The Princeton Review has released its “Best Colleges for 2027” rankings, a set of 50 category-based lists built entirely from student feedback—an approach designed to help applicants and families focus less on prestige and more on campus fit.

The rankings are now searchable for free on PrincetonReview.com and are also published in a dedicated chapter of The Best 392 Colleges: 2027 Edition (Penguin Random House, $26.99), which went on sale August 18.

A rankings system built on student experience

Unlike lists that attempt to name a single “best” college overall, The Princeton Review’s project breaks the undergraduate experience into categories that mirror real questions students and parents ask: How good are the professors? Is financial aid strong? What’s campus food like? Do students feel supported?

This year’s rankings are based on surveys of 172,000 students at the 392 colleges featured in the book—about 439 students per school on average. Students completed a 98-question survey rating academics, administrative services, financial aid, campus amenities, and social dynamics, including topics like political leanings, race/class interaction, and LGBTQ acceptance.

Each ranking list names the top 25 schools in a specific category, using data drawn from one or more survey questions. The Princeton Review also posts information online about how each list is calculated.

Rob Franek, Editor-in-Chief at The Princeton Review and lead author of the guide, emphasized that the schools profiled vary widely by “type, size, locale, and campus culture,” but each offers an academically strong undergraduate education. He also reiterated a key point behind the project: there is no single “best” college—only the best fit for a given student.

Notable #1 schools across the 2027 lists

The 2027 rankings highlight how different “best” can look depending on what matters most to a student.

For academics and campus operations, several schools earned top spots:

• Professors Get High Marks: Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (Massachusetts)
• Best Classroom Experience: Reed College (Oregon)
• Best-Run Colleges: Claremont McKenna College (California)
• Great Financial Aid: Washington and Lee University (Virginia)
• Best Career Services: Bentley University (Massachusetts)
• Best Health Services: The University of Chicago (Illinois)
• Best Student Support and Counseling Services: Macalester College (Minnesota)

Campus life categories also drew attention:

• Best Campus Food: University of Massachusetts—Amherst
• Best College Dorms: Bowdoin College (Maine)
• Most Beautiful Campus: University of San Diego (California)

The lists also capture student-reported culture and community dynamics:

• Most Politically Conservative Students: Texas Christian University
• Most Politically Liberal Students: Bennington College (Vermont)
• Most Politically Moderate Students: Manhattan University (New York)
• Most Religious Students: Brigham Young University (Utah)
• LGBTQ-Friendly: University of Vermont
• Lots of Race/Class Interaction: Rice University (Texas)
• Friendliest Students: William & Mary (Virginia)
• Happiest Students: Vanderbilt University (Tennessee)

One new addition in the 2027 edition is “Great Outdoors: Students Get Outside,” with The University of the South (Tennessee) ranked #1.

“Statistical Stand-Out Schools” adds a data lens

In addition to student rankings, The Best 392 Colleges includes a feature called “Statistical Stand-Out Schools for 2027,” based on surveys of college administrators. A few of the standout distinctions include:

• Lowest Tuition & Fees (In-State) / Public College: University of Central Florida ($5,954)
• Highest Average Need-Based Scholarships: Princeton University ($80,837)
• Lowest Student/Faculty Ratio: Caltech (3:1) and MIT (3:1)
• Lowest Average Undergraduate Debt: CUNY: City College ($7,849)
• Most Applications / Public College: UCLA (145,086)
• Most Applications / Private College: NYU (114,125)

For families weighing cost, support, and outcomes, these stats can provide a useful counterpoint to reputation-driven decision-making.

How to use the rankings

The Princeton Review’s 2027 lists are best used as a starting point for research: identify what you value most—teaching quality, career preparation, affordability, student support, or campus culture—then compare schools through that lens.

The full rankings hub is available at: www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/best-colleges

Advertisement

Building Brighter Futures: Helping Young People Succeed in a Changing Economy

(Feature Impact) During a time when the economy is changing rapidly and shifting the landscape of work into uncertain territory, academic success is no longer enough to put young people on a stable path to the future. Once, a high school diploma was enough to land a well-paying job. Then a college degree became the gold standard. Now the roadmap has changed again, which means that smart students need to start taking steps in new directions.

According to Junior Achievement, three key concepts to add to modern teenagers’ knowledge arsenal include financial literacy, economic mobility and entrepreneurship.

Why Financial Literacy Matters

When young people are equipped with the knowledge they need to earn, manage, save and invest money, it supports their journey through every life milestone ahead, from education and homeownership to retirement and more. Financial literacy gives people the confidence to make smart decisions while dodging costly mistakes like getting into high-interest debt.

A recent Junior Achievement survey indicated that although 42% of Americans struggle with money management, 23% feel their income could be sufficient if they understood how to manage it more effectively. Giving students a strong foundation in financial literacy can set them up well to not only earn money but use it wisely to meet their future needs and accomplish their goals.

The Power of Economic Mobility

Economic mobility refers to the idea that each generation can expect to achieve better opportunities and more financial stability than the one before. Today’s youth are growing increasingly skeptical of this possibility, and for good reason: they see that even many college graduates are underemployed and struggling to find their feet.

There’s no denying the game has changed. However, upward economic mobility is still within reach for students who are willing to learn the new rules, especially if they have parents and educators supporting their journeys. With or without a college degree, students who engage with their communities, believe in their own potential and focus on building transferable personal and entrepreneurial skills can find themselves well-positioned to navigate a changing world.

How to Grow Entrepreneurial Skills

Topics like financial literacy and business acumen can be taught in a variety of ways both in and out of the classroom. Other key entrepreneurial skills – like leadership, confidence, work ethic, creativity and critical thinking – are more like muscles that get stronger when they’re trained. While academics are still important, hands-on opportunities and experiences are invaluable parts of the equation to prepare students for economic success.

Take programs like Future Bound by Junior Achievement, for example, which is an immersive annual event designed to empower high school students with essential skills and opportunities to innovate. Participants put their intelligence, creativity and ambition to the test during four team competitions where they can showcase and hone real-world business and economic skills. Winners receive national honors, awards, scholarships and prizes from event sponsors, including Pacific Life Foundation and Staples, among others. Plus, all attendees get the chance to network with industry leaders from around the country, participate in workshops and connect with other future-focused teens.

Whether you’re a student, parent, educator or volunteer, explore more resources to help young people succeed at JA.org.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Advertisement

SOURCE:

Junior Achievement

📰 Enjoying STM Daily News? Join the conversation!

💬 Leave a comment, share your thoughts, and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest stories, updates, and “News You Can Use This Moment!” delivered to your inbox.

Stay connected with STM Daily News!

(Tiffany Miller) For decades, the four-year degree carried an unquestioned authority. It was expensive, but it was the answer. New research from U.S. Career Institute, an online career training provider, finds that authority is no longer going unquestioned.

When asked which education path offers better long-term job security, 26% of adults say certifications or skills-based programs are the safer choice, compared with just 18% who say the same about a four-year degree. The traditional degree path has not gone away, but the certainty around it has started to crack.

The doubt extends to the cost. College was supposed to be expensive and worth it. The expensive part has not changed. The worth-it part is now a more open question. While 38% say paying for college feels like a necessary investment despite the expense, 29% say they question whether it is worthwhile. Asked at what level of student debt they would begin to reconsider, 32% say the threshold is under $10,000.

Artificial intelligence is also adding pressure from a different direction. One in 4 survey respondents said office-based and white-collar workers are the type most likely to be replaced by AI in the next five years. For many, that concern is already part of how they are thinking about major decisions. Fifty-four percent of adults have reconsidered their education or career path due to concerns about job security or automation.

Some have already acted on it. Twenty-five percent say they have already completed a certificate or skills-based program, and another 29% say they have seriously considered pursuing one.

In this survey, stability has replaced prestige as the thing people say they are actually looking for. It is the most commonly cited factor influencing career decisions today, named by 53% of respondents, with prestige and status ranking lower.

It is also shaping the advice people give the next generation. Asked what they would recommend to a young person starting out today, 30% say a certification or skills-based program, while 24% say a four-year degree.

For many, the reconsideration is personal. Twenty-seven percent say they would choose a different path entirely if making their education or career decision today, and 33% say they would look for something faster or more affordable. Knowing what they know now, just 17% say they would make the same choice again. The question of whether college was the right call is one that more U.S. adults are now willing to ask out loud.

Methodology
U.S. Career Institute commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 1,000 adults ages 18 to 54 throughout the United States. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Fieldwork was conducted between April 22 and April 27, 2026. Atomik Research, part of 4media group, is a creative market research agency.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:

U.S. Career Institute

📰 Thanks for reading STM Daily News – your source for News You Can Use This Moment!

We love hearing from our readers. Share your thoughts in the comments section and join the conversation with our growing community. Your feedback helps us create the stories and features that matter most to you.

Don’t miss the latest news, inspiring stories, lifestyle tips, food and drink features, and exclusive updates. Subscribe to the STM Daily News newsletter and get our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Advertisement

💬 Leave a comment.
📧 Subscribe to our newsletter.
📢 Share your favorite stories with friends and family.

Stay informed, stay connected, and be part of the STM Daily News community at STMDailyNews.com.