College Rankings 2019: Where to Find Them and What They Mean

The results are in. The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education have ranked the top colleges in the U.S. for third year in a row. 

The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings 2019 are a measurement of institutions’ student engagement, student outcomes, and learning environments. Here, we'll summarize the key findings and give you the scoop on how to look up schools that you're interested in. 

How schools are ranked

What's great about these rankings are that you can look up different schools using an interactive tool. 

Like other college rankings, this tool allows students and their families to find a college that is the best fit overall — in terms of:

• cost
• education
• resources
• diversity, and
• other factors.

This tool ranks nearly 1,000 colleges across the country based on 15 performance indicators and also uses data collected through a student survey that got 200,000 responses.

While it's not surprising that the top 10 overall schools include some Ivy Leagues, we've compiled two sets of school rankings we think matter most to students and their families. 

Best liberal arts colleges in the United States 2019

According to data from the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education U.S. College Rankings 2019, these are top 10 liberal arts colleges.

As you probably already know, liberal arts schools focus on undergraduate studies, offering an education on a wide range of subjects, including humanities and sciences. These schools tend to have smaller classrooms than big institutions, so they are popular among many students.

1. Amherst College

Located in Amherst, Massachusetts, students at this school study a "completely open curriculum" without any major restrictions. Amherst College is highly selective, and most classes here have fewer than 30 students enrolled. 

2. Williams College

About 2,000 students at Williams College, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. This university is known for its unique approach to education.

Typically, students are taught in very small groups. This models the system of the U.K.'s most elite university, Oxford and Cambridge.

3. Pomona College

Pomona College offers 48 majors, has a small student body of just 1,640 undergrads and is located near one of the most diverse areas in California (Claremont, near Los Angeles). 

4. Wellesley College

This women-only college, located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, offers its 2,400 undergraduate students more than 1,000 courses. Here, students also benefit from the college's partnership with other leading institutions, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology  and Brandeis. 

5. Swarthmore College

One of the first co-ed colleges in the country, Swarthmore College also has what's considered one of the most beautiful college campuses. Only a 25-minute train ride from Philadelphia, the school is located in the rural Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

6. Claremont McKenna College

While this Claremont, California-based college has a focus on economics, finance, international relations, government and public affairs, there are also 11 research centers based there. 

7. Carleton College

Located just 40 miles south of Minnesota's bustling Twin Cities of Minneapolis–Saint Paul in Northfield, Carleton College is known for its generous financial aid packages. The school is committed to meeting 100% of financial need for all admitted students for four years.

8. Middlebury College

As Vermont's first school, Middlebury's history spans two centuries. It has a low acceptance rate but high graduation rate.

9. Haverford College

This tight-knit college in Haverford, Pennsylvania, has a total undergraduate enrollment of just 1,296. Students here are required to abide by an Honor Code that relies on trust. That's perhaps why student, since 1963, have been allowed to schedule their own final exams and why take-home exams are common.

10. Smith College

The second women's college on this list, located in Northampton, Massachusetts, Smith College is home to students from 48 states and 68 countries.

And there's another reason it's known for its global education: About half of Smith juniors study abroad their junior year.

Best public universities in the United States 2019

Public universities tend to be larger and more affordable than private universities.

1. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

This university offers offers more than 125 majors and 80 minors for undergraduates as well as nearly 150 graduate degree programs. Located in the Westwood district of Los Angeles,  it has a long list of famous alumni. 

2. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Founded in 1817 with just seven students and two teachers, the University of Michigan has grown into a school with a tradition of excellence in research, learning, teaching, sports and the arts. Its enrollment is now more than 28,000 students.

3. University of California, Berkeley

Perhaps it's no surprise this school ranks No. 3 on this list. Its alumni list includes 94 Nobel laureates, 20 Academy Award winners, 14 Pulitzer winners, 117 Olympic gold medalists and 13 Fields Medal winners. 

4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

One of the oldest public universities in the country, the university offers 71 bachelor’s programs and more than 180 post-graduate degrees. Students can also choose from more than 550 student organizations.

5. University of California, Davis

While it got its start as an agricultural campus, the University of California, Davis, now teaches medicine, law, education, nursing, veterinary medicine and business management. It's also known for its environmentally sustainable campus.

6. Purdue University

This Indiana university has a focus on the STEM fields. The school is considered the No. 1 destination for international students in STEM disciplines.

7. University of California, San Diego

With a total enrollment of 28,587 students, the weather in sunny San Diego isn't the only thing attracting students. The school is known for research and innovation.

8. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

With nearly 45,000 students, this school is not only ranked high in the sciences, ranking No. 1 among all universities in National Science Foundation award funding for six years, it's also one of the most "disability friendly" U.S. campuses. 

9. University of Virginia

This school doesn't just rank high on this list. It's also No. 3 for Best Public National University according to U.S. News & World Report, No. 2 for Best Public College Value on the 2017 Kiplinger's Personal Finance list, No. 1 for the best hospital in Virginia according to 2017 ranking in U.S. News & World Report, and among the top 25 U.S. campuses for students studying abroad.

10. United States Military Academy

Better known as West Point, this co-ed federal service academy which focuses on leadership development in the academic and military spheres and sticking to an honor code.

If you're still deciding on which school to attend, check out our guides for getting the best value for your money:

• Are Community Colleges a Good Value?
• Private College vs. Public: Scenarios When It’s Cheaper to Go Private
• What is the Cheapest Way to Get a Bachelor's Degree?