Size matters when it comes to higher education. That’s generally true when choosing between colleges and universities. Although the term “college” is used broadly to refer to post-secondary education in the U.S., it’s more narrowly defined as a smaller institution than a large university. It also may be one of several colleges within a university system. There are exceptions, however, such as Boston College, Dartmouth College and the College of William & Mary, which hold university status but prefer to retain the “college” designation in their names.
But there are other differences that set the two types of institutions apart. Unlike universities, which offer both undergraduate and graduate study programs, colleges primarily confer bachelor’s degrees and often don’t award advanced degrees. Class, campus and enrollment sizes are relatively smaller, which can be preferable for students who seek more intimate social settings and more focused attention from instructors. In the absence of research programs and facilities typically present at universities, many colleges also compete with more specialized areas of instruction, such as technical or agricultural colleges.
Smaller, however, doesn’t necessarily equate with inferior. For those considering attending a college, WalletHub compared more than 70 such institutions across 30 key measures to determine where prospective students can expect to receive top-notch education at the lowest price points. Our data set is grouped into seven categories, such as Student Selectivity, Cost & Financing and Career Outcomes. Metrics range from student-faculty ratio to graduation rate to post-attendance median salary
Separate comparisons for universities as well as for colleges and universities combined also are available on WalletHub.
Top 5 Colleges in 2026
- Swarthmore College
- Wellesley College
- Harvey Mudd College
- Pomona College
- Amherst College
Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst
Main Findings
Best Colleges in the U.S. Ranked
*Notes: Some institutions were excluded from our sample due to data limitations. If you would like to have your college included in the 2026 Ranking, please contact us at: [email protected].
With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that college, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
- Lowest
- T-1. Colby College (ME)
- T-1. Pomona College (CA)
- T-1. Swarthmore College (PA)
- T-4. Barnard College (NY)
- T-4. Bowdoin College (ME)
- Highest
- 68. Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (MO)
- 69. University of Hawaii-West Oahu (HI)
- 70. William Peace University (NC)
- 71. College of Coastal Georgia (GA)
- 72. Southern Virginia University (VA)
- Lowest
- T-1. Amherst College (MA)
- T-1. Lawrence University (WI)
- T-1. Pomona College (CA)
- T-1. Wellesley College (MA)
- T-5. Allegheny College (PA)
- T-5. Carleton College (MN)
- Highest
- T-67. College of the Ozarks (MO)
- T-67. John Paul the Great Catholic University (CA)
- 69. University of Hawaii-West Oahu (HI)
- 70. Southern Virginia University (VA)
- 71. College of Coastal Georgia (GA)
- 72. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (GA)
- Highest
- 1. Bowdoin College (ME)
- T-2. Harvey Mudd College (CA)
- T-2. Swarthmore College (PA)
- T-4. Amherst College (MA)
- T-4. Barnard College (NY)
- T-4. Pomona College (CA)
- Lowest
- T-67. University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (OK)
- T-67. West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WV)
- 69. Central Baptist College (AR)
- T-70. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (GA)
- T-70. Holy Cross College (IN)
- 72. College of Coastal Georgia (GA)
- Highest
- T-1. University of the Ozarks (AR)
- T-1. DePauw University (IN)
- T-1. Davis & Elkins College (WV)
- 4. Knox College (IL)
- 5. Grinnell College (IA)
- Lowest
- 68. Kentucky Wesleyan College (KY)
- 69. University of Hawaii-West Oahu (HI)
- 70. Central College (IA)
- 71. Allegheny College (PA)
- 72. Southern Virginia University (VA)
- Safest
- T-1. Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (MO)
- T-1. College of the Ozarks (MO)
- T-1. Holy Cross College (IN)
- T-1. John Paul the Great Catholic University (CA)
- T-1. Marymount Manhattan College (NY)
- Least Safe
- 68. Knox College (IL)
- 69. Pomona College (CA)
- 70. Harvey Mudd College (CA)
- 71. Union College (NY)
- 72. Swarthmore College (PA)
- Lowest
- 1. Thomas Aquinas College (CA)
- 2. Carleton College (MN)
- 3. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (GA)
- 4. Spelman College (GA)
- 5. College of the Holy Cross (MA)
- Highest
- 67. Eckerd College (FL)
- 68. Lafayette College (PA)
- T-69. Pomona College (CA)
- T-69. Colby College (ME)
- T-69. Bowdoin College (ME)
- Highest
- 1. Harvey Mudd College (CA)
- 2. Lafayette College (PA)
- 3. Virginia Military Institute (VA)
- 4. Swarthmore College (PA)
- 5. Wabash College (IN)
- Lowest
- 60. Beloit College (WI)
- 61. College of the Ozarks (MO)
- 62. Davis & Elkins College (WV)
- 63. University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (OK)
- 64. Northland College (WI)
- Highest
- 1. Harvey Mudd College (CA)
- 2. Lafayette College (PA)
- 3. College of the Holy Cross (MA)
- 4. Union College (NY)
- 5. Wellesley College (MA)
- Lowest
- 68. Davis & Elkins College (WV)
- 69. University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (OK)
- 70. College of the Ozarks (MO)
- 71. College of Coastal Georgia (GA)
- 72. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (GA)
In-Depth Look at the Best Colleges
Swarthmore College
The best college of 2026 is Swarthmore College, an extremely selective school with an admission rate of just 7%, located in Swarthmore, PA. For the upcoming school year, 92% of enrolled students graduated in the top 10% of their high school classes, and their SAT and ACT test scores rank among the best in the country.
Competitiveness in the classroom isn’t all that makes Swarthmore a top college, though. It also has one faculty member for every eight students, the second-best ratio out of the colleges analyzed. Giving personalized attention to students contributes to the second-highest graduation rate among colleges, at 94%.
When it comes to cost, Swarthmore can be a bit expensive. The net cost of attending is nearly $45,000 per year to attend and live on campus, on average, but the money is worth it when it comes to future earnings. Over the course of 20 years after they graduate, Swarthmore grads earn an average of over $750,000 more than people with only a high school diploma. That’s the fourth-best return on investment for colleges. In addition, Swarthmore graduates earn an average of over $80,000 per year (measured at the 10-year mark after they entered the school).
Finally, Swarthmore has a very safe campus, with virtually nonexistent crime. It also is an NCAA member, and it provides study abroad programs and student employment.
Wellesley College
Wellesley College, located in Wellesley, MA, is the second-best college of 2026. It has only a 14% acceptance rate, and it’s in the top 10 colleges when it comes to SAT and ACT test scores for its incoming students.
With just seven students for every faculty member, Wellesley College boasts the best student-to-faculty ratio among the 70+ colleges reviewed, along with an impressive 96% retention rate from first to second year, the third-highest percentage. In addition, in the first 20 years after they graduate, people who went to Wellesley make around $463,000 more than people with just a high school diploma, the 17th-best ROI among colleges. On top of that, the median salary for a person who went to Wellesley 10 years ago is nearly $85,000.
Wellesley College has good student employment programs, too, allowing students to gain experience and earn at the same time. It also has a largely crime-free campus and opportunities for things like study abroad programs and NCAA sports.
Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd College is the third-best college of 2026. Located in Claremont, CA, this school has the second-best student-to-faculty ratio among the more than 70 colleges analyzed, with one faculty member for every eight students. In addition, over 43% of the instructional staff is made up of full-time professors, the seventh-best percentage for colleges.
Harvey Mudd College is quite selective, with a 13% acceptance rate. It’s also the top school when it comes to the SAT and ACT scores of incoming freshmen. Plus, 83% of students this fall ranked in the top 10% of their high school classes, the eighth-highest percentage out of the colleges studied. The institution has a 94% graduation rate, too, the second-best among colleges.
The median salary for Harvey Mudd graduates is nearly $139,000 ten years after they enroll in the school, second-highest in the country. On top of that, the school offers a lot of great opportunities like job placement services, NCAA athletics and a study abroad program.
Ranking by Region
Ask the Experts
As students consider their college options, they must consider both school quality and cost. And with tuition rates rising every year, many students are likely to be more selective with their options. To advance the discussion on cost-related matters in post-secondary education, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:
- Are Ivy League and other “name-brand” schools worth the high sticker price?
- What types of universities do you think provide the best return on investment?
- Given that the top 25 universities hold 52% of all endowment wealth, should the government consider taxing endowments of the wealthiest universities?
- Should college be tuition-free? How else can we work to make college more affordable?
- What tips do you have for a student looking to graduate with minimal debt and great job prospects?
Ask the Experts
Ph.D., J.D., Associate Professor & Director of Higher Education Administration, Department of Leadership, School Counseling, and Sport Management - University of North Florida
Read More
Associate Professor, Educational Leadership & Higher Education and Associate Professor, School of Law, Carolyn A. and Peter S. Lynch School of Education and Human Development - Boston College
Read More
Provost / Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs - Oklahoma Christian University
Read More
Associate Professor of Economics - Virginia Commonwealth University
Read More
EdD - Visiting Assistant Professor, Education Leadership and Higher Education Department, Lynch School of Education and Human Development - Boston College
Read More
Methodology
In order to determine the best colleges in the U.S., WalletHub compared 72 such institutions across seven key dimensions: 1) Student Selectivity, 2) Cost & Financing, 3) Faculty Resources, 4) Campus Safety, 5) Campus Experience, 6) Educational Outcomes and 7) Career Outcomes.
We evaluated those dimensions using 30 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the best school performance and the most favorable conditions for undergraduate students during and after attendance.
Finally, we determined each school’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.
In constructing our sample, we took into account the following types of institutions:
- Sector of institution:
- Public, four-year or above
- Private, not-for-profit, four-year or above
- Carnegie Classification:
- Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
- Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
- Doctoral/Professional Universities
- Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
- Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
- Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs
- Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
- Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
- Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges: Mixed Baccalaureate/Associate's
Institutions were considered colleges if they provide only undergraduate, or baccalaureate degree, programs, and universities if they offer graduate, including masters and/or doctoral degree, programs. (Separate rankings for universities as well as for colleges and universities combined also are available on WalletHub.)
Some institutions were excluded from our sample due to data limitations. Data collected is relevant to undergraduate students only.
Student Selectivity – Total Points: 25
- Admission Rate: Triple Weight (~12.50 Points)
- 25th Percentile of ACT/SAT Score: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
Note: This metric refers to the figure below which 25 percent of students scored. - 75th Percentile of ACT/SAT Score: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
Note: This metric refers to the figure above which 25 percent of students scored. - Share of Freshmen in Top 10 Percent of High School Graduating Class: Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
Cost & Financing – Total Points: 20
- Net Cost: Triple Weight (~12.00 Points)
- Availability of Employment Services for Students: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of “activities intended to assist students in obtaining part-time employment as a means of defraying part of the cost of their education,” as described by the National Center for Education Statistics, as follows:- 1 - Yes
- 0 - No
- Student-Loan Debt: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Note: This metric measures the average amount of student loans awarded to full-time, first-time undergraduates.
Faculty Resources – Total Points: 10
- Student-Faculty Ratio: Quadruple Weight (~4.57 Points)
- Average Class Size: Triple Weight (~3.43 Points)
- Share of Full-time Professors among Total Full-Time Instructional Staff: Half Weight (~0.57 Points)
- Share of Full-Time Faculty: Quarter Weight (~0.29 Points)
- Faculty Staff Salary: Full Weight (~1.14 Points)
Note: This metric was adjusted by the cost-of-living index.
Campus Safety – Total Points: 5
- On-Campus Arrests: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated using the following formula: Total On-Campus Arrests / Total Enrollment. - On-Campus Crime: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated using the following formula: Total On-Campus Crimes / Total Enrollment.
Campus Experience – Total Points: 5
- Share of International Students: Double Weight (~1.18 Points)
- Percentage of Students Living On-Campus: Double Weight (~1.18 Points)
- NCAA Membership: Full Weight (~0.59 Points)
Note: This binary metric considers whether the university is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, as follows:- 1: Member of NCAA
- 0: Not a member of NCAA
- Availability of Study-Abroad Program: Full Weight (~0.59 Points)
Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of a study-abroad program, an arrangement by which a student completes part of his or her college program studying in another country, as follows:- 1: Study-abroad program available
- 0: Study-abroad program not available
- Gender & Racial Diversity: Full Weight (~0.59 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index method, a commonly accepted measure of market concentration that also works effectively as a general-purpose measure of diversity. - Average Earnings from On-Campus Employment: Full Weight (~0.59 Points)
- Presence of Placement Services for Graduates: Half Weight (~0.29 Points)
Note: Assistance for students in evaluating their career alternatives and in obtaining full-time employment upon leaving the institution. This binary metric considers the presence or absence of placement services for graduates, as follows:- 1 - Yes
- 0 - No
Educational Outcomes – Total Points: 20
- Retention Rate: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of the fall full-time cohort from the prior year minus exclusions from the fall full-time cohort that re-enrolled at the institution as full-time in the current year. - Graduation Rate: Double Weight (~10.00 Points)
- Credentials Awarded per Undergraduate Enrollment: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: “Credentials” refers to bachelor’s degrees.
Career Outcomes – Total Points: 15
- Return on Educational Investment: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric measures the ratio of starting salary for graduates to cost of education. - Share of Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months: Double Weight (~3.33 Points)
- Post-Attendance Median Salary: Double Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: This metric measures the median earnings — 10 years after entering the school — of former students who received federal financial aid. - Share of Former Students Outearning High School Graduates: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of former students earning more than $25,000, or about the average earnings of a high school graduate aged 25 to 34, six years after they first enrolled. - Share of Students Reducing Their Debt: Double Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of students who have repaid at least $1 of the principal balance on their federal loans within three years of leaving school. - Student-Loan Default Rate: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of September 15, 2025 from National Center for Education Statistics, Council for Community and Economic Research, U.S. Department of Education, COLLEGEdata and PayScale.
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