Our List of the Best 391 Colleges for 2026

For more than 40 years, The Princeton Review has helped over 4 million students select and gain admission to their dream schools. As part of that mission, we annually compile our list of the Best Colleges in the country.

We also publish rankings lists in various popular categories (see below).

>>> See all 391 Best Colleges

Each college rankings list is developed based on data compiled from surveys of over 170,000 students at The Best 391 schools.

Discover why Iona is ranked a top 10 Catholic college nationwide. Here, you’ll be encouraged to see beyond horizons, explore your passions, and forge your path in a supportive close-knit community. Students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs.  Located just north of NYC, Iona offers exciting options for internships and career development. Immerse yourself in a vibrant culture with 100+ student clubs, 26 Division I teams, and performing arts.

More About the Best 391 Colleges

Our Best Colleges rankings for 2025 also name the top 25 colleges in 50 categories. In categories that span academics, amenities, school services, campus culture, extracurriculars, and more, these unique lists are based on The Princeton Review’s surveys of over 168,000 students attending the 391 schools:

>>> Access all the lists by category

At the University at Albany, you’ll find top-ranked academic programs, immersive hands-on experiences and diverse perspectives, ready to help you unleash your potential and become the better-world builder you’ve always wanted to be. Here you’ll be supported by the resources of a large university with Research 1 status as well as the nurturing environment of a close-knit community, a proven combination that helps you be the author of your own success.

Our Two Most Popular Honor Roll Lists

Green Honor Roll
The 37 schools on this list received a score of 99 (the highest possible score) in our Green Rating tallies this year.  This rating, on a scale of 60–99, provides a comprehensive measure of a school's performance as an environmentally aware and prepared institution. Specifically, it includes 1) whether students have a campus quality of life that is both healthy and sustainable, 2) how well a school is preparing students for employment in the clean-energy economy of the 21st century as well as for citizenship in a world now defined by environmental concerns and opportunities, and 3) how environmentally responsible a school's policies are.

Financial Aid Honor Roll
We have especially good news for many students who would like help funding their college education. We have identified 18 schools this year that received a Financial Aid Rating of 99 (the highest possible score), including well-known schools such as Yale University, Princeton University, Haverford College, and California Institute of Technology.

This rating measures how much financial aid a school awards and how satisfied students are with that aid, on a scale of 60–99. This rating is based on school-reported data on the percentage of students who were determined to have need and received aid, the percentage of need met for those students, and the percentage of students whose need was fully met. Student survey data that measures students' satisfaction with the financial aid they receive is also considered.

Get Started Navigating the Rankings… 

Quality of Life: Best Campus Food
As something we do every day, at least 3 times a day, you might want to know just how good (or bad) the food is on campus. Check out #1 University of Massachusetts - Amherst and the rest of the top 25 for best campus food.

Academics: Professors Get High Marks
Students rate how strongly they agree or disagree with the statement, "Professors are interesting and bring their material to life." See who made the top 25 list this year, including #1 Sarah Lawrence College.

Town Life: College City Gets High Marks
How do the students rate the city or town where the college is located? Visit the profile for #1 American University and see all of the colleges that made the list this year.

More ranking lists…

The Most Beautiful Campus
How do students rate the beauty of their campus?

The Top 5:

Best Athletic Facilities
How are the athletic facilities?

The Top 5:

Their Students Love These Colleges
Are the students satisfied with their school?

The Top 5:

Learn more about the Best 391 Colleges:

Methodology
Surveying Students - How it Works