National University is a private institution in the United States, founded in 1971 by veterans. It is headquartered in San Diego, California, and offers academic degree programs at campuses throughout California, a satellite campus in Nevada, and various programs online. The university is designed for adult learners, with on-campus classes typically held in four-week sessions or on weeknights with occasional Saturday classes.
The U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of the best national universities in the United States is a highly influential and widely referenced guide for prospective college students.
Methodology and Criteria
The U.S. News rankings evaluate universities across a variety of metrics, including graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, and alumni giving. The methodology has evolved over the years, with the 2023-2024 rankings removing factors like alumni giving and class size while introducing new measures like first-generation student graduation rates and faculty research.
Top Universities
According to the latest 2023-2024 rankings, the top universities in the U.S. are:
- Princeton University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Harvard University
- Stanford University
- Yale University
- University of Pennsylvania
- California Institute of Technology
- Duke University
- Brown University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Northwestern University
Several universities saw significant jumps in the rankings, including Texas A&M University, Rutgers University–New Brunswick, and the University of Washington.
Impact and Influence
The U.S. News rankings have a substantial impact on college applications and admissions, with studies showing that a one-rank improvement can lead to a nearly 1% increase in applicants. Many universities have even set specific goals to improve their ranking position.
Overall, the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings remain an authoritative and influential resource for students navigating the complex landscape of higher education in the United States.
