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.
College Factual analyzed 71 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best best schools.
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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 tops our 2026 ranking of the best best schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 122 best degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. See the full best program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong best program will find one at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #2. 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. About 208 best degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Best graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
A rank of #3 makes Carnegie Mellon University one of the top schools for best. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 best degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Carnegie Mellon University
New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #4 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of Newark. New Jersey Institute Of Technology graduates 73% of students within six years. About 209 best degrees were awarded at New Jersey Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $71,549 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,755. Read more about the best program at New Jersey Institute Of Technology
A rank of #5 makes University Of Delaware one of the top schools for best. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. University Of Delaware awarded about 26 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $54,155 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,861. Get the full best details for University Of Delaware
Lehigh University landed the #6 spot for best this year. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 10 best degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Lehigh University earn around $70,321 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,008. See the full best program report for Lehigh University
American University landed the #7 spot for best this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. American University awarded about 35 best degrees 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. Read more about the best program at American University
Fordham University landed the #8 spot for best this year. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. 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. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans. See the full best program report for Fordham University
Saint Josephs University came in at #9 for best this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Saint Josephs University graduates 79% of students within six years. Saint Josephs University awarded about 23 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Saint Josephs University earn around $65,421 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,426. Read more about the best program at 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. About 349 best degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Best graduates of New York University earn a median of $64,516 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,897. More information about a degree in best from New York University
Clarkson University came in at #11 for best this year. Located in the town of Potsdam, Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 29 best degrees were awarded at Clarkson University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Clarkson University earn around $74,144 in the first couple years of their career. Clarkson University graduates carry a median of $26,566 in student loans. Get the full best details for Clarkson University
Drexel University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 78% of students finish within six years. About 83 best degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Best graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Drexel University
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Set in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 best degrees were awarded at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Best graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $44,294 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,330 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
Saint Peters College landed the #14 spot for best this year. Saint Peters College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jersey City. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Peters College awarded about 154 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Saint Peters College earn a median of $50,944 early in their careers. Saint Peters College graduates carry a median of $22,969 in student loans. See the full best program report for Saint Peters College
Eastern University earned the #15 position for best this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 668 best students who graduated with this degree at Eastern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Eastern University generally make around $50,474. Typical student debt for the program is $28,584. Get the full best details for Eastern University
Utica College came in at #16 for best this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Utica. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 12 best degrees were awarded at Utica College in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Utica College earn around $53,602 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,237. Read more about the best program at Utica College
University Of Maryland University College landed the #17 spot for best this year. Set in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public institution. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 86 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland University College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Maryland University College generally make around $65,890. University Of Maryland University College graduates carry a median of $23,276 in student loans. See the full best program report for University Of Maryland University College
Montgomery College earned the #18 position for best this year. Set in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 12 best students who graduated with this degree at Montgomery College 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. Read more about the best program at Montgomery College
St Lawrence University earned the #19 position for best this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Canton. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. St Lawrence University awarded about 12 best degrees 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. Typical student debt for the program is $26,192. See the full best program report for St Lawrence University
Mercyhurst College earned the #20 position for best this year. Located in the city of Erie, Mercyhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Mercyhurst College graduates 64% of students within six years. Mercyhurst College awarded about 10 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Mercyhurst College earn around $46,009 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,705. See the full best program report for Mercyhurst College
Monroe College Main Campus ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Monroe College Main Campus graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 best students who graduated with this degree at Monroe College Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $40,329 in their early career. Monroe College Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,701 in student loans. See the full best program report for Monroe College Main Campus
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 71 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.