U.S. News Best Colleges 2026 Include 11 Shorelight Universities in Top 100

Every fall, there are expected milestones at universities and colleges across the United States: New students arrive on campus. American football season returns. And U.S. News & World Report releases its much-anticipated Best Colleges rankings.

As international higher education experts, we know that many students use these rankings as a fast way to understand if a school offers quality academics, good connections, and strong professional futures.

While rankings can be a helpful tool, remember that they should just be one step of a much larger university research process. For example, you can use rankings to narrow down a long list of possible schools where you may want to apply. Use them as an early information point for a broader analysis of which schools may be your best fit, offer degree programs that align with your goals, and have the campus features and amenities that match your ideal study abroad experience.

With these tips in mind, check out the newest Best Colleges rankings for 2026 from U.S. News & World Report. This year, 11 of Shorelight’s international-friendly universities are included among the top 100 best in America. Review the lists, then reach out to our expert counselors to further discuss where to apply and get the process started.

Shorelight Universities in the Top 100 Best Colleges

Check out the latest rankings for all Shorelight universities >

Shorelight Universities with Top-Ranked Programs for 2026

Best Undergraduate Business Programs

• 3 - University of California, Berkeley

• 41 - tie - University of South Carolina

• 41 - tie - University of Utah

• 51 - tie - Auburn University

• 64 - tie - University of Kansas

• 77 - tie - American University

• 77 - tie - Rutgers University New Brunswick

• 77 - tie - University of Illinois Chicago

• 88 - tie - Gonzaga University

• 88 - tie - Louisiana State University

• 88 - tie - University at Buffalo

Learn more about studying business in the US >

Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs

• 2 - tie - University of California, Berkeley

• 54 - tie - Rutgers University New Brunswick

• 54 - tie - Stony Brook University

• 63 - tie - University of Illinois Chicago

• 63 - tie - University of Utah

• 78 - tie - Auburn University

• 78 - tie - University at Buffalo

• 78 - tie - University of Central Florida

Learn more about studying computer science in the US >

Best Undergraduate Economics Programs

• 2 - tie - University of California, Berkeley

• 62 - tie - Rutgers University New Brunswick

• 87 - tie - Stony Brook University

• 99 - tie - University of Illinois Chicago

• 99 - tie - University of Kansas

Learn more about studying economics in the US >

Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs

*where doctorate is the highest degree

• 3 - tie - University of California, Berkeley

• 50 - tie - Rutgers University New Brunswick

• 57 - tie - Auburn University

• 57 - tie - University at Buffalo

• 64 - tie - Stony Brook University

• 64 - tie - University of Utah

• 72 - tie - Missouri S&T

• 72 - tie - University of Illinois Chicago

• 77 - tie - University of Central Florida

• 86 - tie - University of Kansas

• 96 - tie - Louisiana State University

Learn more about studying engineering in the US >

Best Undergraduate Liberal Arts Colleges

• 84 - tie - Austin College

• 84 - tie - Southwestern University

• 92 - tie - Whittier College

• 96 - tie - Lycoming College

Learn more about studying liberal arts in the US >

Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs

• 6 - tie - University of Illinois Chicago

• 22 - tie - University of South Carolina

• 28 - tie - UMass Boston

• 40 - tie - Auburn University

• 40 - tie - MGH Institute of Health Professions

• 40 - tie - University of Kansas

• 40 - tie - University of Utah

• 59 - tie - Gonzaga University

• 59 - tie - Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

• 59 - tie - Rutgers University Camden

• 59 - tie - Rutgers University New Brunswick

• 59 - tie - University at Buffalo

• 74 - tie - Stony Brook University

• 74 - tie - University of Central Florida

Learn more about studying health care, nursing, and pre-med in the US >

Best Undergraduate First-Year Experiences

• 3 - University of South Carolina

• 33 - Belmont University

• 39 - tie - Auburn University

• 52 - tie - American University

Learn more about Shorelight’s on-campus services >

Best Public Schools

• 1 - University of California, Berkeley

• 16 - Rutgers University New Brunswick (tie)

• 26 - Stony Brook University (tie)

• 26 - University at Buffalo (tie)

• 42 - University of Illinois Chicago

• 46 - Florida International University (tie)

• 46 - Rutgers University Camden (tie)

• 49 - Auburn University (tie)

• 57 - University of Central Florida (tie)

• 63 - University of South Carolina (tie)

• 74 - University of Kansas (tie)

• 79 - University of Utah (tie)

• 92 - Louisiana State University (tie)

Best Value Schools

• 32 - Robert Morris University

• 41 - University of Dayton

• 48 - University of the Pacific

• 65 - Seattle University

• 67 - Florida International University

• 86 - Belmont University

Learn more about college ROI >

Most Innovative Schools

• 15 - tie - University of Central Florida

• 22 - University of California, Berkeley

• 31 - tie - Florida International University

• 48 - tie - Auburn University

• 48 - tie - Gonzaga University

• 56 - tie - Belmont University

Learn more about US universities with amazing career preparation >

Ways to Use US University Rankings When Making the College Decision

If you’re still not sure where to apply for your bachelor degree, remember that rankings are a good first look into seeing which universities have prestigious academics, faculty, and career development services (and provide streamlined pathways to getting hired after graduation).

When you’re reviewing your options about where to apply, rankings can be a good starting point for identifying which schools you want to learn more about, in the service of eventually creating a shorter list.

As you read the newest university rankings, remember that U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, the Princeton Review, Shanghai Rankings, and other private companies each have their own specific criteria to evaluate and measure school quality, and they are not one and the same. Each will have its own standards and likely define “best” in different ways. It’s essential to give your own best criteria the most weight (and remember that it may be very different from what the ranking organizations measure).

Always put what you value first, because your preferences will impact whether your study abroad experience is life-changing, mediocre, or disappointing. For example, if you want to live and study at a small college in a rural town, then choosing to go to a top-ranked large school in a major city may not be best for you.

Check out the Shorelight guide to university rankings and accreditations to effectively use college rankings for your own research. Get in touch with our enrollment counselors – they’re always available to answer your questions about which schools match well with your academic interests, potential degree options, and future professional plans.

It’s exciting to think about going to a top-ranked university on the 2026 Best Colleges list – and of course it would be a major point of pride to get accepted! However, remember that rankings are just one factor to consider as you work through your college search. (Recall, too, that many schools that are not on the lists also provide amazing experiences for international students!) There are so many good choices available for your study abroad journey, and you’ll likely have an unforgettable experience, no matter where you choose to attend.

Shorelight can help you identify your best-fit US school >