College Compass GuideTrue north for every college search.

Rankings

Ranked lists of every accredited four-year college, each computed from federal data by a published formula.

Top 20 liberal arts colleges

Sorted by Compass Score, highest first
RankSchoolCompass ScoreCompass Score: a letter grade set by rank among rated colleges from federal data on outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching. The ring shows where the college stands.AcademicsAcademic Excellence: a letter grade set by rank among rated colleges, from federal data on graduation, retention, test scores, faculty ratio, and spending. It never uses rankings or surveys.ValueValue: what families pay after aid, graduation rate, earnings and debt, from federal data.
1Williams CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Williamstown, MAA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 1%A+Value: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%
2Wellesley CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Wellesley, MA · All-femaleA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 1%AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 7%
3Pomona CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Claremont, CAA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 1%A+Value: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%
4United States Military AcademyHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.West Point, NYA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%—Value: not yet researched. This school has not been checked against official sources yet.
5TieAmherst CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Amherst, MAA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 1%AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 8%
5TieClaremont McKenna CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Claremont, CAA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 1%B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 22%
7United States Naval AcademyHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Annapolis, MDAAcademics: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 4%—Value: not yet researched. This school has not been checked against official sources yet.
8Hillsdale CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Hillsdale, MIA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 2%—Value: not yet researched. This school has not been checked against official sources yet.
9Bowdoin CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Brunswick, MEA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 2%A+Value: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%
10Haverford CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Haverford, PAA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 2%A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 13%
11Davidson CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Davidson, NCA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 5%
12Washington and Lee UniversityHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Lexington, VAA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 1%B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 21%
13Swarthmore CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Swarthmore, PAA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 2%A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 15%
14Colgate UniversityHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Hamilton, NYA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 25%
15Middlebury CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Middlebury, VTA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 2%B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 32%
16Hamilton CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Clinton, NYA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 2%B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 32%
17Colby CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Waterville, MEA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 5%
18Barnard CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.New York, NY · All-femaleA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 33%
19Bates CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Lewiston, MEAAcademics: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 4%B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 33%
20Grinnell CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Grinnell, IAA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 14%

Sorted by Compass Score, highest first

  1. 1
    Williams CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Williamstown, MA
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 1%
    • ValueA+Value: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%
  2. 2
    Wellesley CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Wellesley, MA · All-female
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 1%
    • ValueAValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 7%
  3. 3
    Pomona CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Claremont, CA
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 1%
    • ValueA+Value: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%
  4. 4
    United States Military AcademyHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.West Point, NY
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%
    • Value—Value: not yet researched. This school has not been checked against official sources yet.
  5. 5Tie
    Amherst CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Amherst, MA
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 1%
    • ValueAValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 8%
  6. 5Tie
    Claremont McKenna CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Claremont, CA
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 1%
    • ValueB+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 22%
  7. 7
    United States Naval AcademyHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Annapolis, MD
    • AcademicsAAcademics: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 4%
    • Value—Value: not yet researched. This school has not been checked against official sources yet.
  8. 8
    Hillsdale CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Hillsdale, MI
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 2%
    • Value—Value: not yet researched. This school has not been checked against official sources yet.
  9. 9
    Bowdoin CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Brunswick, ME
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 2%
    • ValueA+Value: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%
  10. 10
    Haverford CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Haverford, PA
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 2%
    • ValueA-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 13%
  11. 11
    Davidson CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Davidson, NC
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%
    • ValueAValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 5%
  12. 12
    Washington and Lee UniversityHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Lexington, VA
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 1%
    • ValueB+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 21%
  13. 13
    Swarthmore CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Swarthmore, PA
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 2%
    • ValueA-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 15%
  14. 14
    Colgate UniversityHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Hamilton, NY
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%
    • ValueB+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 25%
  15. 15
    Middlebury CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Middlebury, VT
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 2%
    • ValueB+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 32%
  16. 16
    Hamilton CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Clinton, NY
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 2%
    • ValueB+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 32%
  17. 17
    Colby CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Waterville, ME
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%
    • ValueAValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 5%
  18. 18
    Barnard CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.New York, NY · All-female
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%
    • ValueB+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 33%
  19. 19
    Bates CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Lewiston, ME
    • AcademicsAAcademics: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 4%
    • ValueB+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 33%
  20. 20
    Grinnell CollegeHonor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Grinnell, IA
    • AcademicsA+Academics: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 3%
    • ValueA-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F.Top 14%

See all 209 ranked How the Compass Score works

Rated so far: 1,829 of 2,310 colleges have a Compass Score.

CollegesTop listsBy state

Colleges

Every accredited four-year college. Each ranking below sorts them by the Compass Score, by academics, or by value.

Best colleges

Every accredited four-year college (specialized schools aside) ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.

1,597 colleges ranked

Best national universities

Doctoral and research universities, ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.

443 colleges ranked

Best liberal arts colleges

Colleges that focus on undergraduates in the arts and sciences, ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.

209 colleges ranked

Colleges with the strongest academics

Every four-year college ranked by Academic Excellence from federal data: graduation, retention, entering students’ preparation, faculty attention, and instructional investment.

2,055 colleges ranked

Best value colleges

Colleges with an Academic Excellence grade of B+ or better, ranked by Value: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and student debt, from federal data.

682 colleges ranked

Honor Roll

Colleges in the top 10% by Compass Score (grades A+ and A).

Who makes the Honor Roll

Top lists

Shorter lists on a single theme, built from the same grades and federal data. A list appears once at least five schools qualify.

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Every ranked school is a dot. Hover or tap a state to see its No. 1, then open its rankings. Switch to the street map to zoom in to cities and highways.

Alabama · 26 ranked schoolsAlaska · 5 ranked schoolsArizona · 29 ranked schoolsArkansas · 23 ranked schoolsCalifornia · 147 ranked schoolsColorado · 33 ranked schoolsConnecticut · 26 ranked schoolsDelaware · 5 ranked schoolsDistrict of Columbia · 9 ranked schoolsFlorida · 95 ranked schoolsGeorgia · 59 ranked schoolsHawaii · 7 ranked schoolsIdaho · 10 ranked schoolsIllinois · 56 ranked schoolsIndiana · 48 ranked schoolsIowa · 31 ranked schoolsKansas · 27 ranked schoolsKentucky · 30 ranked schoolsLouisiana · 25 ranked schoolsMaine · 19 ranked schoolsMaryland · 25 ranked schoolsMassachusetts · 66 ranked schoolsMichigan · 47 ranked schoolsMinnesota · 42 ranked schoolsMississippi · 15 ranked schoolsMissouri · 51 ranked schoolsMontana · 10 ranked schoolsNebraska · 19 ranked schoolsNevada · 11 ranked schoolsNew Hampshire · 13 ranked schoolsNew Jersey · 33 ranked schoolsNew Mexico · 9 ranked schoolsNew York · 129 ranked schoolsNorth Carolina · 55 ranked schoolsNorth Dakota · 9 ranked schoolsOhio · 110 ranked schoolsOklahoma · 28 ranked schoolsOregon · 23 ranked schoolsPennsylvania · 117 ranked schoolsRhode Island · 11 ranked schoolsSouth Carolina · 35 ranked schoolsSouth Dakota · 11 ranked schoolsTennessee · 46 ranked schoolsTexas · 110 ranked schoolsUtah · 16 ranked schoolsVermont · 9 ranked schoolsVirginia · 51 ranked schoolsWashington · 53 ranked schoolsWest Virginia · 21 ranked schoolsWisconsin · 37 ranked schoolsWyoming · 5 ranked schools

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