ST. LOUIS - Washington University in St. Louis topped the list of Missouri’s best colleges for 2026, according to new rankings from Niche.com, a site that compiles education data and student reviews to evaluate institutions nationwide.

The rankings are based on a “rigorous analysis” of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of student reviews. Niche evaluates schools across categories including academics, value, diversity, campus, athletics, professors and student life, assigning each an overall grade.

Here are the 10 best colleges in Missouri, according to Niche:

1. Washington University in St. Louis (WashU)

With an overall grade of A+, WashU claimed the top spot. The private research university is known for strong academics, world-class faculty and a vibran

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