Top 10 Colleges In The US

Thursday, January 12, 2012 posted by Janice Mueller

Searching for the Top 10 Colleges In The US?

When you look at a list of the top 10 colleges in the US, you will probably assume that they will always be the same, right? It makes sense…if they are the best then every ranking agency should have them listed in those slots, and they are probably Ivy League universities, as well. What you probably don’t expect is that different sources, even those that are considered the best ranking lists, have different views on what the best schools are. Mainly because they have different criteria to go by.

Ashford University

Top Liberal Arts Colleges

Ashford University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

If you’ve never been good at managing your time, let Ashford University manage it for your with its distance education program. Balance your job with online coursework as you earn your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Ashford University provides high-quality degree programs that will not cause a strain on your budget, will not take much of your work time and that are accessible via the internet.

Ashford University offers Affordable, Accelerated and Convenient online courses:

  • BA/Accounting
  • BA/Adult Development
  • BA/Applied Behavioral Science
  • BA/Applied Linguistics
  • BA/Business Information Systems
  • BA/Business Leadership
  • BA/Child Development
  • BA/Cognitive Studies
  • BA/Communication Studies
  • BA/Complementary and Alternative Health
  • BA/Consumer and Family Financial Services
  • BA/Cultural Anthropology
  • BA/Early Childhood Education
  • BA/Early Childhood Education – Infant and Toddler Care
  • BA/Early Childhood Education Administration
  • BA/Early Childhood Education Administration – Infant and Toddler Care
  • BA/Education and Public Policy
  • BA/Education Studies
  • BA/eMarketing
  • BA/English
  • BA/English Language Learner Studies
  • BA/Entrepreneurship
  • BA/Environmental Studies
  • BA/History
  • BA/Homeland Security and Emergency Management
  • BA/Human Resource Management
  • BA/Instructional Design
  • BA/International Business
  • BA/Journalism and Mass Communication
  • BA/Law Enforcement Administration
  • BA/Liberal Arts
  • BA/Library Science and Media
  • BA/Military Studies
  • BA/Political Science and Government
  • BA/Psychology
  • BA/Public Administration
  • BA/Public Relations and Marketing
  • BA/Public Relations and Marketing – Information Systems
  • BA/Public Relations and Marketing – International Management
  • BA/Public Relations and Marketing – Project Management
  • BA/Real Estate Studies
  • BA/Social and Criminal Justice
  • BA/Social and Criminal Justice – Corrections Management
  • BA/Social and Criminal Justice – Forensics
  • BA/Social and Criminal Justice – Homeland Security
  • BA/Social and Criminal Justice – Political Science and Government
  • BA/Social and Criminal Justice – Security Management
  • BA/Social Science – Applied Behavioral Science
  • BA/Social Science – Child and Family Development
  • BA/Social Science – Child Studies
  • BA/Social Science – Communications
  • BA/Social Science – Criminal Justice
  • BA/Social Science – Early Childhood Education
  • BA/Social Science – English/Language Arts
  • BA/Social Science – Environmental Science
  • BA/Social Science – History
  • BA/Social Science – Human Resources Management
  • BA/Social Science – Human Services
  • BA/Social Science – Human Services Administration
  • BA/Social Science – No Concentration
  • BA/Social Science – Political Science
  • BA/Social Science – Psychology
  • BA/Social Science – Social Services
  • BA/Social Science – Sociology
  • BA/Sociology

Ashford University does not currently accept student in Arkansas, Kentucky, Minnesota or Mississippi.

Read more or get a program guide from Ashford University.

Top 10 Colleges In The US

What Are The Ranking Agencies?

There are many you can find, but the three sources most consider official are US News, The Princeton Review and Forbes. Right off the bat when you look at their updates lists, you will see that they have different names in their top 10 colleges in the US slots. Not all are considered Ivy League universities, either.

You will also find entirely different lists if you search out the top online programs from US based schools.

What Do They Rank On?

Since they come out differently, you might be wondering what criteria is used to rank the top 10 colleges in the US. Funny enough, they tend to use the same elements to decide. Most are based on class size, tuition rate, reviews on education, the professions and success of the alum, tuition and other, similar items.

Then Why Are They Different?

It all comes down to how that data is interpreted. Which is why looking at rankings can be helpful, but the real test of a school is how it ranks to the individual student. If any university or program doesn’t work for you then it doesn’t matter what rank it holds.

Conclusion

There are many things that make up the best schools, but in the end all that matters is what yo need.