The 2026 ranking from U.S. News shows Princeton University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University retaining their top three spots. Yale and Stanford tie for fourth place in the ranking, with Yale having risen from fifth place last year.

With differing factors measured, Bay Area institutions’ respective rankings may vary. However, Stanford ranks consistently as a top-five university. UC Berkeley ranked as high as fifth in Forbes’ list but 48th on Niche. Read U.S. News’ full 2026 best colleges list here.

The 2026 Best Colleges report reviewed 1,700 colleges and universities across the country using a formula that looks at "17 measures of academic quality."

As LSU faces a massive buyout after firing Brian Kelly, the projected $54 million payout could rank among college football's highest ever.

Tuition at private US colleges is on the rise, reaching an average annual cost of $43,350 in 2024. The yearly cost of attending some private colleges and universities is nearly six-figures. The University of Southern California's tuition and fees are the ...

Brown, URI and Bryant made the Wall Street Journal cut for the best colleges, why they're the best is all in the details.

Memphis could also jump back into the top 25 after beating No. 20 USF, one of the top Group of Five contenders for the College Football Playoff. The Tigers fell out of the poll after Week 8 due to being upset by UAB. Illinois and Arizona State are also set to fall out of the rankings, after falling to Washington and Houston, respectively.