(NEXSTAR) – As high school seniors across the country start their final year before graduation, Niche.com released its annual ranking of the best U.S. colleges and universities for 2026.

The Pittsburgh-based education research platform says the rankings are designed to "help students identify institutions that best match their academic goals, personal values, budgets, and campus preferences."

MIT, located in Cambridge, Mass., was the highest ranked school in the study, with Niche giving it the highest possible scores for academics, diversity and value.

See the Top 25........

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