U.S. News Best Colleges 2027 Include 15 Shorelight Universities in Top 100

Every fall, there are expected milestones at universities and colleges across the United States: New students arrive on campus. American football season returns. And U.S. News & World Report releases its much-anticipated Best Colleges rankings.

As international higher education experts, we know that many students use these rankings as a fast way to understand if a school offers quality academics, good connections, and strong professional futures.

While rankings can be a helpful tool, remember that they should just be one step of a much larger university research process. For example, you can use rankings to narrow down a long list of possible schools where you may want to apply. Use them as an early information point for a broader analysis of which schools may be your best fit, offer degree programs that align with your goals, and have the campus features and amenities that match your ideal study abroad experience.

With these tips in mind, check out the newest Best Colleges rankings for 2027 from U.S. News & World Report. This year, 15 of Shorelight’s international-friendly universities are included among the top 100 best in America. Review the lists, then reach out to our expert counselors to further discuss where to apply and get the process started.

Shorelight Universities in the Top 100 Best Colleges

Check out the latest rankings for all Shorelight universities >

Best Undergraduate Business Programs

• 3 - University of California, Berkeley

• 12 - tie - University of Virginia

• 39 - tie - Rutgers University New Brunswick

• 39 - tie - Tulane University

• 50 - tie - University of Utah

• 58 - tie - Auburn University

• 58 - tie - Villanova University

• 72 - tie - American University

• 72 - tie - Pepperdine University

• 72 - tie - University of Kansas

• 101 - tie - Gonzaga University

• 101 - tie - University at Buffalo

• 101 - tie - University of Illinois Chicago

• 116 - tie - Louisiana State University

• 116 - tie - Stony Brook University

• 129 - Florida International University

Learn more about studying business in the US >

Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs

• 4 - University of California, Berkeley

• 17 - tie - Johns Hopkins University

• 28 - tie - University of Virginia

• 52 - tie - Stony Brook University

• 52 - tie - University of Utah

• 57 - tie - Rutgers University New Brunswick

• 75 - tie - University at Buffalo

• 75 - tie - University of Central Florida

• 75 - tie - University of Illinois Chicago

• 88 - tie - Auburn University

Learn more about studying computer science in the US >

Best Undergraduate Economics Programs

• 5 - tie - University of California, Berkeley

• 21 - tie - Johns Hopkins University

• 26 - tie - University of Virginia

• 78 - tie - Rutgers University New Brunswick

• 88 - tie - Stony Brook University

• 88 - tie - University of Illinois Chicago

• 97 - tie - Tulane University

Learn more about studying economics in the US >

Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs

*where doctorate is the highest degree

• 2 - tie - University of California, Berkeley

• 12 - tie - Johns Hopkins University

• 22 - tie - Gonzaga University

• 36 - tie - University of Virginia

• 46 - tie - Rutgers University New Brunswick

• 52 - tie - Auburn University

• 57 - tie - University at Buffalo

• 67 - tie - Missouri University of Science and Technology

• 72 - tie - Stony Brook University

• 72 - tie - University of Illinois Chicago

• 72 - tie - University of Utah

• 78 - tie - University of Central Florida

• 82 - tie - University of Massachusetts Boston

• 87 - tie - University of Kansas

• 87 - tie - Villanova University

Learn more about studying engineering in the US >

Best Undergraduate Liberal Arts Colleges

• 100 - tie - Whittier College

Learn more about studying liberal arts in the US >

Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs

• 9 - tie - University of Illinois Chicago

• 12 - tie - University of Virginia

• 19 - tie - University of Kansas

• 27 - tie - Auburn University

• 27 - tie - Rutgers University New Brunswick

• 27 - tie - Villanova University

• 36 - tie - Rutgers University Camden

• 36 - tie - University of Massachusetts Boston

• 56 - tie - Gonzaga University

• 56 - tie - MGH Institute of Health Professions

• 56 - tie - University at Buffalo

• 56 - tie - University of Central Florida

• 75 - tie - Stony Brook University

• 75 - tie - University of Utah

• 94 - tie - Seattle University

Learn more about studying health care, nursing, and pre-med in the US >

Best Undergraduate First-Year Experiences

• 29 - tie - Belmont University

• 36 - tie - American University

• 41 - tie - Auburn University

• 46 - tie - University of Virginia

Learn more about Shorelight’s on-campus services >

Best Value Schools

• 27 - University of Virginia

• 42 - University of Dayton

• 43 - University of the Pacific

• 59 - tie - Belmont University

• 63 - Villanova University

• 68 - Pepperdine University

• 69 - Tulane University

• 88 - Seattle University

• 98 - Florida International University

Learn more about college ROI >

Most Innovative Schools

• 11 - tie - Johns Hopkins University

• 12 - tie - University of Central Florida

• 22 - tie - University of Texas at San Antonio

• 30 - tie - University of California, Berkeley

• 42 - tie - Auburn University

• 42 - tie - Florida International University

• 42 - tie - University of Utah

• 65 - tie - American University

Learn more about US universities with amazing career preparation >

Best Public Schools

• 1 - tie - University of California, Berkeley

• 4 - University of Virginia

• 14 - tie - Rutgers University New Brunswick

• 24 - tie - Stony Brook University

• 40 - tie - University at Buffalo

• 43 - tie - Rutgers University Camden

• 43 - tie - University of Illinois Chicago

• 46 - tie - Auburn University

• 46 - tie - Florida International University

• 58 - tie - University of Central Florida

• 74 - tie - University of Kansas

• 91 - tie - University of Utah

• 99 - tie - Missouri University of Science and Technology

• 106 - tie - Louisiana State University

• 106 - tie - University of Massachusetts Boston

Ways to Use US University Rankings When Making the College Decision

If you’re still not sure where to apply for your bachelor degree, remember that rankings are a good first look into seeing which universities have prestigious academics, faculty, and career development services (and provide streamlined pathways to getting hired after graduation).

When you’re reviewing your options about where to apply, rankings can be a good starting point for identifying which schools you want to learn more about, in the service of eventually creating a shorter list.

As you read the newest university rankings, remember that U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, the Princeton Review, Shanghai Rankings, and other private companies each have their own specific criteria to evaluate and measure school quality, and they are not one and the same. Each will have its own standards and likely define “best” in different ways. It’s essential to give your own best criteria the most weight (and remember that it may be very different from what the ranking organizations measure).

Always put what you value first, because your preferences will impact whether your study abroad experience is life-changing, mediocre, or disappointing. For example, if you want to live and study at a small college in a rural town, then choosing to go to a top-ranked large school in a major city may not be best for you.

Check out the Shorelight guide to university rankings and accreditations to effectively use college rankings for your own research. Get in touch with our enrollment counselors – they’re always available to answer your questions about which schools match well with your academic interests, potential degree options, and future professional plans.

It’s exciting to think about going to a top-ranked university on the 2027 Best Colleges list – and of course it would be a major point of pride to get accepted! However, remember that rankings are just one factor to consider as you work through your college search. (Recall, too, that many schools that are not on the lists also provide amazing experiences for international students!) There are so many good choices available for your study abroad journey, and you’ll likely have an unforgettable experience, no matter where you choose to attend.

Shorelight can help you identify your best-fit US school >