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?
As of the most recent academic year, there are approximately 3,542 degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States. (Source: NCES Condition of Education 2023)
This number includes:
- 2,267 four-year institutions
- 1,275 two-year institutions (community colleges)
This figure reflects schools that are eligible to award degrees and are actively enrolling undergraduate students. The number of colleges in the U.S. fluctuates annually due to institutional closures, mergers, and changes in accreditation status.
When including non-degree-granting institutions (such as vocational, trade, and certificate programs that are Title IV–eligible), the total number of U.S. postsecondary institutions rises to approximately 5,988 as of the 2022–23 academic year. (Source: NCES IPEDS Fall 2022–23 Collection) From elite private schools to large public universities, there is a school out there for every student.
The Different Kinds of Colleges
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 an accessible option 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, and with a free Appily account, you can save them to your list.
Are you wondering where you stand when applying to the best universities in the USA? Make that Appily account to see your chances of admission. You’ll also be able to get insights into your target, reach, and likely schools.
Best colleges by major
- Accounting / Finance
- Aerospace Engineering
- Agriculture
- Anthropology
- Architecture
- Art
- Biology / Pre Med
- Business
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Communication / Journalism
- Computer Science
- Cosmetology
- Criminal Justice
- Culinary
- Dentistry
- Design
- Economics
- Engineering
- English / Literature
- Environmental Science
- Film
- Global Studies
- History
- International Studies
- IT
- Kinesiology
- Liberal Arts
- Marine Biology
- Math
- Medical
- Music
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Pharmacy
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Physiology
- Political Science
- Pre Law
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Religious Studies
- Social Work
- Sports Management
- Statistics
- Teaching / Education
- Theater
- Veterinary