Shorelight Universities Ranked Among U.S. News Best Colleges 2025

University rankings, while imperfect, can be a quick way to get inspiration for a more thorough school search. As international higher education experts, we here at Shorelight encourage international students and their families to use rankings as the opening inquiry into a much larger university research process, a potential means of shortening a long list of possible places to apply.

And rankings can be very convenient: For international students who aren’t necessarily able to visit universities in person before applying, rankings can provide a better sense of a school from afar. Use them as an early information point to kick off a larger conversation about which schools may be your best fit, offer the degree programs that most interest you, and create the overall study abroad experience you want.

U.S. News & World Report has released its Best Colleges rankings for 2025, and we’re thrilled to share that nine of Shorelight’s international-friendly universities are among the best in the nation. Check out the lists, then reach out to our expert counselors to narrow down your options further and submit your applications.

Still gathering your list of potential schools? That’s great to hear! Use Shorelight’s School Match Tool to find more universities where international students thrive.

Shorelight Universities in the Top 100 Best Colleges

Check out the latest rankings for all Shorelight universities >

Shorelight Universities with Top-Ranked Programs for 2025

Best Undergraduate Business Programs

• 2 - tie - University of California Berkeley

• 40 -tie - University of South Carolina

• 40 - tie - University of Utah

• 65 - tie - Auburn University

• 65 - tie - Rutgers University – New Brunswick

• 65 - tie - University of Kansas

• 94 - tie - American University

• 94 - tie - University at Buffalo

• 94 - tie – University of Illinois Chicago

Learn more about studying business in the US >

Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs

• 2 - tie - University of California Berkeley

• 50 - tie - Stony Brook University

• 50 - tie - University of Utah

• 53 - tie - Rutgers – New Brunswick

• 53 - tie - University at Buffalo

• 73 - tie - Auburn University

• 73 - University of Illinois Chicago

• 87 – University of Central Florida

Learn more about studying computer science in the US >

Best Undergraduate Economics Programs

• 5 - tie - University of California Berkeley

• 65 - tie - Rutgers – New Brunswick

• 83 - tie - American University

• 93 - tie - Stony Brook University

• 93 - tie - University of Illinois Chicago

Learn more about studying economics in the US >

Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs

*where doctorate is the highest degree

• 3 - University of California Berkeley

• 51 - tie - Rutgers – New Brunswick

• 57 - tie - Auburn University

• 57 - tie - University at Buffalo

• 66 - tie - Stony Brook University

• 71 - tie - Missouri University of Science & Technology

• 71 - University of Utah

• 79 - University of Illinois Chicago

• 98 - tie – University of Kansas

Learn more about studying engineering in the US >

Best Undergraduate Liberal Arts Colleges

• 83 - tie - Austin College

• 83 - tie - Southwestern University

• 95 - tie - Whittier College

• 100 - tie - Lycoming College

Learn more about studying liberal arts in the US >

Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs

• 13 - University of Illinois Chicago

• 26 - tie - MGH Institute of Health Professions

• 26 - tie - University of Kansas

• 26 - tie - UMass Boston

• 39 - tie - Rutgers – New Brunswick

• 39 - tie - University of Central Florida

• 39 - tie - University of South Carolina

• 39 - tie - University of Utah

• 54 - tie - Auburn University

• 74 - tie - Gonzaga University

• 74 - tie - Rutgers University – Camden

• 74 - tie - Stony Brook University

• 74 - tie - The University of Texas at San Antonio

• 96 - tie - University at Buffalo

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

Best Undergraduate First-Year Experiences

• 2 - tie - University of South Carolina

• 29 - tie - Auburn University

• 33 - tie - American University

Learn more about Shorelight’s on-campus services >

Best Value Schools

• 32 - tie - University of Dayton

• 34 - tie - Robert Morris University

• 44 - tie - University of the Pacific

• 94 - tie - Florida International University

• 96 - tie – University of Kansas

Learn more about college ROI >

Most Innovative Schools

• #12 - tie - University of Central Florida

• #16 - University of California Berkeley

• #33 - tie - Florida International University

• #38 - tie - American University

• #53 - tie - Belmont University

• #53 - tie - Stony Brook University

• #63 - tie - Auburn University

• #63 - tie - University of Illinois Chicago

Learn more about US universities with amazing career preparation >

How to Use US University Rankings When Doing Your Own College Search

If you’re still struggling with where to apply to university, remember that rankings are a good first foray into finding which universities have excellent academics, faculty, and career development services (and finding jobs after graduation). When you’re building out your list of potential schools where you plan to apply, rankings can help you gather together the places that interest you on a high level – the schools where you want to investigate further more (and eventually winnow down to a shorter list).

As you consult the newest university rankings, remember that U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, the Princeton Review, Shanghai Rankings, and other private companies develop their own standards for evaluating and measuring, with each being different. Each will have its own criteria for quality and will likely define “best” in different ways. It’s important to note that your own best criteria may be very different from what the ranking organizations measure.

Always put what you value front and center, because your preferences will determine whether your study abroad experience is amazing, just OK, or less than ideal. For example, if you want to live and study in a city, then choosing to go to a top-ranked school that’s in a rural area may not be best for you.

To effectively use college rankings for your own research, check out the Shorelight guide to university rankings and accreditations. Reach out to our enrollment counselors – they’re always available to answer any questions about which schools match well with your intended courses, degree program, and long-term career plan.

It’s exciting to think about going to a prestigious college on the 2025 Best Colleges list, but know that the rankings are just one source of info for prospective university students. Many schools that are not on the lists also provide amazing experiences for international students! Know that many good choices are available for your higher education journey – and you’ll likely have an amazing experience, no matter where you choose to enroll.

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