US News best colleges 2025

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Another year with ND in the top 20. Another year the haters will say it won't last. Always get a chuckle out of this.

Notre Dame is 3.59% black. Shameful

A Catholic school in Indiana isn’t a huge draw for POC? Shocking!!

ahem. Using the same argument, there should be only 18% Catholics at ND because Indiana is only 18% Catholic.

No, when doing this analysis the experts compare to the national percentage of blacks, which is 14%. Hence, Harvard's black population is 14%. So it is at the other top schools. How do they achieve this? By offering generous merit and financial aid packages. Clearly, ND isn't vested in increasing diversity for the sake of its own student body by trying to increase the number if black students, Catholic or not.

4% of US Catholics are black. This lines up with the percent of blacks at Notre Dame. Notre Dame is a religious school and has different institutional priorities than secular universities.

Ok but one-third of US Catholics are Latino while only 11% of ND students are Latino. Why does the school have such a hard time recruiting Latino Catholics.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I'm happy to see Cornell get a little more respect. But Duke and Northwestern at 6 is an abomination.

Also, what is with the the fixation on the UCs? Berkeley and UCLA do not belong in the top 20 for undergrad. There are five UCs in the top 40 alone. And UC Merced at 58 is ridiculous.

Good lord, the top UCs trounce the bottom Ivy schools if one cares at all about diversity in the educational setting, student quality of life, social development, etc.

I’d take LA or Berkeley over Ithaca or Hanover 10/10x to spend the formative years of my life.

s


But it has become very difficult to get into both UCLA and Berkeley from OOS

DD just starting at UCLA. Campus life is really great, albeit getting classes a vit like Game of Thrones. Would not thrive in middle of nowhere. Likes her Sweetgreens, beach etc. It is not the one percent, which is refreshing. Humble people at their dream school.

Weird, defensive response to the fact that UcLA takes less than 10% OOS and internationals

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm happy to see Cornell get a little more respect. But Duke and Northwestern at 6 is an abomination.

Also, what is with the the fixation on the UCs? Berkeley and UCLA do not belong in the top 20 for undergrad. There are five UCs in the top 40 alone. And UC Merced at 58 is ridiculous.

Spoken like a snotty Ivy Leaguer who’s school got edged about by these 2 amazing institutions that are more well rounded in the sporting area and overall life quality.

[Anonymous]

Wow. UC Merced is about to crack the top 50. According to their common data set, they have a 90% admission rate. They are by far the easiest Top 50 school to get into.

I don't understand why only 9% of admitted students decide to enroll there! What do those applicants who choose not to attend know what US News doesn't??????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another year with ND in the top 20. Another year the haters will say it won't last. Always get a chuckle out of this.

ND would be the perfect school imo if it backed the gas off on religion just a smidge. I know they’ve just expanded financial aid for middle class applicants and gone need blind for international applicants which may bring in a bit more diversity of voices.

But the vibes there are very good. The kids are happy, the sports are fun, the academics are solid, the job placement is great. What else do you want?

OMG, maybe not having to spend the four most formative years of one’s life in godawful Indiana?

I know you are talking about ND, but Indiana-Bloomington is often highlighted here as being a great place to go to college. Is it just a nicer place?

ND is 1.5 hour from Chicago.
Still better than middle of nowhere in VA.

1.5 hours from Chicago is one of the weirdest flexes I’ve ever seen.

They have shuttle and students go to Chicago for concerts, hanging out, etc.
My kid visited Chicago multiple times. South Bend is actually better than UVA or VT towns.

HaHaHa! No. I live in Charlottesville and have been to South Bend. No contest. Blacksburg, however, is very small but the students adore it

My kids wanted to get out of VA, and after visiting UVA, they got really desperate.
Luckily all my kids are able to get out of VA, and one is attending ND.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another year with ND in the top 20. Another year the haters will say it won't last. Always get a chuckle out of this.

Notre Dame is 3.59% black. Shameful

A Catholic school in Indiana isn’t a huge draw for POC? Shocking!!

ahem. Using the same argument, there should be only 18% Catholics at ND because Indiana is only 18% Catholic.

No, when doing this analysis the experts compare to the national percentage of blacks, which is 14%. Hence, Harvard's black population is 14%. So it is at the other top schools. How do they achieve this? By offering generous merit and financial aid packages. Clearly, ND isn't vested in increasing diversity for the sake of its own student body by trying to increase the number if black students, Catholic or not.

4% of US Catholics are black. This lines up with the percent of blacks at Notre Dame. Notre Dame is a religious school and has different institutional priorities than secular universities.

Ok but one-third of US Catholics are Latino while only 11% of ND students are Latino. Why does the school have such a hard time recruiting Latino Catholics.

And, by the same token, why does it have such a hard time recruiting blacks, Catholic or not? If you have an obvious diversity problem you take some of that massive endowment ND boosters are always talking about and start recruiting by throwing money at merit and financial aid packages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another year with ND in the top 20. Another year the haters will say it won't last. Always get a chuckle out of this.

ND would be the perfect school imo if it backed the gas off on religion just a smidge. I know they’ve just expanded financial aid for middle class applicants and gone need blind for international applicants which may bring in a bit more diversity of voices.

But the vibes there are very good. The kids are happy, the sports are fun, the academics are solid, the job placement is great. What else do you want?

OMG, maybe not having to spend the four most formative years of one’s life in godawful Indiana?

I know you are talking about ND, but Indiana-Bloomington is often highlighted here as being a great place to go to college. Is it just a nicer place?

ND is 1.5 hour from Chicago.
Still better than middle of nowhere in VA.

1.5 hours from Chicago is one of the weirdest flexes I’ve ever seen.

They have shuttle and students go to Chicago for concerts, hanging out, etc.
My kid visited Chicago multiple times. South Bend is actually better than UVA or VT towns.

HaHaHa! No. I live in Charlottesville and have been to South Bend. No contest. Blacksburg, however, is very small but the students adore it

My kids wanted to get out of VA, and after visiting UVA, they got really desperate.
Luckily all my kids are able to get out of VA, and one is attending ND.

Why are you harping on about UVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another year with ND in the top 20. Another year the haters will say it won't last. Always get a chuckle out of this.

ND would be the perfect school imo if it backed the gas off on religion just a smidge. I know they’ve just expanded financial aid for middle class applicants and gone need blind for international applicants which may bring in a bit more diversity of voices.

But the vibes there are very good. The kids are happy, the sports are fun, the academics are solid, the job placement is great. What else do you want?

OMG, maybe not having to spend the four most formative years of one’s life in godawful Indiana?

I know you are talking about ND, but Indiana-Bloomington is often highlighted here as being a great place to go to college. Is it just a nicer place?

ND is 1.5 hour from Chicago.
Still better than middle of nowhere in VA.

1.5 hours from Chicago is one of the weirdest flexes I’ve ever seen.

They have shuttle and students go to Chicago for concerts, hanging out, etc.
My kid visited Chicago multiple times. South Bend is actually better than UVA or VT towns.

HaHaHa! No. I live in Charlottesville and have been to South Bend. No contest. Blacksburg, however, is very small but the students adore it

My kids wanted to get out of VA, and after visiting UVA, they got really desperate.
Luckily all my kids are able to get out of VA, and one is attending ND.

Why are you harping on about UVA?

Just because we are from VA.
UVA and VT automatically got on the list for instate tuitions.

[Anonymous]

There’s only one useful thing about the USNews rankings. They emphasize the reality that the United States has an unusually large number of first class colleges and universities. We should be proud of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. UC Merced is about to crack the top 50. According to their common data set, they have a 90% admission rate. They are by far the easiest Top 50 school to get into.

I don't understand why only 9% of admitted students decide to enroll there! What do those applicants who choose not to attend know what US News doesn't??????

Rankings look at many things like student outcomes; students look at things like location and "name brand" recognition.

Merced is in the middle of nowhere, central valley CA. More than likely, those applying to Merced also apply to other UCs like UCI, UCSB, UCD, etc.. much better location than UCM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. UC Merced is about to crack the top 50. According to their common data set, they have a 90% admission rate. They are by far the easiest Top 50 school to get into.

I don't understand why only 9% of admitted students decide to enroll there! What do those applicants who choose not to attend know what US News doesn't??????

Rankings look at many things like student outcomes; students look at things like location and "name brand" recognition.

Merced is in the middle of nowhere, central valley CA. More than likely, those applying to Merced also apply to other UCs like UCI, UCSB, UCD, etc.. much better location than UCM.

I watched a youtube vide of college acceptances from a CA resident and they reported getting into Merced despite not actually applying. They had applied to other UCs, but not Merced. I find that very confusing.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:William and Mary behing Virginia Tech.

This is what high school counselors have been saying for years.

No they haven't.

Not shocking VT is ranked higher when they play affirmative action with first gens

What school doesn't? At least they're transparent about it.
DP

Not on the level VA tech does. They want 40% of the student body to be FGLI. Seems middle class gets no financial aid as a result of that. Makes US news happy, not so much the average Virginian who can't afford 40K COA on a 100k income

Again: that is no longer part of the criteria they use for ranking. Move along.

Did you even read the methodology? They replaced first gen factors with Pell grant factors. Still weighted as heavily as last year. These factors only reflect social mobility, not educational experience for all. USN&WR remain irrelevant for most DCUM users whose kids are not in need of social mobility.

My kids could use some mobility.

Mine also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm happy to see Cornell get a little more respect. But Duke and Northwestern at 6 is an abomination.

Also, what is with the the fixation on the UCs? Berkeley and UCLA do not belong in the top 20 for undergrad. There are five UCs in the top 40 alone. And UC Merced at 58 is ridiculous.

Good lord, the top UCs trounce the bottom Ivy schools if one cares at all about diversity in the educational setting, student quality of life, social development, etc.

I’d take LA or Berkeley over Ithaca or Hanover 10/10x to spend the formative years of my life.

s


But it has become very difficult to get into both UCLA and Berkeley from OOS

DD just starting at UCLA. Campus life is really great, albeit getting classes a vit like Game of Thrones. Would not thrive in middle of nowhere. Likes her Sweetgreens, beach etc. It is not the one percent, which is refreshing. Humble people at their dream school.

Weird, defensive response to the fact that UcLA takes less than 10% OOS and internationals

How is that defensive? DD is OOS. Went to private school, and it’s refreshing to be with an economically diverse crowd. Would be very different at Wash U. I think she’ll have more perspective on her life now and how lucky she is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm happy to see Cornell get a little more respect. But Duke and Northwestern at 6 is an abomination.

Also, what is with the the fixation on the UCs? Berkeley and UCLA do not belong in the top 20 for undergrad. There are five UCs in the top 40 alone. And UC Merced at 58 is ridiculous.

Good lord, the top UCs trounce the bottom Ivy schools if one cares at all about diversity in the educational setting, student quality of life, social development, etc.

I’d take LA or Berkeley over Ithaca or Hanover 10/10x to spend the formative years of my life.

s


But it has become very difficult to get into both UCLA and Berkeley from OOS

DD just starting at UCLA. Campus life is really great, albeit getting classes a vit like Game of Thrones. Would not thrive in middle of nowhere. Likes her Sweetgreens, beach etc. It is not the one percent, which is refreshing. Humble people at their dream school.

Weird, defensive response to the fact that UcLA takes less than 10% OOS and internationals

How is that defensive? DD is OOS. Went to private school, and it’s refreshing to be with an economically diverse crowd. Would be very different at Wash U. I think she’ll have more perspective on her life now and how lucky she is.

wrong private school then. My kids' private HS has lots of economic diversity and located in a very disadvantaged neighborhood. No need to leave DC to experience economic diversity. My kids see it daily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another year with ND in the top 20. Another year the haters will say it won't last. Always get a chuckle out of this.

ND would be the perfect school imo if it backed the gas off on religion just a smidge. I know they’ve just expanded financial aid for middle class applicants and gone need blind for international applicants which may bring in a bit more diversity of voices.

But the vibes there are very good. The kids are happy, the sports are fun, the academics are solid, the job placement is great. What else do you want?

OMG, maybe not having to spend the four most formative years of one’s life in godawful Indiana?

I know you are talking about ND, but Indiana-Bloomington is often highlighted here as being a great place to go to college. Is it just a nicer place?

ND is 1.5 hour from Chicago.
Still better than middle of nowhere in VA.

1.5 hours from Chicago is one of the weirdest flexes I’ve ever seen.

They have shuttle and students go to Chicago for concerts, hanging out, etc.
My kid visited Chicago multiple times. South Bend is actually better than UVA or VT towns.

HaHaHa! No. I live in Charlottesville and have been to South Bend. No contest. Blacksburg, however, is very small but the students adore it

My kids wanted to get out of VA, and after visiting UVA, they got really desperate.
Luckily all my kids are able to get out of VA, and one is attending ND.

Why are you harping on about UVA?

Just because we are from VA.
UVA and VT automatically got on the list for instate tuitions.

Are you trying to say UVA and VT got on USNWR ranking because they offer in-state tuition, or your own personal list? If the latter, could you please not hijack a thread about the new USNWR rankings about your own views about sraying in or out if Virginia. It's irrelevant to anyone else but you. Let's move on