This Year’s New Ranking Categories Include: ‘Best Colleges for AI,’ ‘Best Colleges for Nursing’ and ‘Best D2 and D3 Colleges’

College Raptor, Citizens’ college planning platform and the most comprehensive college search site, today released its tenth annual “Best Colleges” rankings based on an analysis of each school’s selectivity, financial health, academic rigor, and student success. The 2025 Best Colleges rankings include the 50 Best Colleges in the United States, as well as the 25 Colleges spanning 19 additional, highly sought-after categories. This year’s list introduces new ranking categories for in-demand programs such as AI and Nursing, representing two of today’s fastest-growing career paths.

“Helping students select the best colleges for future careers in sought-after industries is our top priority, making our rankings and related tools critical resources to mapping out a personalized path to success,” said William Staib, Co-Founder and President of College Raptor. “When paired with College Raptor’s College Match Tool, these rankings empower students and families to curate their own best colleges lists based on unique campus preferences, academic performance and goals, as well as financial circumstances.”

Notable 2025 Best Colleges categories include:

• 50 Best Colleges Nationally: The definitive list of the most desired colleges across the country.
  • Top 3: Princeton University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Best Colleges for AI: Top schools that represent the best AI (Artificial Intelligence) programs, a popular field in the rapidly evolving technology sector.
  • Top 3: Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, Carnegie Mellon University, Stevens Institute of Technology
• Best Colleges for Nursing: Top schools with the best programs for nursing, a critical and sought-after profession.
  • Top 3: Emory University, Molloy College, University of Portland
• Best D2 Colleges: NCAA Division II offers student-athletes balance in participating in highly competitive sports and community and academic engagement, all with the potential to earn athletic scholarships.
  • Top 3: Hillsdale College, Bentley University, Colorado School of Mines
• Best D3 Colleges: NCAA Division III schools enable student-athletes to combine a great academic college experience with the sports they love.
  • Top 3: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, California Institute of Technology

The complete College Raptor 2025 College Rankings include:

• 50 Best Colleges
• 25 Best Public Colleges
• 25 Best Private Colleges
• 25 Best Liberal Arts Colleges
• 25 Best Research Colleges
• 25 Best Small Colleges
• 25 Best Mid-Sized Colleges
• 25 Best Large Colleges
• 25 Best Mid-East Colleges
• 25 Best Southeast Colleges
• 25 Best Far West Colleges
• 25 Best Southwest Colleges
• 25 Best New England Colleges
• 25 Best Plains Region Colleges
• 25 Best Great Lakes Colleges
• 25 Best Rocky Mountain Colleges
• Best Colleges for AI
• Best Colleges for Nursing
• Best D2 Colleges
• Best D3 Colleges

College Raptor’s Best Colleges rankings are based on publicly available data, and colleges and universities are included based strictly on the merits of their institution, as shown by the data. The full methodology of College Raptor’s rankings is outlined here.

“We understand that choosing the right college is just the beginning of an important, and financially-involved, journey,” said Chris Ebeling, Executive Vice President of Student Lending. “Citizens is committed to supporting students and their families every step of the way by offering comprehensive resources to help navigate and make their educational goals possible."

Citizens provides college and high school students with a variety of tools and financial resources, including checking and savings accounts, student loans and scholarships to help manage finances in school as well as education and resources to assist in budgeting and planning. Learn more here.

College Raptor, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Citizens Bank, N.A., a leader in providing comprehensive banking and financing solutions as a commitment to empowering students and families. With a Citizens Student Loan, students and their families can fill the financial gap after exhausting savings, scholarships, and grants to realize their dream of a college education. Student loans can be used to finance all undergraduate and graduate educational related expenses up to the total Cost of Attendance. Citizens’ student loan options offer competitive rates, flexible repayment options, and no application or origination fees.

About College Raptor

College Raptor is the most evolved, accurate, and comprehensive college search site with tools to empower students, parents, counselors, and colleges with college planning. College Raptor is the only college search platform that enables students and families to discover quality, affordable college options based on personalized estimates of financial aid, scholarships, academic match, and acceptance odds at every 4-year college in the country. More than 35 million students and families have used College Raptor to find cost-effective, academically appropriate college options that prepare them for future careers. For more information, visit CollegeRaptor.com.

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $219.9 billion in assets as of June 30, 2024. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens help its customers reach their potential by listening to them and understanding their needs to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,300 ATMs and approximately 1,000 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.

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