Education

How We Rank America’s Best Colleges

How We Rank America’s Best Colleges

ByEmma Whitford,

Forbes Staff

A behind-the-scenes look at how Forbes picks the best 500 colleges out of thousands considered each year. We focus on academic, financial and career outcomes.

More From Education

article image

Two Initiatives, One Mission: Reshaping Workforce Development

Separated by geography and scale, Michigan Central and the Emergent Campus in Colorado represent bold attempts to reimagine how communities can retain and develop talent.

ByAlison Griffin,

Contributor

article image

10 Ways To Improve The College-To-Career Pipeline In The AI Age

Universities need to reimagine their role in a world where knowledge is abundant but employable skills are scarce.

ByDr. Aviva Legatt,

Contributor

article image

Stymied By Courts, Oklahoma Catholic Charter Chooses Another Path

For now, religious schooling is still private schooling.

ByPeter Greene,

Senior Contributor

article image

NAEP’s Red Alert: It’s Time To Modernize Expectations For High Schools

Concerning new NAEP results for 12th grade students indicate a worrying trend that could widen the opportunity gap for decades and put our economy at risk.

ByMatt Gandal,

Contributor

article image

Pre-Med Guide To Answering Ethical Questions In The MMI

Learn how to master the ethical questions in BS/MD Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) using real-world scenarios and the Four Pillars of Medical Ethics.

ByKristen Moon,

Contributor

article image

Why Some Families Are Leaving Public Schools For Other Options

The Mynatts are among the rising ranks of parents and caregivers frustrated by conventional schooling and seeking something more aligned with their values and viewpoints.

ByKerry McDonald,

Contributor

article image

New Report: As Skills Gap Grows, Job Market For College Grads At 5-Year Low

A new report finds that recent college graduates are encountering the toughest entry-level job market in five years, a problem compounded by a gap in practical skills.

ByMichael T. Nietzel,

Senior Contributor

article image

What Supplemental Essays Reveal: 5 Traits Colleges Value Most In 2025

Supplemental essay prompts for 2025–26 reveal what top colleges are really looking for in college applicants: resilience, authenticity, and a sense of purpose.

ByLiz Doe Stone,

Contributor

article image

Democracy Vs. Technocracy: Why AI Needs A Moral Operating System

Pope Leo XIV warns that artificial intelligence represents a new industrial revolution, one that must be guided by social justice to protect human dignity.

ByJamie Merisotis,

Contributor

article image

NYU Stern Abu Dhabi’s New EMBA Trains Talent For The Booming Middle East

A 24-month, part-time program based in Abu Dhabi combines Middle East expertise with experience in New York and Shanghai. Gain an NYU Stern MBA and global alumni network.

ByDr. Marlena Corcoran,

Contributor