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U.S. News & World Report recently published its annual list of the best schools in the U.S.

Student outcomes (40%) faculty resources (20%) expert opinion (20%) financial resources (10%) student excellence (7%) and alumni giving (3%) are the six categories on which U.S. News bases its ranking.

U.S. News made a small adjustment to its methodology to reflect developments in standardized testing norms. In the past, U.S. News wouldn't give full weight to standardized test scores when calculating a school's overall ranking if less than 75% of incoming students submitted their scores. Due to the widespread implementation of test-optional policies at schools across the country in light of the recent coronavirus pandemic, U.S. News has lowered the threshold to 50%.

Top 5 Best and Most Prestigious National Universities In The US Today

1.Princeton University

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Photo Getty

Due in part to a low student-to-faculty ratio of just four students to each professor and a high student retention rate, Princeton University has maintained its position as the top university in the nation. More importantly, low-income Princeton students who receive Pell Grants also graduate at the same rate, with an estimated 98% of students graduating from Princeton in six years.

Location: Princeton, New Jersey

Average SAT score: 1450-1570

Proportion of freshmen in the top 10% of their high school class: 89%

Acceptance rate: 6%

Princeton University Rankings

#1 in National Universities

#4 in Best Colleges for Veterans

#3 in Best Undergraduate Teaching

#4 in Best Value Schools

With an acceptance rate of 6% and an early acceptance rate of 14.7%, Princeton University admissions is the most selective. An ACT score of 32 to 35 or a SAT score between 1450 and 1570 are required for admission to Princeton University for half of the applicants. Nevertheless, 25% of accepted applicants received scores that were above these ranges, and 25% received scores that were below these ranges. The application deadline is January 1 and the Princeton University application fee is $70.

The GPA of a student is a very significant academic consideration for Princeton University admissions officers. When it is available, a candidate's high school class rank is very important to admissions officers at Princeton University, as are letters of recommendation.

2. Columbia University (tie)

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Photo Getty

Columbia University's 2022 Rankings

#2 in National Universities (tie)

#33 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)

#7 in Best Value School

Location: New York City, New York

Average SAT score: 1470-1570

Proportion of freshmen in the top 10% of their high school class: 96%

Acceptance rate: 6%

2. Harvard University (tie)

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Photo Getty

Private university Harvard University was established in 1636. The campus is 5,076 acres in size, has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,222 (fall 2020), and is located in an urban area. The academic calendar is based on semesters. In the National Universities category of the Best Colleges ranking for 2022, Harvard University is ranked second. Its $55,587 in tuition and fees.

Harvard University, which has 13 schools and institutes and is located outside of Boston in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is home to the top-ranked Business School, Medical School, Graduate Education School, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Law School, and John F. Kennedy School of Government. The Massachusetts Bay Colony's General Court established Harvard in colonial America in 1636 as a private, nonprofit institution. The university's archives state that the school was initially founded to train clergy. John Harvard, a Puritan minister, donated half of his estate and a 400-book library to the fledgling university that bears his name in 1638. Nine graduates participated in Harvard's first commencement ceremony, which was held in 1642.

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Average SAT score: 1460-1580

Proportion of freshmen in the top 10% of their high school class: 94%

Acceptance rate: 5%

Harvard University Rankings

#2 in National Universities (tie)

#13 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)

#3 in Best Value Schools

#23 in Most Innovative Schools (tie)

READ MORE: Top 30 Most Famous Havard Students Of All Time

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (tie)

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Photo Getty

Private institution Massachusetts Institute of Technology was established in 1861. The campus is 168 acres in size, has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,361 (fall 2020), and is located in an urban area. It makes use of a 4-1-4 academic calendar. The National Universities section of the Best Colleges ranking for 2022 places Massachusetts Institute of Technology at number two. The total cost of attendance is $55,878.

With five schools, MIT is a research-focused university outside of Boston that is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Government funding sources like the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense help universities spend more than $700 million annually on research. The School of Engineering and Sloan School of Management, as well as MIT's strong programs in economics, psychology, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, physics, and mathematics, are among the top-ranked graduate schools at the university.

About 70% of all undergraduates live on campus, and freshmen are required to do so. One residence hall by architect Steven Holl is known as "The Sponge." A four-week term in January called the Independent Activities Program offers unique classes, lectures, competitions, and projects. Buzz Aldrin, Kofi Annan, a former U.N. secretary general, and Ben Bernanke, a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank, are a few notable alumni.

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Average SAT score: 1510-1580

Proportion of freshmen in the top 10% of their high school class: 100%

Acceptance rate: 7%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology's 2022 Rankings

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is ranked #2 in National Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.

#2 in National Universities (tie)

#22 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)

#2 in Best Value Schools

5. Yale University

Private Yale University was established in 1701 and is today still in operation. The campus is 373 acres in size, has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,703 (fall 2020), and is located in a city. The academic calendar is based on semesters. National Universities, #5, is where Yale University is ranked in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges. The total cost of attendance is $59,950.

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Photo Getty

Yale University, which is located in New Haven, Connecticut, is renowned for its top-notch drama and music programs. These programs extend beyond the classroom through student organizations like the Yale Dramatic Association and the Yale Whiffenpoofs, a well-known a cappella group. The Ivy League team known as the Yale Bulldogs is well-known for its rivalry with Harvard. During their time at Yale, students are required to reside in one of the 14 residential colleges. The head and dean of each college reside there and eat in the dining halls with the students. On campus, cultural centers give students a place to develop a sense of cultural identity.

Location: New Haven, Connecticut

Average SAT score: 1460-1580

Proportion of freshmen in the top 10% of their high school class: 94%

Acceptance rate: 7%

Yale University's 2022 Rankings

Yale University is ranked #5 in National Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.

#5 in National Universities

#31 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)

#1 in Best Value Schools

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