When pursuing a college degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Colleges for a Bachelor's ranking - to help you make that decision.
We analyzed 1,470 colleges and universities across the United States to determine which ones have the best bachelor's degree programs. Our ranking for the best schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. The following gives more info on what goes into our ranking factors and why we consider those factors.
Higher Than Average Earnings
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a bachelor's degree from the school. A bachelor's degree holder from a school in the United States makes an average starting salary of $39,682, but the students who attended schools in the top 25 of our list make an average of $56,589.
Starting Salary ( 42701 to 66826 )
Taking Out Student Loans
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that students take on while they are working on their bachelor's degree.
When attending a school in the United States, bachelor's degree students accumulate an average of $26,217 in student debt before graduation.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty bachelor's recipients will have paying back their loans.
More Ranking Factors That Are Important
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking.
On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
You may also want to narrow this list by location to find the best bachelor's degree schools nearest you. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in the United States
Massachusetts Institute of Technology tops this year’s ranking as the best school for bachelor’s degrees in the United States for overall quality. MIT is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,249 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from MIT is $79,258 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $11,534 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $627 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
A rank of #2 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in the United States list means University of Chicago is a great place for students working on their degree. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,163 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UChicago go into careers with an average salary of $46,910 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $16,306. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $708.
A rank of #3 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in the United States list means University of Pennsylvania is a great place for students working on their degree. UPenn is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 3,499 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UPenn make an average of $61,681 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $16,455 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $547 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harvard University. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 1,618 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $63,686 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $17,458 after getting their degree.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Stanford University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the United States. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 1,511 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Stanford is $60,327 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $9,768 in student loans.
Yale University landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 1,431 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Yale go into careers with an average salary of $56,209 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $15,712 after getting their degree.
Duke University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Durham, North Carolina. It awarded 2,319 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $55,249 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $11,804 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $727.
Northwestern University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Located in Evanston, Illinois, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,722 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Northwestern make an average of $52,286 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $16,402 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $576 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,953 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $74,627 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $23,648.
Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,654 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Columbia is $54,764 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $20,581. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $567.
University of Southern California came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking. USC is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 5,745 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from USC make an average of $48,471 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $15,231. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $489.
With a ranking of #12, Vanderbilt University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,365 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,210 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $15,553. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $644.
Dartmouth College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Dartmouth is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Hanover, New Hampshire. It awarded 1,384 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Dartmouth make an average of $52,174 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $15,241 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $626 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #14, Brown University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. Brown is located in Providence, Rhode Island and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,987 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Brown is $49,153 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $15,013 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $507 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Georgetown University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Washington, District of Columbia, and it awarded 2,120 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown is $58,686 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $16,394 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $769 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #16, Claremont McKenna College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. Located in Claremont, California, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 431 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Claremont McKenna make an average of $95,566 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $15,000 in student loans.
Princeton University landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Princeton, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,175 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Princeton is $56,659 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $10,750 after getting their degree.
Cornell University landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Cornell University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Ithaca, New York that handed out 4,287 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Cornell go into careers with an average salary of $54,196 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $15,079. This translates to an average monthly payment of $570 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
University of Notre Dame came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Notre Dame, Indiana. It awarded 2,848 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame make an average of $52,524 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $19,729 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $578.
With a ranking of #20, Washington University in St Louis did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. WUSTL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,441 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $55,707 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $17,265 after getting their degree.
University of California - Berkeley ranked #21 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. UC Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10,523 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley is $48,418 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $14,272 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $323 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #22, Rice University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. Located in Houston, Texas, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,364 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Rice is $62,533 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $11,733 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #23, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States list. UCLA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10,102 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UCLA is $41,227 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $16,264 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $278 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
New York University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking. Located in New York, New York, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 6,752 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from NYU go into careers with an average salary of $43,918 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $21,345 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $754 for a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States ranking, coming in at #25. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 9,144 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from U-M make an average of $44,289 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $18,344. Average monthly loan payments are around $419 for a 10-year repayment plan.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
college factual
