Princeton University has been named the top higher education institution in the United States, according to the U.S. News & World Report.
For the eighth straight year, Princeton has retained the No.1 spot among other national universities.
The ranking, released on Monday, put more focus on the social mobility and termed Princeton as the best value school providing undergraduate teaching. It was given an overall score of 100.
“Princeton University is a major research university with a profound and distinctive commitment to undergraduate education,” the U.S. News ranking report said.
“Through its groundbreaking financial aid program, Princeton ensures that all qualified students who are accepted can afford to attend the University.”
Other higher education institutions that made it in the U.S. News & World Report top ten list include, in order of rank, Harvard University, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, Yale, Stanford University, Duke University, University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University.
“A university is not successful if it does not graduate its students, which is why the Best Colleges rankings place the greatest value on outcomes, including graduation and retention rates,” Robert Morse, chief data strategist at U.S. News, said.
“By including social mobility indicators, U.S. News is further recognizing colleges that serve all of their students, regardless of economic status.”
To rank colleges this year, U.S. News made changes in its methodology by adding social mobility indicators to determine as to how schools support low-income students through graduation. At the same time, it eliminated the acceptance rate and reduced input measures.