PRINCETON, N.J. (WCBS 880) — Princeton University was once again named the top college in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, followed closely by Columbia University and Harvard University.
The New Jersey college was ranked number one on Monday, after the group evaluated more than 1,400 colleges and universities. It is the 10th consecutive year that the university has ranked number one on the list.
U.S. World & News Report has been ranking U.S. universities and colleges for 37 years, according to a press release.
"Students and faculty continue to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether it's through remote learning, mask-wearing or vaccine requirements," said Kim Castro, editor and chief content officer of U.S. News. "As communities work through these challenges, U.S. News is committed to providing information on the academic quality of institutions across the country, so prospective students and their families can make informed decisions throughout their college search."
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According to the official rankings, Columbia, in New York City, tied with Harvard for the second spot.
Rutgers University in Newark also ranked number three on the group’s “social mobility” chart – which ranks colleges that have been “more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants.”
The College of New Jersey, SUNY Polytechnic Institute – Utica/Albany and CUNY’s Baruch College were ranked the top three public schools in the North. A total of six CUNY schools made the list – including Hunter College and John Jay.