Another school year is upon us as high school seniors are filing into what will be their last classes, before many of them will leave the nest to start their journey into adulthood. Seniors and parents, if you haven’t started preparing for the SAT and/or ACT, sending in those college applications, or applying for financial aid, then you’re definitely behind the curve. For those adults who are considering returning to school for their undergraduate degree, there’s plenty to glean from the 2015 best colleges list, as well.
The U.S. News & World Report continues its 30-year tradition of ranking the top colleges nationwide by academic excellence. The 2015 edition also features lists on “Campus Ethnic Diversity,” “Economic Diversity,” “Best Undergraduate Business Programs,” “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs,” and “Best Colleges for Veterans.” Also, highlighted in the lists are campus crime and security information reported by the institutions to the the U.S. Department of Education. More importantly, U.S. News & World Report has profiled the rate of student loan debt and default rates to give interested seniors a realistic view of how college graduates have been able to manage their loan payments.
College Factual, another resource for college selection, released its list Friday containing the top ten colleges nationwide for 2015. College Factual includes tools that match students with their desired majors for a snapshot of schools that might be the best fit for the high school seniors. University of Pennsylvania topped the College Factual list. Yale University, Duke University, Harvard University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) rounded out the top five.
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Making a commitment to college is more than just picking from a list. The best way to see if you’re a fit for a college is to get out and view the campus and talk to students currently attending the school. Don’t be afraid to talk with your peers to see what schools they’re considering. You never know what you may discover about a college you never even considered before. The U.S. News & World Report list may be a great starting point for you on your higher education journey.
U.S. News & World Report’s 2015 Best Colleges Rankings
Best National Universities
1. Princeton University (NJ)
2. Harvard University (MA)
3. Yale University (CT)
4. Columbia University (NY)
4. Stanford University (CA)
4. University of Chicago (IL)
7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
8. Duke University (NC)
8. University of Pennsylvania
10. California Institute of Technology
Best National Liberal Arts Colleges
1. Williams College (MA)
2. Amherst College (MA)
3. Swarthmore College (PA)
4. Wellesley College (MA)
5. Bowdoin College (ME)
5. Pomona College (CA)
7. Middlebury College (VT)
8. Carleton College (MN)
8. Claremont McKenna College (CA)
8. Haverford College (PA)
Best Public Schools
National Universities
1. University of California–Berkeley
2. University of California–Los Angeles
2. University of Virginia
4. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
5. University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill
Liberal Arts Colleges
1. United States Naval Academy (MD)
2. United States Military Academy (NY)
3. United States Air Force Academy (CO)
4. Virginia Military Institute
5. New College of Florida
Best Value Schools
National Universities
1. Harvard University (MA)
2. Princeton University (NJ)
3. Yale University (CT)
4. Stanford University (CA)
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Liberal Arts Colleges
1. Amherst College (MA)
2. Williams College (MA)
3. Pomona College (CA)
4. Wellesley College (MA)
5. Soka University of America (CA)
Visit here for the full list.