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With students deep in college applications and the rush to beat early deadlines approaching, it can be hard to feel confident in what colleges and universities to apply to.
A number of factors can play a role in one's decision, with location, cost, size and education quality being just a few.
In order to help the decision-making process, WalletHub created a 2026 ranking to determine the best colleges and universities - and some New Jersey schools may have placed higher than you think.
Top colleges and universities nationwide
The following schools have been ranked as the top five colleges and universities in the nation. All five schools scored in the 99th percentile overall.
Princeton ranked as best place for higher education in the nation
Princeton University, located in Mercer County, was deemed the best place for higher education in the nation for 2026.
WalletHub pointed out a number of factors that led to this ranking, drawing specific attention to the student-to-faculty ratio of 5:1 and the 97% graduation rate.
The university is considerably selective, with a 4% acceptance rate. 93% of incoming students were in the top 10% of their graduating class.
Princeton also gets praise for its diversity and athletics, as well as for the post-degree job salary for alums.
However, the school did not earn flying colors across the board. Princeton saw a dip in rating for its cost and level of on-campus crime.
Top colleges and universities in New Jersey
Not only did New Jersey snag the highest spot with Princeton University, the state also had a number of other schools that made the overall list. The following colleges have been ranked as the top 10 within New Jersey specifically.
How were these rankings determined?
The above rankings were made by WalletHub, a personal finance company that focuses on helping others live financially healthy lives.
To determine the ranking, WalletHub compared 791 colleges and universities across seven dimensions - student selectivity, cost and financing, faculty resources, campus safety, campus experience, educational outcomes and career outcomes.
Those seven categories were evaluated using a weighted point system to earn a score of up to 100 points. Princeton, which scored the highest, had a total of 79.66 points.
Risha Inaganti writes about trending topics across South Jersey for the Courier-Post. If you have a story she should tell, email her at [email protected]. Subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need.