The Brief

U.S. News released the 2026 Best Colleges rankings, evaluating 1,700 schools.

Eight schools kept their No. 1 spots, while two finished second.

The list also features best value, innovation, social mobility, and HBCUs.

WASHINGTON - U.S. News & World Report announced Tuesday the 2026 Best Colleges rankings.

Nearly 1,700 colleges and universities have been evaluated in the latest national and regional rankings, which measure academic quality across 17 key indicators. The results highlight consistent performance at the top: eight schools maintained their No. 1 positions across ten ranking categories, while the remaining two secured strong second-place finishes.

What they're saying:

"For over four decades, Best Colleges has served as a trusted and data-backed resource for stu

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