MIT Overtakes Princeton as Top U.S. News College; Illinois and Indiana Universities Rank in Top 100

Key points

• MIT is now ranked No. 1, ending Princeton's 15-year run at the top of the U.S. News rankings.
• Northwestern University and the University of Chicago are tied for No. 9, while the University of Notre Dame is ranked No. 20.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is ranked No. 34, and University of Illinois Chicago is ranked No. 95.
• Purdue University is ranked No. 55, and Indiana University is ranked No. 73.
• U.S. News replaced its graduate indebtedness factor with an 'earnings by major' metric to address concerns about higher education affordability and return on investment.

Background

In August 2026, U.S. News released its Best High Schools rankings, highlighting Chicago-area schools like Northside College Prep. On September 22, 2026, our archive noted that Northwestern and the University of Chicago remained in the top ten of the college rankings, but both slid slightly after the introduction of the new 'Earnings by Major' metric, which shifted about 20% of schools.

How outlets are covering it

The New York Times emphasizes the historic shift of MIT to No. 1, ending Princeton's 15-year reign, and questions the significance of the rankings due to their arbitrary formulas. CBS News focuses on the regional performance of Illinois and Indiana universities, highlighting specific program rankings and costs. Virginia Tech News highlights its own rise to No. 19 among public universities and its strong engineering rankings. PhillyVoice notes the top 100 placements of local universities like Penn, Villanova, and Drexel, and details the new 'earnings by major' metric.

Why it matters

The rankings influence student decisions and institutional reputations. The shift to an 'earnings by major' metric reflects growing public concern about the cost and return on investment of college degrees, potentially impacting how students and families evaluate higher education options.

What to watch

Institutions may adjust their strategies to improve rankings under the new methodology, and students may use the 'earnings by major' data to make more informed decisions about their college choices and majors.