As the fall semester gets underway, the release of the 2026 U.S. News Best College Rankings offers a snapshot of where nearly 1,700 schools stand in an era of shifting federal support. Point phone camera hereTop national universities hold their groundDespite ongoing funding disputes with the federal government, Princeton University and Harvard University remain firmly in the top three national universities. Other top colleges and specialized categoriesBeyond the national universities, the rankings highlight how schools across the country measure up in specialized or specific categories. Williams College leads the list of Best National Liberal Arts Colleges, followed by Amherst College and the United States Naval Academy. The University of California, Riverside, placed second and California State University, Long Beach, ranked third.