about<\/a> page for information on which rankings and review sites were included in this year\u2019s consensus rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe National Research Universities category is limited to schools with a national or international reach offering a broad range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral-level programs and a demonstrated commitment to research. These are schools designated Doctoral Universities<\/em> by the Carnegie Classification.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe top research universities include some of the most prestigious and world-renowned names in higher education. We define national research universities as institutions that draw a student body from across the US and world, rather than a primarily regional population. These are universities that are classified by the Carnegie Foundation as research universities: R1 (Highest Research Activity), R2 (Higher Research Activity), or R3 (Moderate Research Activity). These designations include well over 300 universities nationwide. National research universities are dedicated not only to teaching, but on creating new knowledge through scientific, social scientific, and humanities research.<\/p>\n\n\n
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\n Recommended Online Colleges & Universities<\/h3>
Explore our featured online programs to find the right match for you today.<\/p>\n <\/he-editorial-listings>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
What\u2019s Different About the College Consensus Ranking?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The difference between College Consensus and other ranking sites is the difference between Rotten Tomatoes and your favorite movie reviewer. College Consensus is comprehensive. It\u2019s not just one voice stating an opinion – it\u2019s many, many voices, computed objectively and equally. Students who are actually there day to day have as much say about their college as experts who have never visited. And all of those perspectives mean an even playing field for every college and university, from the richest and best-known university to the smallest and hardest-working regional college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This ranking focuses on the best nationally-recognized, major research universities. For students who are interested in the more traditional atmosphere of a small college, College Consensus has also ranked the Best National Liberal Arts Colleges<\/a>. For the full, comprehensive ranking of all American colleges and universities, regardless of size or class, see the Best Colleges and Universities<\/a>. For online schools, see the Best Online Colleges & Universities<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Top Consensus Ranked National Research Universities are listed in descending order by their Consensus score. In the event of ties, schools are ranked in alphabetical order with the same rank number.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>
![\"BEST](\"https:\/\/www.collegeconsensus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/BEST-RESEARCH-UNIVERSITIES.png\")