<p>Not sure what “best” means in USNWR. If it means the quality of undergrad instruction, then I do not understand how Harvard makes the list other than through the reputation of its grad school and the top students attending there. Harvard has no thesis requirement for most majors, developed a core a few years ago based on a Columbia-lite model, has many intro classes with over a hundred students, does not rank highly on student teacher interaction (notwithstanding or perhaps because of its “star” professors who have many outside interests), and lacks a well developed writing program. </p>
<p>Here’s my view of the top universities/LACs based on undergrad instruction:
(1) Princeton, (2) Williams, (3) Reed, (4) Columbia, (5) Chicago, (6) Swarthmore, (7) Yale, (8) Washington University (SL), (9) Brown, (10) University of Virginia.</p>