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Opinion

Build Your Own College Rankings

By Quoctrung Bui and Jessia Ma

Opinion

Build
Your Own
College
Rankings

Build Your
Own College
Rankings

By Quoctrung Bui and Jessia Ma Updated November 9, 2023
Updated November 9, 2023

What’s the best way to choose the right college? And is there one “right” college for anyone? Most published rankings are one-size-fits-all, based on formulas that don’t factor in your priorities, goals and needs.

So we’ve created a tool to help find the best American colleges — for you. Do you care most about making money after graduating? Low college costs? Diversity? Academics or athletics? Staying close to home? Use our tool’s sliders and filters to tell us what you value, and we’ll give you college rankings that fit.

Your Priorities

What matters most to you when choosing a college?

Drag slider right to reflect your priorities.
More Important

High earnings

Median income 10 years after attendance

Economic mobility

More students start low-income and end up high-income

Low sticker price

Listed price of tuition, fees and housing

Low net price

Average price for students with financial aid and grants

Academic profile

Graduation rate, SAT/ACT scores and student-faculty ratio

Athletics

Student surveys, team performance and revenue

Party scene

Campus safety

Racially diverse

Economically diverse