National University Rankings

7 (tie). Duke University (NC)

(Duke Photography)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,655

2013-2014 tuition and fees:$45,476

Regular decision application deadline:
Jan. 2

5 (tie). University of Chicago

(Dan Dry)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,590

2013-2014 tuition and fees:$46,386

Regular decision application deadline:
Jan. 2

5 (tie). Stanford University (CA)

(Linda A. Cicero/Stanford News Service)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,063

2013-2014 tuition and fees:$43,245

Regular decision application deadline:
Jan. 1

4. Columbia University (NY)

(Columbia University)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,068

2013-2014 tuition and fees:$49,138

Regular decision application deadline:
Jan. 1

3. Yale University (CT)

(Michael Marsland/Yale University)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,405

2013-2014 tuition and fees:$44,000

Regular decision application deadline:
Dec. 31

2. Harvard University (MA)

(Harvard Public Affairs & Communications)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,658

2013-2014 tuition and fees:$42,292

Regular decision application deadline:
Jan. 1

1. Princeton University (NJ)

(Princeton University Office of Communications)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,336

2013-2014 tuition and fees:$40,170

Regular decision application deadline:
Jan. 1

The intangibles that make up the college experience can't be measured by a series of data points. But for families concerned with finding the best academic value for their money, the 2013 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings provides an excellent starting point for the college search.

The rankings allow you to compare at a glance the relative quality of institutions based on such widely accepted indicators of excellence as freshman retention, graduation rates, and the strength of the faculty. And as you check out the data for colleges already on your short list, you may discover unfamiliar schools with similar metrics, and thus broaden your options.

Yes, many factors other than those spotlighted in the rankings will figure in your decision, including location and the feel of campus life; the range of academic offerings, activities, and sports; and cost and the availability of financial aid. But if you combine the information in the rankings with college visits, interviews, and your own intuition, our rankings can be a powerful tool in your quest for the right college.

How does the methodology work? The U.S. News ranking system rests on two pillars. The formula uses quantitative measures that education experts have proposed as reliable indicators of academic quality, and it's based on our researched view of what matters in education.

First, schools are categorized by their mission, which is derived from the breakdown of types of higher education institutions as refined by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching's Basic Classification in 2010.

Friday 4 October 2013

7 (tie). Duke University (NC)

5 (tie). University of Chicago

5 (tie). Stanford University (CA)

4. Columbia University (NY)

3. Yale University (CT)

2. Harvard University (MA)

1. Princeton University (NJ)

10 (tie). Dartmouth College (NH)

10 (tie). California Institute of Technology

7 (tie). University of Pennsylvania

7 (tie). Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Saturday 31 August 2013