· forbes researchers ranked 500 colleges and universities based on return on investment, average student debt levels and outcomes for their graduates. · these 25 public schools , eight in california, give the private elites a run for their money. · see which schools deliver high salaries, low debt, and strong value for students — and which also have highly-ranked b- schools. · these 20 schools —10 public and 10 private—are stepping up to educate the country’s brightest students and graduating the talent employers seek. Their students have strong academic outcomes, high salaries and less debt. · schools were ranked based on outcomes for undergraduates, forbes said. Search the forbes 2026 list of americas top colleges , ranking the best universities in the us based on student academic, career and financial success. Ivy league schools dominated the top of the list , with five of the eight in the top 10 and all of them in the top 20.