Niche Announces First-Ever Best Overall College Ranking

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Niche (https://niche.com) today released the 2015 college rankings, which rank more than 1,000 schools nationwide based on more than 50 statistical factors and nearly 12 million opinions from 300,000 students. The company is releasing a comprehensive Best Overall college ranking for the first time in its 12-year history.

"We believe choosing a college is about striking the right balance, where academics, student life and affordability are all factors," said CEO Luke Skurman. "A ranking that focuses solely on data, net price, or student opinion only shows a glimpse of the big picture. Our ranking is the most comprehensive to date precisely because it takes a holistic approach of what it's like to be a student on campus."

Surpassing Harvard and Yale, Stanford University clinches the No. 1 spot in the Best Overall category, with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) clocking in at No. 2.

A testament to its all-encompassing approach, Niche's Top 25 Best Overall list includes leading research institutions (Rice University, No. 5), Ivy League schools (University of Pennsylvania, No. 6), liberal arts colleges (Bowdoin College, No. 13), large public schools (University of North Carolina, No. 14) and powerhouse athletic schools (University of Michigan, No. 20).

Colleges have taken notice of Niche's student-centered approach.

"We're always delighted when Rice University fares well in rankings that incorporate input from students, and Rice's top-five position on Niche is no exception," said Rice University President David Leebron.

A snapshot of the 2015 Niche Rankings and colleges that ranked No. 1:

• Best Overall – Stanford University
• Best Academics – MIT
• Best Athletics – University of Florida
• Best Campus – Bowdoin College
• Best Campus Food  – Virginia Tech
• Best Dorms – Washington University in St. Louis
• Best Greek Life – Washington & Lee University
• Best Location – University of Texas – Austin
• Best Party Schools – Tulane University
• Best Students – University of Virginia
• Most Diverse Campus – MIT
• Safest Campus – Wheaton College – Illinois

*For the full list of rankings, visit https://colleges.niche.com/rankings.
*View the Best Overall methodology and infographic.
*Learn more on how we approach rankings.

About Niche

Niche is transforming the way people make big life decisions. By providing insight and analysis from everyday experts, we make choosing a college, K-12 school, or place to live a more transparent process. From our founding in 2002 as College Prowler to our coverage on more than 250,000 schools and places, Niche's rapidly expanding presence continues to empower users to find their niche and thrive within it. For further information, visit https://niche.com.

SOURCE Niche