College Raptor's 2021 Best Colleges Rankings

The Top 50 Best Colleges in the USA list is the most prestigious and selective rankings list College Raptor releases every year. Schools that are featured here are the pinnacle of higher education. With vibrant histories, beautiful campuses, and amazing academic programs, these schools are iconic institutions. After thoroughly analyzing thousands of colleges, Raptor selected …

Some of the finest colleges in the country are public institutions. These schools are government-funded, tend to have larger and more diverse student bodies, and are filled with opportunities. Public colleges are known for their student organizations, internship opportunities, intramural sports, and many academic resources. This rankings list puts the spotlight on the best public …

There are private universities in the US older than the country itself! Many of the best colleges in America are private, many are even household names. Rich with history, private colleges can go on to produce equally historic alumni. Private colleges tend to be nonprofit institutions that are funded internally through endowments and donations. Because …

The Liberal Arts encompass a wide variety of subjects — from English to Business to Psychology. That means encouraging students to explore subjects outside of their major and have a truly holistic education. Liberal arts colleges also typically have smaller student bodies, which means students will find a tight-knit community and unique campus culture. We …

The aptly named “research colleges” put a large emphasis on research from both students and faculty. Many of America’s best universities and colleges fall under the research category. They make impressive advancements in the sciences every single year. With top-notch professors, resources, and programs, the universities and colleges featured on this list are the pinnacles …

“Though she be but little, she is fierce.” William Shakespeare wasn’t talking about colleges when he penned those words, but they are apt to describe small colleges nonetheless. A small college means a tight-knit community and plenty of chances for your voice to be heard. Some of the nation’s best schools are considered small! For …

Large and small colleges get a lot of attention on rankings lists—but what about schools that fall in the middle of that spectrum? Mid-sized colleges offer the best of both worlds. These schools offer a diverse range of students to meet and plenty of opportunities to take advantage of, but you don’t have to worry …

These 25 colleges are as impressive as they are big. Large colleges are some of the most well-known across the country. With so many students, you’re bound to find a spirited community and lots of opportunities to check out. For the purposes of the list, we count large colleges as having over 10,000 students enrolled—and …

New England is known for its beautiful scenery, early American history, and, of course, for prestigious colleges. In fact, some of the schools in New England are older than the country itself! For this list, we’re considering the following states to be part of New England: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. …

The mid-east region of the United States is chock full of history, culture, great cuisine, and fantastic educational opportunities. Perhaps that’s unsurprising as many of the nation’s first colleges and universities were built in the region. For this list, the following states are part of the mid-east US: Delaware, DC, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, …

Delicious southern food, heart-warming southern hospitality, and quality southern education, the southeast region is known for that and plenty more. For the purposes of this list, we’re considering the following states as part of the southeast: Alabama, Arkansas, Flordia, Georgia, Kentucky, Lousiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia. It’s a large region …

America’s heartland has a lot to offer — beautiful scenery, booming industry, vast farmlands, and fantastic colleges. In fact, some of the very best colleges in the US are located in the plains region. For this list, we’re including the following states in the plains region: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South …

The Great Lakes region is well-known for its mighty bodies of water, but its colleges are equally impressive. The states bordering the Great Lakes — Superior, Erie, Michigan, Huron, and Ontario — have powerhouse schools worth investigating. For this list, the following states are included in the Great Lakes region: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and …

The Rocky Mountains are as historic themselves as the states they cross through. The Rockies offer beautiful vistas, unique wildlife, challenging hikes, and great skiing, but the states offer great schools and educational opportunities. For this list, we’re including the following states in the Rocky Mountain region: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. Ready to …

Do you imagine nothing but arid desert land and Spaghetti Westerns when you hear “Southwest?” If so, it’s time to redefine the word. The Southwest has some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes, from canyons to snowy mountains. The Southwest is also home to a large range of amazing colleges and universities. For the …

The states in the far west US have some of the most diverse landscapes, climates, wildlife, cultures, and cuisines from anywhere else in the country. Likewise, they also have a diverse array of incredible colleges in the far west, too. For this top 25 list, we’ve included the following states in the far west: Alaska, …

Historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs for short, are schools established with the primary purpose of serving the African American community before the Civil Rights Movement. While they may have historic roots, HBCUs are still incredibly important today. They are beacons of the ongoing fight for equality and progress. Given the societal importance of …

As the years go by (and more recently due to Covid-19), more and more colleges are deciding to make the ACT and SAT optional instead of mandatory. In fact, some of the most famous colleges in the US have dropped the admission test requirements. So here are the top 25 best test-optional colleges! Note: Colleges …

To say that Covid-19 has taken the world by storm would be a massive understatement. The pandemic has highlighted the immense importance of public health measures. Given the wide-reaching impact, we wanted to salute the heroes in the public health fields and highlight some colleges that are ideal for public health majors. For this list, …

Ever heard the phrase “out in the sticks” or “out in the boonies?” Both mean the location is rural or in the middle of “nowhere.” Some of the best colleges in the US are “out in the sticks.” While city schools might get a lot of hype, we wanted to shine the spotlight on more …