Top Colleges in the DC Region: 2025 U.S. News Rankings

Princeton University has once again secured its position as the top college in the U.S., according to the U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges Ranking. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) follows at No. 2, with Harvard University, Stanford University, and Yale rounding out the top five.

According to LaMont Jones who is managing editor for education at U.S. News, the top 10 rankings saw little movement this year. “Our goal is to continue providing students and families with the information they need to make informed decisions, considering academic reputation, personal preferences, and financial factors,” Jones said.

In the D.C. area, Johns Hopkins University remains the highest-ranked school, tied at No. 6 nationally. American University made significant strides, moving up to No. 91 from No. 105, thanks to improvements in its student-faculty ratio and faculty research output.

Howard University re-entered the top 100, tying for No. 86. This improvement is largely due to an increased graduation rate, particularly among low-income students, Jones explained. University of Virginia and Georgetown University are tied at No. 24, while George Washington University is ranked No. 63. Catholic University moved up seven spots to No. 171, and University of Maryland ranks No. 44.

The U.S. News ranking takes into account various factors including social mobility, graduate indebtedness, recruitment and retention of low-income students, and student-faculty ratios. Peer assessments, faculty resources, and standardized test scores of admitted students also play a key role in determining the rankings.

One standout this year is D’Youville University, which saw the largest improvement, jumping 61 spots in the rankings.