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 | Duke University | 6523 | 5.71 | 1,520 – 1,560 | 23422 | 85792 |
#1
Duke University
|
| 2 | Emory University | 7407 | 10.29 | 1,460 – 1,550 | 27986 | 74980 |
#2
Emory University
|
| 3 | Southern Methodist University | 7285 | 63.35 | 1,360 – 1,500 | 45792 | 65556 |
#3
Southern Methodist University
|
| 4 | American University | 7476 | 61.87 | 1,300 – 1,450 | 40189 | 61328 |
#4
American University
|
| 5 | Wofford College | 1817 | 51.94 | 1,240 – 1,370 | 31061 | 52076 |
#5
Wofford College
|
| 6 | Allegheny College | 1171 | 54.52 | 1,180 – 1,360 | 27929 | 45603 |
Allegheny College
|
| 7 | Drew University | 1611 | 67.83 | 1,110 – 1,350 | 28193 | 47562 |
Drew University
|
| 8 | Southwestern University | 1440 | 43.05 | 1,160 – 1,320 | 30687 | 49249 |
Southwestern University
|
| 9 | Ohio Northern University | 2592 | 73.35 | 1,210 – 1,370 | 26396 | 62686 |
Ohio Northern University
|
| 10 | Hendrix College | 1101 | 55.63 | 1,240 – 1,400 | 24236 | 39913 |
Hendrix College
|
| 11 | Randolph-Macon College | 1643 | 86.61 | 1,050 – 1,230 | 29058 | 48067 |
Randolph-Macon College
|
| 12 | Lebanon Valley College | 1720 | 83.77 | 1,140 – 1,310 | 28640 | 54021 |
Lebanon Valley College
|
| 13 | High Point University | 5006 | 76.83 | 1,110 – 1,310 | 43578 | 50955 |
High Point University
|
| 14 | Ohio Wesleyan University | 1525 | 55.6 | 1,130 – 1,360 | 23826 | 42495 |
Ohio Wesleyan University
|
| 15 | Simpson College | 1140 | 88.88 | 1,400 – 1,460 | 23637 | 49946 |
Simpson College
|
| 16 | Otterbein University | 2211 | 84.52 | 990 – 1,240 | 22242 | 44539 |
Otterbein University
|
| 17 | Florida Southern College | 2626 | 59.09 | 1,120 – 1,320 | 30462 | 47749 |
Florida Southern College
|
| 18 | North Central College | 2454 | 77.33 | 1,090 – 1,320 | 24190 | 51762 |
North Central College
|
| 19 | Lycoming College | 807 | 74.07 | 1,080 – 1,300 | 20733 | 43713 |
Lycoming College
|
| 20 | Oklahoma City University | 1447 | 70.39 | 1,140 – 1,240 | 23143 | 42312 |
Oklahoma City University
|
| 21 | University of Evansville | 1742 | 78.13 | 1,090 – 1,330 | 21611 | 46734 |
University of Evansville
|
| 22 | Cornell College | 1085 | 80.66 | 1,140 – 1,350 | 25850 | 39299 |
Cornell College
|
| 23 | Millsaps College | 547 | 43.12 | 1,080 – 1,300 | 26739 | 46137 |
Millsaps College
|
| 24 | Shenandoah University | 2641 | 76.95 | 990 – 1,270 | 26400 | 48167 |
#24
Shenandoah University
|
| 25 | Nebraska Wesleyan University | 1463 | 79.82 | 1,110 – 1,280 | 24863 | 47667 |
Nebraska Wesleyan University
|
| 26 | Centenary University | 951 | 96.75 | 850 – 1,080 | 22838 | 46049 |
Centenary University
|
| 27 | Hamline University | 1716 | 89.83 | 1,040 – 1,250 | 22759 | 47139 |
Hamline University
|
| 28 | Centenary College of Louisiana | 693 | 55.74 | 1,050 – 1,210 | 25427 | 42821 |
Centenary College of Louisiana
|
| 29 | Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health | 781 | 73.41 | 1,010 – 1,110 | 20650 | 61249 | |
| 30 | University of Indianapolis | 3603 | 66.48 | 970 – 1,190 | 19903 | 46452 |
University of Indianapolis
|
| 31 | Wesleyan College | 595 | 62.07 | 1,060 – 1,210 | 15621 | 35630 |
Wesleyan College
|
| 32 | Baker University | 1264 | 94.18 | 970 – 1,110 | 23410 | 54747 |
Baker University
|
| 33 | Virginia Wesleyan University | 1749 | 72.87 | 1,190 – 1,370 | 21862 | 39200 |
Virginia Wesleyan University
|
| 34 | Claflin University | 1754 | 72.55 | 850 – 1,040 | 21232 | 29227 |
Claflin University
|
| 35 | Emory & Henry University | 1107 | 96.33 | 970 – 1,170 | 21714 | 39448 |
Emory & Henry University
|
| 36 | McKendree University | 1605 | 63.88 | 920 – 1,300 | 25200 | 49439 |
McKendree University
|
| 37 | Dakota Wesleyan University | 767 | 72.77 | 970 – 1,250 | 21901 | 49432 |
Dakota Wesleyan University
|
| 38 | Dillard University | 1117 | 40.51 | 1,010 – 1,150 | 18551 | 28507 |
Dillard University
|
| 39 | Morningside University | 1177 | 70.57 | 1,040 – 1,210 | 23482 | 47687 |
Morningside University
|
| 40 | West Virginia Wesleyan College | 938 | 95.1 | 980 – 1,200 | 20093 | 42672 |
West Virginia Wesleyan College
|
| 41 | Tennessee Wesleyan University | 857 | 59.41 | 970 – 1,180 | 16414 | 45987 |
#41
Tennessee Wesleyan University
|
| 42 | Albright College | 1328 | 86.15 | 950 – 1,150 | 22116 | 45391 |
Albright College
|
| 43 | Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | 1041 | 56.86 | 940 – 1,140 | 25050 | 43860 |
Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
|
| 44 | Young Harris College | 1403 | 64.02 | 970 – 1,140 | 20509 | 36389 |
Young Harris College
|
| 45 | Huntingdon College | 880 | 67.93 | 1,010 – 1,200 | 22642 | 42147 |
Huntingdon College
|
| 46 | LaGrange College | 582 | 58.05 | 1,000 – 1,150 | 24564 | 46599 |
LaGrange College
|
| 47 | Adrian College | 1678 | 68.43 | 950 – 1,170 | 22053 | 42805 |
Adrian College
|
| 48 | Bennett College | 195 | 33.61 | 800 – 1,040 | 20928 | 23153 |
Bennett College
|
| 49 | Columbia College | 1268 | 96.14 | 830 – 1,070 | 23920 | 45863 |
Columbia College
|
| 50 | Kentucky Wesleyan College | 834 | 67.05 | 1,010 – 1,210 | 20867 | 35895 |
Kentucky Wesleyan College
|
| 51 | Methodist University | 1436 | 75.2 | 1,100 – 1,250 | 25786 | 40540 |
Methodist University
|
| 52 | Kansas Wesleyan University | 900 | 67.02 | 930 – 1,140 | 23419 | 44811 |
#52
Kansas Wesleyan University
|
| 53 | Pfeiffer University | 654 | 91.26 | 800 – 1,080 | 21402 | 44621 |
Pfeiffer University
|
| 54 | Clark Atlanta University | 3495 | 64.63 | 880 – 1,120 | 29736 | 28097 |
Clark Atlanta University
|
| 55 | North Carolina Wesleyan University | 1215 | 77.95 | 860 – 1,100 | 19111 | 38939 |
North Carolina Wesleyan University
|
| 56 | Brevard College | 764 | 39.46 | 940 – 1,130 | 26938 | 34401 |
Brevard College
|
| 57 | Southwestern College | 938 | 74.43 | 900 – 1,110 | 27337 | 48034 |
Southwestern College
|
| 58 | Greensboro College | 899 | 70.14 | 900 – 1,110 | 19783 | 36462 |
Greensboro College
|
| 59 | McMurry University | 3167 | 57.04 | 960 – 1,170 | 20817 | 38647 |
McMurry University
|
| 60 | Ferrum College | 747 | 100 | 930 – 1,140 | 22521 | 36418 |
Ferrum College
|
| 61 | Texas Wesleyan University | 1910 | 62.39 | 970 – 1,120 | 21169 | 44773 |
Texas Wesleyan University
|
| 62 | Union College | 2065 | 43.74 | 1,320 – 1,480 | 19223 | 36529 |
Union College
|
| 63 | Philander Smith University | 848 | 100 | 800 – 1,010 | 14986 | 25254 |
Philander Smith University
|
| 64 | Reinhardt University | 1082 | 60.17 | 970 – 1,170 | 27507 | 40411 |
Reinhardt University
|
| 65 | Lindsey Wilson College | 1738 | 0 | 930 – 1,140 | 14422 | 34861 | |
| 66 | Bethune-Cookman University | 2739 | 88.24 | 830 – 990 | 14705 | 28282 | |
| 67 | Alaska Pacific University | 437 | 85.97 | 870 – 1,160 | 23667 | 47803 |
Alaska Pacific University
|
| 68 | Rust College | 429 | 34.69 | 710 – 1,000 | 8234 | 25641 |
Rust College
|
| 69 | Paine College | 344 | 86.2 | 820 – 1,000 | 17048 | 25240 |
#69
Paine College
|
| 70 | Wiley University | 636 | 97.35 | -- | 10290 | 28078 |
#70
Wiley University
|
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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