281 | 44.81 | 920 – 1,080 | 17827 | 41012 |
Randall University
|
| 111 | Paul Quinn College | 600 | 33.81 | 760 – 970 | 18118 | 27021 |
Paul Quinn College
|
| 112 | Western New Mexico University | 2630 | 100 | -- | 8712 | 31166 |
Western New Mexico University
|
| 113 | University of the Southwest | 337 | 75.73 | 850 – 1,040 | 20438 | 36600 |
University of the Southwest
|
| 114 | College of Biblical Studies-Houston | 482 | 89.93 | -- | 14684 | 33366 |
College of Biblical Studies-Houston
|
| 115 | Hallmark University | 407 | 100 | -- | 10153 | 46666 | |
| 116 | Dallas Christian College | 278 | 84.03 | 750 – 1,110 | 22463 | 39868 |
Dallas Christian College
|
| 117 | Northern New Mexico College | 1310 | 75.73 | -- | 6102 | 34377 |
Northern New Mexico College
|
| 118 | Brookline College-Albuquerque | 492 | 58.22 | -- | 37566 | 32705 |
Brookline College-Albuquerque
|
| 119 | North American University | 609 | 22.7 | -- | 13702 | 32221 |
North American University
|
| 120 | Arlington Baptist University | 268 | 79.23 | -- | 26503 | 32206 |
Arlington Baptist University
|
| 121 | South Texas College | 26440 | 0 | -- | 1414 | 28239 | |
| 122 | Texas College | 644 | 42.6 | -- | 10901 | 27901 |
Texas College
|
| 123 | New Mexico Highlands University | 1710 | 94.81 | 850 – 1,040 | 15106 | 38952 | |
| 124 | Strayer University-Texas | 2397 | 0 | -- | 17517 | 36582 | |
| 125 | Wiley University | 636 | 97.35 | -- | 10290 | 28078 |
Wiley University
|
| 126 | The College of Health Care Professions-Northwest | 3794 | 100 | -- | 25723 | 31970 | |
| 127 | Brookline College-Phoenix | 714 | 85.97 | -- | 0 | 32705 | |
| 128 | American InterContinental University System | 6830 | 92.44 | -- | 14394 | 27823 |
American InterContinental University System
|
| 129 | Bryan University | 2094 | 100 | -- | 20495 | 32146 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
Join thousands of students and parents learning about finding the right college, admissions secrets, scholarships, financial aid, and more.