College Raptor’s 2019 Best Colleges Rankings

The Top 50 Best Colleges in the US is our most-selective and most prestigious rankings list. The schools in this category are the very best in the country. We’ve analyzed thousands of colleges from around the US and selected the best of the four-year institutions throughout the nation. This list includes schools of all sizes, …

Many of the most prestigious colleges in the country are private schools. Unlike public schools that are funded by state and local governments, private colleges are usually funded by tuition, fees, alumni donations, or other private sources. Many people think that private schools are too expensive for them to attend. However, private schools are often …

Public colleges and universities are plentiful in the United States. They receive funding from the government, and every state has at least one public school. Public colleges tend to have lower sticker prices than their private counterparts, and can be just as prestigious and worthwhile. So we wanted to highlight the best public schools. College …

Liberal Arts and Sciences colleges focus on the education of well-rounded individuals. They aim to impart a broad knowledge and develop critical thinking, in contrast to a niche vocational or technical schools. Many of the US’s best schools are liberal arts colleges. Here are College Raptor’s picks for the 25 best liberal arts colleges in the …

These institutes are prime examples of academia at its best. While many of these heavy-research schools have fantastic undergraduate programs, an emphasis is put on graduate and doctoral programs. At research universities, students can earn their PhDs and go out into the world to change it for the better. Many of the very best research …

These colleges are the definition of small but mighty. Though they have a much smaller student body than most schools in the US, some of the nation’s top schools are featured here. For the purposes of this list, we have defined a small college as a school that has 2,000 or fewer total enrolled students. …

Middle of the road in terms of student population definitely doesn’t equate to middle of the road in terms of quality, and these fantastic schools prove that. Many of the very best medium-sized colleges are quite well known. Medium-sized schools offer students the chance to meet many different people without totally getting lost in the …

These colleges are the definition of large and in charge. Big schools have lots of students and lots of opportunities. Some of the very best large colleges in the US are household names! What makes a college “large” might depend on who you ask, but for the purposes of this list we’re considering any school …

The states of the Pacific Northwest provide diverse landscapes, cities, industries, and of course colleges. Including the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, and Northern California, this region has a school for everyone. Here are College Raptor’s top 25 best colleges in the Northwest! 25. Seattle Pacific University Location: Seattle, WA Student Enrollment: …

The Northeast region of the United States is home to a great number of colleges and universities with rich histories, and some schools are even older than the United States itself! As demonstrated by this list, the Northeast is certainly known for prestigious universities. For the purposes of our rankings, we’ve included the following states …

America’s heartland has a lot to offer: friendly people, prosperous industries, and a host of amazing colleges. For the purposes of the list, we’ve included the following states: Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Here are College Raptor’s picks for the top 25 best colleges in the …

The Southeastern United States offers a wide variety of colleges and universities. Known for its beautiful weather and rich cultural history, this diverse area has a higher education experience for every kind of student. For this list, the following states are considered in the Southeast region: Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, …

The Southwest region of the United States is full of interesting history, beautiful landscapes, and plenty of great colleges and universities. And some of the countries best colleges are located in the Southwest! For the purposes of this list, we consider the following states to make up the Southwest: Southern California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, …

Cost plays a large role in the college selection process, and sparks many conversations. New to our rankings this year is a list dedicated to highlighting some of the best colleges that won’t break the bank. For this list, we looked at the colleges in our overall rankings that reported $20,000 or less in out-of-state …

Did you know that only 4.8% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women? Business is by far and away the most popular major in America, and female students make up nearly half of business degree-earners. With that in mind, we wanted to highlight some schools dedicated to helping women advance their careers. To be considered for …

Computer Science is a massively popular field of study, with many specializations and career applications for students to pursue.  We wanted to highlight schools that gave computer science students enough “bang for their buck.” We took the college’s average median pay and subtracted that national average starting salary of computer science majors ($62,633), if the …

Studying abroad for a semester or two in college is a truly unique experience, and the chance to see and interact with a different part of the world. Many students highlight it as some of their fondest memories of their college years. Which is why we wanted to shine the spotlight on colleges with booming …