US News and World Report today announced the nationwide ranking of the colleges and universities which act as a guide for prospective students. The ranking evaluate nearly 1,500 colleges and universities using up to 17 measures of academic quality. US News retired its print news magazine in 2010 and its yearly college ranking remains its source of millions of dollars as universities pay licensing fees to promote their institution.US News, However, insists that its ranking is not affected by its business relationship with schools.
US News said it “strongly” advised visitors to its website to “consider the rankings alongside additional information from US News and other sources and in light of personal interests and priorities when deciding where to apply to and attend college.”
Here are the top thee colleges in each category
2025 Best National Universities

1. Princeton University (NJ)
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3. Harvard University (MA)

2025 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges

1. Williams College (MA)
2. Amherst College (MA)
3. Swarthmore College (PA)

2025 Top Public Schools: National Universities

1. University of California, Los Angeles
2. University of California, Berkeley
3. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

2025 Top Historically Black Colleges and Universities

1. Spelman College
2. Howard University
3. Florida A&M University (tie)
   3. Tuskegee University (tie)

2025 top performers on social mobility: National Universities
1. Florida International University (FL) (tie)1. University of California, Riverside (tie)3. California State University, Long Beach (tie)3. University of California, Merced (tie)
2025 top performers on social mobility: National Liberal Arts Colleges
1. Lake Forest College (IL) (tie)1. Spelman College (GA) (tie)3. Salem College (NC)