Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, have earned top spots in Forbes’ annual ranking of American colleges. Stanford ranked second, while UC Berkeley moved up to fourth. Both schools improved their positions from last year, with Stanford securing a higher spot and UC Berkeley remaining the only public university in the top 10.
The rankings consider factors like student retention, timely graduation rates, post-graduation salaries, and low student debt. Forbes also emphasized the outcomes for low-income students and schools with higher enrollments of these students. In total, Forbes ranked 500 schools, spotlighting those that deliver the best educational, financial, and career results for all students.
California’s strong presence in the list highlights the state’s commitment to providing world-class education with significant support for diverse student populations. Additionally, UC Los Angeles earned a spot in the top 20, further underscoring California’s prominence in higher education.