The U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best Colleges rankings evaluated about 1,500 colleges and universities using up to 19 measures of academic quality. The 2024 edition placed more weight on social mobility and student outcomes than earlier versions, a change U.S. News described as the most significant in the rankings’ history.
More than half of each school’s score now comes from outcome measures: enrolling and graduating students from all backgrounds, keeping debt manageable, and post-graduate success. Measures such as class size, alumni giving, and the share of faculty with terminal degrees were removed.
Rankings can help you compare schools, but they are only one input. Check whether a program is accredited, what graduates actually earn, and how much debt students typically carry. For master’s programs specifically, talk to recent graduates about how the degree affected their careers. See how accreditation relates to rankings, whether online master’s degrees are credible, and our financial aid tips.

