College Raptor's 2022 Best Colleges Rankings

The Top 50 Best Colleges of 2022 in the United States is the most prestigious rankings list College Raptor releases annually. Schools featured on this list are the best of the best when it comes to higher education. With rich histories, gorgeous campuses, and incredible academic programs, these schools are phenomenal institutions. After thoroughly analyzing …

Some of the greatest colleges in the country are public schools. These colleges are government-funded, tend to have larger and more diverse student bodies, and are filled with opportunities galore. Known for their student organizations, internship opportunities, intramural sports, public colleges also have many academic resources. This top 25 list puts the spotlight on the …

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 of this, private colleges offer some of the highest financial aid packages …

The epitome of the term “well-rounded” is a liberal arts education. The Liberal Arts encompass a wide array of disciplines — from English to Business to Psychology. Lib arts colleges encourage students to explore subjects outside of their major and have a truly holistic education. Liberal arts colleges also typically have smaller student bodies, which …

At the height of academia are the research colleges. These schools put a lot of emphasis on research from both students and faculty. Many of America’s best universities and colleges fall under the research title. They make incredible advancements in the sciences every single year. With top-notch resources, programs, and professors, the universities and colleges …

Small but mighty defines the colleges on this list well. 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 the purpose of this ranking list, we counted any college with fewer than 2,000 undergraduate students as small. If …

Small and large schools get a lot of attention on rankings lists—but what about colleges that fall in the middle? 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 about getting lost …

These 25 powerhouse schools are as impressive as they are huge. Big 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 academic opportunities. For the purposes of the list, we count large colleges as having over 10,000 undergraduate students enrolled. …

New England is known for many things. Like its gorgeous landscape, Colonial American history, and, of course, for incredible colleges. In fact, some of the schools in New England are older than the foundation of the country! For this list, we’re considering the following states to be part of New England: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New …

Also known as the mid-Atlantic, the mid-east region of the United States is chock full of culture, history, great food, and amazing educational opportunities. Perhaps that’s unsurprising as many of the nation’s very first colleges and universities were built in the area. For this list, the following states are part of the mid-east US: Delaware, …

The south is known for a lot of things. Delicious southern food, heart-warming southern hospitality, and quality southern education. Some of the very best colleges in the US are found in the southeast region. For the purposes of this list, we’re considering the following states as part of the southeast: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, …

The heartland is so much more than just “flyover country.” The plains are home to booming industry, gorgeous farmlands, and incredible colleges. In fact, some of the very best colleges in the US are located in the plains. For this list, we’re including the following states in the plains region: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, …

Superior, Erie, Michigan, Huron, and Ontario are collectively known as the Great Lakes. They also share that name with the region in the US. The Great Lakes region is well-known for its mighty bodies of water, but the colleges in the area are equally impressive. For this list, the following states are included in the …

The Rocky Mountains are as impressive as the states they span. Also known as the Rockies, this range offer beautiful vistas, unique wildlife, challenging hikes, and great skiing, but the states also offer amazing schools and educational opportunities. For this list, we’re including the following states in the Rocky Mountain region: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, …

When you hear “Southwest” what do you think of? Deserts and western movies? If so, it’s time to redefine. The Southwest has some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes, from canyons to snowy mountains. The Southwest is also home to a range of great colleges and universities. For this list, we’ve included the following …

The far west US has some of the most diverse wildlife, landscapes, cultures, and foods from anywhere else in the country. Maybe that’s not surprising as the region spans from the northernmost to the southernmost points in the US. Likewise, they also have a diverse array of spectacular colleges, too. For this top 25 list, …

There are a lot of myths when it comes to colleges, especially about signs of quality. Whatever preconceived beliefs people have, these incredible state colleges bust right through and prove that they’re academic powerhouses. For this list, we’ve included state-funded colleges of all shapes, sizes, and kinds. It’s important to note that we did not …

The COVID-19 pandemic has made a major impact on the world, including the landscape of higher education. Many schools had to quickly change their plans and switch to online teaching or modified graduations. Though many schools are returning to in-person classes, there is one topic still buzzing: vaccine requirements. These schools are requiring their students …

This COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the education landscape. From distance learning to virtual graduations, everything has changed. After over a year of social distancing, many colleges are reopening their campuses to students. But it begs the question: do they require their students to be vaccinated? We’ve gathered the top 25 colleges that are allowing their …

The brave men and women enlisted in the US military risk it all to protect their country. Returning to civilian life and higher education, however, can sometimes be difficult. Luckily there are many benefits available to veterans, and the schools on this list are the most supportive. We looked at the number of service programs …