Yale University is the fourth best university in the nation, according to new rankings by U.S. News & World Report.
U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 Best Colleges rankings on Sept. 23. More than a dozen Connecticut colleges and universities scored spots in various categories, whether it be the best national universities, liberal arts colleges or regional colleges and universities.
The rankings evaluate nearly 1,700 colleges and universities using several measures of academic quality and school data, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Here's how Connecticut's colleges measure up nationwide and regionally, according to the new rankings.
Best National Universities
Two Connecticut universities secured spots in the Top 100 schools for the Best National Universities list, in which U.S. News & World Report ranked more than 400 schools, according to the methodology.
The rankings used 17 key measures of academic quality for its National Universities list, including graduation rates, retention rates, borrower debt, student-faculty ratio, peer assessment and more.
Yale has consistently ranked as one of the nation's top colleges, and the new rankings reaffirm its status.
This year, Yale tied with Stanford University for the No. 4 spot in the overall Best National Universities rankings. Last year, the Ivy League school was ranked No. 5 in National Universities.
Yale also ranked No. 3 for 2026 Best Value Schools — National Universities. The 2026 Best Value Schools ranking is based on a school's academic quality and its true cost after need-based financial aid, according to the methodology.
Connecticut's flagship university is ranked No. 69 in the overall Best National Universities rankings, tied with Brandeis University in Massachusetts and Tulane University of Louisiana and up one spot from it rank last year.
In U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Top Public Schools - National Universities rankings, the University of Connecticut secured the No. 32 spot. UConn also ranked No. 119 for the 2026 Best Value Schools for national universities, according to the rankings.
Fairfield University is ranked at No. 139 for the 2026 best national universities, according to the new list.
Fairfield also came in at No. 138 for the 2026 best value schools for national universities.
Quinnipiac University is another Connecticut school that made U.S. News & World Report's best national universities list, at No. 179.
It also is ranked No. 98 for the 2026 best value schools for national universities.
Sacred Heart University came in at No. 242 for the best national universities rankings.
At No. 301, the University of Hartford also made U.S. News & World Report's list for the 2026 best national universities.
Best Liberal Arts Colleges
A few Connecticut universities also earned high spots in the national liberal arts colleges category, which considers institutions that focus almost exclusively on undergraduate education and award at least half of their degrees in the arts and sciences, according to the U.S. News & World Report's methodology.
Wesleyan University in Middletown scored a high spot in U.S. News & World Report's National Liberal Arts Colleges rankings, at No. 13 out of more than 200 schools, according to the rankings.
In addition, Wesleyan is ranked No. 15 in the 2026 Best Value Schools — National Liberal Arts Colleges.
In this year's rankings, Trinity College in Hartford is ranked No. 37 for the best national liberal arts colleges, according to the rankings.
It is also ranked No. 39 for the best value national liberal arts colleges.
Connecticut College is ranked at No. 50 for the 2026 best national liberal arts colleges, up five spots from last year, according to the rankings.
The college in New London also came in at No. 81 for the best value national liberal arts schools.
Best Regional Universities (North)
Several Connecticut schools also secured spots in U.S. News & World Report's best regional universities rankings for the North category, with multiple in the Top 100.
University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford is among the best northern universities, at No. 45 for the 2026 best regional universities (north), according to the rankings.
It also ranked at No. 36 for the 2026 Best Value Schools — Regional Universities (North).
Southern Connecticut State University, part of the state's public university system, is ranked No. 64 for the 2026 best regional universities (North), according to U.S. News & World Report.
In addition, SCSU secured the No. 21 spot for the 2026 Top Public Schools — Regional Universities (North), as well as No. 45 for the best value schools regional universities (North) ranking.
Eastern Connecticut State University also secured a spot in the 2026 best regional universities in the North, at No. 66.
ECSU is also ranked at No. 23 for the 2026 Top Public Schools — Regional Universities (North), and No. 37 for 2026 Best Value Schools — Regional Universities (North).
At No. 76, Central Connecticut State University also made the 2026 list for best Northern regional universities, according to the rankings.
CCSU is ranked No. 25 for 2026 Top Public Schools — Regional Universities (North), and No. 17 for the Northern regional universities best value schools ranking.
The University of New Haven also made this year's rankings for the best regional universities (North), at No. 76. It's rank this year is up 15 spots from last year, according to the rankings.
The university also is ranked at No. 46 for U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Best Value Schools — Regional Universities (North).
Western Connecticut State University is ranked No. 98 for the 2026 best regional universities (North), and also secured the No. 33 spot for the 2026 Top Public Schools — Regional Universities (North).
Albertus Magnus College also tied for No. 98 for the 2026 Regional Universities (North), up 22 spots from last year, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Best Regional Colleges (North)
And in the 2026 Best Regional Colleges (North), one Connecticut college secured first place.
The U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London is the No. 1 best regional college in the North, according to the rankings. It also secured the No. 1 spot for the 2026 Top Public Schools for regional colleges (North).
Mitchell College in New London also came in at No. 34 for the best Northern regional colleges.