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 | Columbia University in the City of New York | 9164 | 3.99 | 1,510 – 1,570 | 22520 | 88535 |
#1
Columbia University in the City of New York
|
| 2 | Cornell University | 16128 | 8.76 | 1,490 – 1,570 | 26361 | 87830 |
#2
Cornell University
|
| 3 | United States Military Academy | 4473 | 12.45 | 1,230 – 1,440 | 0 | 63721 |
United States Military Academy
|
| 4 | Barnard College | 3487 | 8.84 | 1,460 – 1,550 | 26407 | 60411 |
Barnard College
|
| 5 | Hamilton College | 2031 | 13.62 | 1,460 – 1,550 | 28719 | 60082 |
Hamilton College
|
| 6 | Vassar College | 2462 | 18.57 | 1,460 – 1,550 | 29981 | 49177 |
#6
Vassar College
|
| 7 | New York University | 29060 | 9.23 | 1,490 – 1,560 | 30325 | 64543 |
New York University
|
| 8 | Webb Institute | 106 | 14.04 | 1,430 – 1,530 | 21966 | 86249 |
Webb Institute
|
| 9 | Colgate University | 3193 | 13.88 | 1,450 – 1,530 | 28736 | 64949 |
Colgate University
|
| 10 | University of Rochester | 6580 | 40.08 | 1,410 – 1,530 | 40462 | 68333 |
#10
University of Rochester
|
| 11 | Jewish Theological Seminary of America | 173 | 48.61 | 1,440 – 1,580 | 58152 | 58656 |
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
|
| 12 | The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | 854 | 20.71 | 1,300 – 1,510 | 26283 | 39707 |
#12
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
|
| 13 | Union College | 2065 | 43.92 | 1,320 – 1,480 | 42137 | 63219 |
#13
Union College
|
| 14 | Skidmore College | 2704 | 21.05 | 1,360 – 1,480 | 31187 | 46923 |
#14
Skidmore College
|
| 15 | Fordham University | 10582 | 59.31 | 1,340 – 1,480 | 48190 | 68008 |
#15
Fordham University
|
| 16 | Yeshiva University | 2930 | 55.62 | 1,340 – 1,490 | 39681 | 60252 |
#16
Yeshiva University
|
| 17 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 5741 | 63.47 | 1,380 – 1,510 | 38887 | 83054 |
#17
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
|
| 18 | United States Merchant Marine Academy | 962 | 34.24 | 1,110 – 1,320 | 4101 | 96770 |
United States Merchant Marine Academy
|
| 19 | St Lawrence University | 1949 | 54.34 | 1,290 – 1,430 | 33216 | 55037 |
St Lawrence University
|
| 20 | Syracuse University | 15957 | 45.92 | 1,290 – 1,440 | 48215 | 60459 |
Syracuse University
|
| 21 | Binghamton University | 14669 | 38.61 | 1,350 – 1,490 | 18877 | 61621 |
Binghamton University
|
| 22 | Stony Brook University | 18263 | 49.04 | 1,340 – 1,500 | 20992 | 59492 |
Stony Brook University
|
| 23 | School of Visual Arts | 3255 | 92.64 | 1,190 – 1,490 | 61337 | 31855 |
#23
School of Visual Arts
|
| 24 | The Juilliard School | 642 | 9.15 | -- | 45099 | 22129 |
The Juilliard School
|
| 25 | Marist University | 5551 | 56.51 | 1,200 – 1,360 | 42508 | 62546 |
Marist University
|
| 26 | Sarah Lawrence College | 1582 | 61.73 | 1,270 – 1,430 | 43629 | 34251 |
Sarah Lawrence College
|
| 27 | Hobart William Smith Colleges | 1794 | 63.99 | 1,220 – 1,400 | 34170 | 62416 |
Hobart William Smith Colleges
|
| 28 | Pratt Institute-Main | 3967 | 73.25 | 1,160 – 1,400 | 54150 | 45060 |
Pratt Institute-Main
|
| 29 | Bard College | 2438 | 52.12 | 1,290 – 1,450 | 29320 | 31072 |
Bard College
|
| 30 | Siena College | 3467 | 69.02 | 1,140 – 1,380 | 32955 | 56526 |
Siena College
|
| 31 | Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 533 | 52.69 | 1,120 – 1,390 | 30232 | 112685 |
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
|
| 32 | Ithaca College | 4268 | 69.01 | 1,240 – 1,390 | 35253 | 46305 |
Ithaca College
|
| 33 | University at Buffalo | 20359 | 74.18 | 1,220 – 1,390 | 20529 | 53742 |
University at Buffalo
|
| 34 | Hofstra University | 6581 | 68.08 | 1,250 – 1,410 | 35792 | 52131 |
Hofstra University
|
| 35 | SUNY College at Geneseo | 3881 | 66.45 | 1,200 – 1,360 | 19115 | 51097 |
SUNY College at Geneseo
|
| 36 | Clarkson University | 2296 | 77.36 | 1,210 – 1,400 | 32406 | 76970 |
Clarkson University
|
| 37 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | 2381 | 63.28 | 1,150 – 1,330 | 19814 | 48327 |
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
|
| 38 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 16496 | 47.52 | 1,100 – 1,400 | 4326 | 61542 |
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
|
| 39 | Le Moyne College | 2529 | 82.98 | 1,170 – 1,340 | 23702 | 53493 |
Le Moyne College
|
| 40 | St. John Fisher University | 2571 | 66.4 | 1,130 – 1,300 | 30540 | 61198 |
St. John Fisher University
|
| 41 | The New School | 6591 | 63.47 | 1,170 – 1,370 | 67224 | 38210 |
The New School
|
| 42 | St Bonaventure University | 2042 | 81.65 | 1,080 – 1,300 | 27373 | 48559 |
St Bonaventure University
|
| 43 | Touro University | 4872 | 60.83 | 1,220 – 1,450 | 29179 | 43510 |
Touro University
|
| 44 | Adelphi University | 5325 | 65.91 | 1,130 – 1,350 | 31303 | 63688 |
Adelphi University
|
| 45 | Nazareth University | 1882 | 74.72 | 1,090 – 1,340 | 30785 | 47717 |
Nazareth University
|
| 46 | University at Albany | 12666 | 69.1 | 1,120 – 1,330 | 17949 | 51380 |
University at Albany
|
| 47 | State University of New York at New Paltz | 6862 | 61.61 | 1,180 – 1,340 | 18051 | 45555 |
State University of New York at New Paltz
|
| 48 | SUNY Oneonta | 4681 | 69.6 | 1,140 – 1,330 | 18669 | 49723 |
SUNY Oneonta
|
| 49 | St. John's University-New York | 15640 | 83.43 | 1,160 – 1,340 | 29656 | 54189 |
St. John's University-New York
|
| 50 | Niagara University | 2692 | 87.37 | 1,070 – 1,250 | 16613 | 48289 |
Niagara University
|
| 51 | Rochester Institute of Technology | 14267 | 66.93 | 1,310 – 1,460 | 39534 | 65457 |
Rochester Institute of Technology
|
| 52 | St- Joseph's University-New York | 3173 | 72.05 | 1,120 – 1,280 | 19422 | 50759 |
#52
St- Joseph's University-New York
|
| 53 | Manhattan University | 2744 | 78.94 | 1,190 – 1,360 | 29717 | 64472 |
Manhattan University
|
| 54 | SUNY at Purchase College | 3257 | 74.05 | 1,210 – 1,380 | 18211 | 31229 |
#54
SUNY at Purchase College
|
| 55 | Roberts Wesleyan University | 1393 | 70.63 | 990 – 1,310 | 23275 | 56275 |
Roberts Wesleyan University
|
| 56 | Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing | 311 | 66.67 | -- | 0 | 59213 | |
| 57 | Molloy University | 3240 | 81.74 | 1,100 – 1,300 | 24405 | 78372 |
#57
Molloy University
|
| 58 | SUNY Maritime College | 1285 | 72.41 | 1,130 – 1,300 | 20312 | 83439 |
SUNY Maritime College
|
| 59 | Wagner College | 1666 | 88 | 1,180 – 1,300 | 28033 | 63439 |
Wagner College
|
| 60 | State University of New York at Cortland | 5911 | 59.79 | 1,100 – 1,250 | 19847 | 46535 |
#60
State University of New York at Cortland
|
| 61 | Canisius University | 1724 | 72.36 | 1,060 – 1,320 | 19666 | 46089 |
Canisius University
|
| 62 | Houghton University | 1162 | 88.66 | 1,180 – 1,380 | 21274 | 36376 |
Houghton University
|
| 63 | Manhattan School of Music | 552 | 40.78 | -- | 51767 | 18815 |
Manhattan School of Music
|
| 64 | Pace University | 8038 | 75.92 | 1,180 – 1,340 | 34791 | 52767 |
Pace University
|
| 65 | New York School of Interior Design | 440 | 62.89 | 1,050 – 1,280 | 46633 | 37810 |
#65
New York School of Interior Design
|
| 66 | Russell Sage College | 1247 | 53.26 | 900 – 1,120 | 21046 | 51139 |
Russell Sage College
|
| 67 | Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology | 1392 | 73.93 | 890 – 1,100 | 40301 | 48890 |
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
|
| 68 | New York Institute of Technology | 3646 | 81.02 | 1,190 – 1,430 | 24688 | 52559 |
New York Institute of Technology
|
| 69 | Iona University | 3382 | 86.94 | 1,130 – 1,310 | 29978 | 51218 |
Iona University
|
| 70 | Manhattanville University | 1466 | 87.34 | 1,060 – 1,260 | 21690 | 45056 |
Manhattanville University
|
| 71 | SUNY at Fredonia | 2771 | 77.7 | 1,160 – 1,360 | 16023 | 40580 |
SUNY at Fredonia
|
| 72 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh | 3825 | 78.41 | 1,090 – 1,260 | 15412 | 48089 |
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
|
| 73 | State University of New York at Oswego | 5517 | 80.55 | 1,080 – 1,280 | 15853 | 46358 |
State University of New York at Oswego
|
| 74 | SUNY Polytechnic Institute | 1973 | 81.35 | 1,040 – 1,370 | 14782 | 58662 |
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
|
| 75 | Mount Saint Mary College | 2141 | 88.88 | 1,010 – 1,310 | 26896 | 59588 |
Mount Saint Mary College
|
| 76 | SUNY Brockport | 5816 | 70.68 | 1,110 – 1,280 | 15725 | 47164 |
SUNY Brockport
|
| 77 | Alfred University | 1442 | 73.84 | 1,150 – 1,330 | 26470 | 41703 |
Alfred University
|
| 78 | American Musical and Dramatic Academy | 1438 | 24.48 | -- | 48524 | 21168 |
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
|
| 79 | Marymount Manhattan College | 1601 | 82.61 | 1,130 – 1,320 | 38376 | 34052 |
Marymount Manhattan College
|
| 80 | CUNY Hunter College | 17027 | 53.8 | 1,100 – 1,420 | 4431 | 50414 |
CUNY Hunter College
|
| 81 | Farmingdale State College | 10007 | 63.29 | 1,040 – 1,250 | 9655 | 55901 |
Farmingdale State College
|
| 82 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | 11942 | 57.11 | 930 – 1,220 | 4082 | 50293 |
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
|
| 83 | CUNY City College | 12982 | 60.02 | 1,070 – 1,430 | 4664 | 46435 |
CUNY City College
|
| 84 | Elmira College | 745 | 76.96 | 1,140 – 1,370 | 23682 | 49057 |
Elmira College
|
| 85 | Long Island University | 12072 | 86.16 | 1,110 – 1,360 | 24867 | 47543 |
#85
Long Island University
|
| 86 | CUNY Brooklyn College | 11562 | 58.36 | 950 – 1,340 | 4512 | 45035 |
CUNY Brooklyn College
|
| 87 | Hartwick College | 1097 | 69.6 | 1,070 – 1,290 | 31712 | 50452 |
Hartwick College
|
| 88 | CUNY Queens College | 13464 | 64.35 | 1,010 – 1,290 | 5728 | 48548 |
CUNY Queens College
|
| 89 | LIM College | 1188 | 95.9 | 980 – 1,160 | 40305 | 45359 |
LIM College
|
| 90 | Utica University | 2329 | 91.95 | 990 – 1,250 | 20295 | 57422 |
Utica University
|
| 91 | University of Mount Saint Vincent | 2725 | 85.11 | 1,020 – 1,180 | 22808 | 53755 |
University of Mount Saint Vincent
|
| 92 | St. Francis College | 1719 | 84.27 | 1,000 – 1,240 | 17698 | 43378 |
St. Francis College
|
| 93 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill | 1988 | 84.02 | 990 – 1,170 | 18140 | 37901 |
SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill
|
| 94 | Keuka College | 968 | 68.08 | 1,010 – 1,190 | 24628 | 50940 |
Keuka College
|
| 95 | Yeshivath Viznitz | 1159 | 93.73 | -- | 8318 | 16658 |
Yeshivath Viznitz
|
| 96 | Daemen University | 1653 | 68.26 | 950 – 1,150 | 19102 | 59912 |
Daemen University
|
| 97 | SUNY College at Potsdam | 2111 | 77.7 | 970 – 1,150 | 13730 | 39440 |
SUNY College at Potsdam
|
| 98 | St. Thomas Aquinas College | 1889 | 93.05 | 880 – 1,090 | 21187 | 44908 |
St. Thomas Aquinas College
|
| 99 | College of Staten Island CUNY | 10051 | 92.34 | 890 – 1,250 | 6525 | 36931 |
College of Staten Island CUNY
|
| 100 | Hilbert College | 931 | 97.2 | 980 – 1,180 | 22157 | 45369 |
Hilbert College
|
| 101 | Yeshiva of Machzikai Hadas | 515 | 70.06 | -- | 23012 | 51109 |
Yeshiva of Machzikai Hadas
|
| 102 | Talmudical Seminary of Bobov | 602 | 97.87 | -- | 1966 | 24642 |
Talmudical Seminary of Bobov
|
| 103 | Dominican University New York | 1115 | 63.3 | 1,100 – 1,240 | 33972 | 50865 |
Dominican University New York
|
| 104 | D'Youville University | 1258 | 81.37 | 1,000 – 1,220 | 20690 | 63804 |
D'Youville University
|
| 105 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science | 926 | 76.53 | 920 – 1,100 | 28443 | 38325 |
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
|
| 106 | Mercy University | 6774 | 85.84 | 1,040 – 1,230 | 15200 | 44969 |
Mercy University
|
| 107 | Monroe University | 6205 | 67.51 | -- | 13291 | 36973 |
Monroe University
|
| 108 | CUNY Lehman College | 11617 | 56.58 | 850 – 1,150 | 3961 | 51067 |
CUNY Lehman College
|
| 109 | SUNY Old Westbury | 4260 | 83.63 | 1,010 – 1,210 | 10944 | 43671 |
SUNY Old Westbury
|
| 110 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton | 3459 | 92.15 | 1,000 – 1,160 | 14754 | 42079 |
SUNY College of Technology at Canton
|
| 111 | Yeshiva Sholom Shachna | 132 | 100 | -- | 13614 | 63721 |
Yeshiva Sholom Shachna
|
| 112 | Five Towns College | 923 | 53.82 | 800 – 1,020 | 24724 | 25305 |
Five Towns College
|
| 113 | Boricua College | 391 | 66.01 | -- | 15245 | 30398 |
Boricua College
|
| 114 | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | 3781 | 75.68 | 1,000 – 1,200 | 15283 | 45460 |
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
|
| 115 | Villa Maria College | 611 | 86.59 | 730 – 1,050 | 15823 | 33635 |
#115
Villa Maria College
|
| 116 | United Talmudical Seminary | 2241 | 0 | -- | 7589 | 51109 | |
| 117 | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | 2881 | 89.01 | 920 – 1,160 | 16371 | 42826 |
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
|
| 118 | SUNY Buffalo State University | 5255 | 72.95 | 980 – 1,240 | 12023 | 40877 |
SUNY Buffalo State University
|
| 119 | The College of Westchester | 759 | 94.42 | -- | 15871 | 32951 |
The College of Westchester
|
| 120 | SUNY Morrisville | 2167 | 91.54 | 990 – 1,230 | 15960 | 39759 |
SUNY Morrisville
|
| 121 | Rabbinical College of Long Island | 159 | 100 | -- | 13531 | 63721 |
Rabbinical College of Long Island
|
| 122 | Maria College of Albany | 673 | 44.48 | 970 – 1,100 | 16254 | 53357 |
Maria College of Albany
|
| 123 | CUNY New York City College of Technology | 14486 | 80.29 | 900 – 1,140 | 5794 | 39982 |
CUNY New York City College of Technology
|
| 124 | Rabbinical Academy Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin | 141 | 93.62 | -- | 7614 | 63721 |
Rabbinical Academy Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin
|
| 125 | Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid | 206 | 78.95 | -- | 12732 | 63721 |
Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid
|
| 126 | Davis College | 156 | 56.25 | 810 – 1,100 | 14840 | 29943 |
Davis College
|
| 127 | Berkeley College-New York | 1731 | 71.99 | -- | 35294 | 37284 |
Berkeley College-New York
|
| 128 | CUNY York College | 5917 | 64.1 | 790 – 960 | 5131 | 46148 |
CUNY York College
|
| 129 | Mirrer Yeshiva Cent Institute | 120 | 89.29 | -- | 12871 | 63721 |
Mirrer Yeshiva Cent Institute
|
| 130 | CUNY Medgar Evers College | 3736 | 86.05 | 850 – 1,020 | 6273 | 37538 |
CUNY Medgar Evers College
|
| 131 | Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah | 400 | 77.19 | -- | 10824 | 53848 |
Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah
|
| 132 | Empire State University | 8395 | 80.53 | -- | 11659 | 50167 |
Empire State University
|
| 133 | Mesivta Torah Vodaath Rabbinical Seminary | 399 | 80 | -- | 7174 | 16553 |
Mesivta Torah Vodaath Rabbinical Seminary
|
| 134 | Rabbinical Seminary of America | 397 | 98.45 | -- | 8125 | 63721 |
Rabbinical Seminary of America
|
| 135 | Metropolitan College of New York | 402 | 90 | -- | 26091 | 45086 |
#135
Metropolitan College of New York
|
| 136 | Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz | 863 | 87.43 | -- | 21632 | 21104 |
Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz
|
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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