2026 U.S. News Best Colleges: Top Performers Across Categories
The 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges ranking has revealed top performers across various categories. Regional universities, public schools, liberal arts colleges, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) all have their standouts.
In the North, Bentley University, Providence College, and the Rhode Island School of Design lead the regional universities. Meanwhile, the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor take the second and third spots for top public schools nationally.
The Midwest's top regional universities are Butler University, John Carroll University, and the Milwaukee School of Engineering. For national liberal arts colleges, Williams College, Amherst College, and the United States Naval Academy reign supreme.
Among HBCUs, Spelman College, Howard University, and Morehouse College are the top three. On social mobility, Florida International University, the University of California, Riverside, and California State University, Long Beach excel.
Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University maintain their dominance as the top three national universities. In the South, The Citadel Military College of South Carolina, Rollins College, and Appalachian State University lead regional universities.
The University of California, Berkeley reclaims its spot as the top public university nationally. For veterans, the University of Chicago, Cornell University, and Brown University are the top three national universities.
The 2026 ranking highlights the excellence of these institutions across diverse categories. It serves as a valuable resource for students and parents seeking the best educational opportunities.
