by our College Data Analytics TeamBest is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 68 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for best students pursuing a degree.
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If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the best degrees they offer, see the list below.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in best. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 122 best students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. See the full best program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 208 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $86,770 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Carnegie Mellon University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #3. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 17 best degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $89,327 in their early career. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Get the full best details for Carnegie Mellon University
New Jersey Institute Of Technology came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Located in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public university. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. New Jersey Institute Of Technology awarded about 209 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from New Jersey Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,549. Typical student debt for the program is $24,755. See the full best program report for New Jersey Institute Of Technology
University Of Delaware is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. University Of Delaware awarded about 26 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $54,155. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans. Read more about the best program at University Of Delaware
Lehigh University earned the #6 position for best this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bethlehem. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 best degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $70,321 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Lehigh University
American University landed the #7 spot for best this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 31 best students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from American University generally make around $54,585. Typical student debt for the program is $24,139. More information about a degree in best from American University
Fordham University came in at #8 for best this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 36 best degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Fordham University earn around $59,403 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,643 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in best from Fordham University
Saint Josephs University landed the #9 spot for best this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 best degrees were awarded at Saint Josephs University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Saint Josephs University generally make around $65,421. Typical student debt for the program is $26,426. More information about a degree in best from Saint Josephs University
New York University came in at #10 for best this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. New York University awarded about 339 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $64,516 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. See the full best program report for New York University
Clarkson University earned the #11 position for best this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Potsdam. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 29 best degrees were awarded at Clarkson University in the most recent year. Best graduates of Clarkson University earn a median of $74,144 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,566. Get the full best details for Clarkson University
Drexel University came in at #12 for best this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. Drexel University awarded about 83 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $67,556 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at Drexel University
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania landed the #13 spot for best this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Slippery Rock. About 66% of students finish within six years. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 10 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $44,294 early in their careers. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $26,330 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
Saint Peters College earned the #14 position for best this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Jersey City. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 154 best students who graduated with this degree at Saint Peters College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $50,944 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,969 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Saint Peters College
Eastern University came in at #15 for best this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Davids. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Eastern University awarded about 668 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Eastern University earn around $50,474 in the first couple years of their career. Eastern University graduates carry a median of $28,584 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Eastern University
Utica College earned the #16 position for best this year. Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Utica. About 56% of students finish within six years. Utica College awarded about 12 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $53,602 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,237 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Utica College
University Of Maryland University College placed #17 among the best best schools. University Of Maryland University College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Adelphi. University Of Maryland University College graduates 20% of students within six years. University Of Maryland University College awarded about 86 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Maryland University College earn around $65,890 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Maryland University College graduates carry a median of $23,276 in student loans. Get the full best details for University Of Maryland University College
Montgomery College landed the #18 spot for best this year. Set in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public institution. Montgomery College awarded about 12 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Montgomery College earn a median of $24,833 early in their careers. Montgomery College graduates carry a median of $11,230 in student loans. Get the full best details for Montgomery College
St Lawrence University placed #19 among the best best schools. Set in the town of Canton, St Lawrence University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. St Lawrence University graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 best students who graduated with this degree at St Lawrence University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from St Lawrence University earn around $39,993 in the first couple years of their career. St Lawrence University graduates carry a median of $26,192 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from St Lawrence University
Mercyhurst College earned the #20 position for best this year. Mercyhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Erie. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 best students who graduated with this degree at Mercyhurst College in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Mercyhurst College earn a median of $46,009 early in their careers. Mercyhurst College graduates carry a median of $25,705 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Mercyhurst College
Monroe College Main Campus earned the #21 position for best this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 best degrees were awarded at Monroe College Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Monroe College Main Campus generally make around $40,329. Typical student debt for the program is $20,701. Read more about the best program at Monroe College Main Campus
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 68 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.