In the fall of 2023, almost 20 million students were enrolled in college in the United States. The best colleges in the US offer exceptional academic experiences and are often dedicated to research and discovery. These top colleges offer a range of undergraduate majors, master’s degrees, and doctoral programs.

In this article, you will learn how college rankings work, the most common types of colleges, and which are the top universities in the USA. 

How Many Colleges are in the United States? 

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that there were about 4,000 degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S. during the 2019-2020 school year. From elite private schools to large public universities, there is a school out there for every student.

Colleges can be categorized into four-year and two-year institutions. Four-year colleges lead to a bachelor’s degree, while two-year schools often lead to an associate degree or a certificate.  

Four-year colleges and universities: 

Four-year institutions can be broadly categorized by public and private schools.  

About half of the colleges in the US are public institutions. When most people think of public schools, they think of large universities. However, public schools can vary in size and feel. These colleges and universities are called “public” schools because state governments typically fund them. This often means that in-state students have reduced tuition.  

Private schools, on the other hand, are not funded by the government. Private donations and funding sometimes allow these institutions to offer generous financial aid packages to students despite higher sticker prices. Another feature of private colleges and universities is that they often have smaller student bodies than public schools. This means that students can benefit from small class sizes and more personalized attention from their professors.

Four-year colleges can be further separated into specific categories. For example, Liberal Arts colleges focus heavily on programs like literature, history, languages, and social sciences. Arts colleges specialize in fine, visual, and performance arts. Students can also explore schools with special focuses, like religiously affiliated colleges, or ones with special missions, like Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs). 

Two-year colleges and universities: 

Community colleges make up another large portion of the US colleges. These two-year colleges usually offer Associate degrees and vocational programming. They are usually conveniently located in cities and communities, making community colleges accessible options for students looking for a cost-friendly way to earn credits or enter a vocational career. 

How are the Top Colleges in America Chosen? 

Appily determines the “Best Colleges” based on publicly available US Department of Education information. Several factors include, but are not limited to, data about admitted students’ academic calibers, students’ expected career outcomes after graduation, and colleges’ investments in making their institutions accessible to all students. 

Explore the Best Universities in the US with Appily! 

Below is our list of the best universities and colleges. Research the lists below. You can also create an Appily account to save them to your list. 

Are you wondering where you stand when applying to the best universities in the USA? Make an Appily account to see your chances of admission. You’ll also be able to get insights into your target, reach, and likely schools.