Princeton dubbed top college in U.S.

WASHINGTON U.S. News & World Report has named Princeton University the best college in the United States, with the University of California-Berkeley the top public school, at No. 20 overall.

The magazine's annual list, published Tuesday, said Harvard University was the No. 2 school in the country, with Yale University rounding out the top three.

The much-watched list ranks colleges based on selectivity, retention and graduation rates.

Columbia University earned the fourth spot, and Stanford University and the University of Chicago tied for fifth. A three-way tie for No. 7 gave Duke University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania spots on the list.

California Institute of Technology and Dartmouth College tied for the 10th spot.

The University of California-Los Angeles and Virginia University were ranked the second and third best public schools by U.S. News.

Harvard, Yale and Princeton came in first through third in terms of bang-for-the-bucks that students spend to attend.