This is the top school in America—and it’s not located in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has no shortage of elite universities (as those who attend one of them love to remind everyone), but according to a new ranking, the best college in America isn't located in the Bay State. It's actually in Jersey. 

RECOMMENDED: This NYC university was just named among the country’s top 10 colleges by TIME

Yes, New Jersey's own Princeton University has claimed the top spot in WalletHub’s 2027 Best Colleges and Universities rankings, beating out fellow academic heavy-hitters like MIT, Yale and Harvard in a nationwide showdown of higher education released just weeks before the November 1 early-decision application deadline.

WalletHub compared nearly 740 colleges and universities across the country using 30 measures in seven categories, including student selectivity, cost and financing, and career outcomes. Factors included student-faculty ratios, graduation rates and salaries after graduation, offering a broad look at both the academic experience and the potential payoff of a degree.

Princeton took first place overall, while the Massachusetts Institute of Technology landed at No. 2. Yale University rounded out the top three, followed by California Institute of Technology and Harvard University at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. So Massachusetts still has plenty to brag about, just not the country's top-ranked school.

The Midwest also made a strong showing: Northwestern University in Illinois ranked sixth, while the University of Chicago came in at No. 13. Pennsylvania's University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University claimed the seventh and eighth spots, respectively, and Stanford University in California rounded out the top 10 at No. 9.

Other familiar names in the top 20 include Georgia Institute of Technology, Rice University, Dartmouth College, Duke University and Johns Hopkins University. Brown University landed at No. 16, followed by Williams College at No. 17 and Columbia University at No. 18. 

The rest of the top 30 includes a mix of major research universities and smaller liberal arts colleges, from Pomona College in California and Vanderbilt University in Tennessee to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Florida. Amherst College, Colby College and Bowdoin College also made the list, proving that a top-tier education isn't limited to big-name universities in major cities.

Of course, a national ranking shouldn't be the only factor in choosing a college. Financial aid, location, campus culture, academic programs and the kind of career you're hoping to pursue are all more vital than what a ranking can tell you. But if you're looking for an objective take, WalletHub's rankings offer a useful starting point.

Here are the top 30 colleges in America, according to WalletHub:

1. Princeton University (NJ)
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
3. Yale University (CT)
4. California Institute of Technology (CA)
5. Harvard University (MA)
6. Northwestern University (IL)
7. University of Pennsylvania (PA)
8. Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
9. Stanford University (CA)
10. Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
11. Rice University (TX)
12. Dartmouth College (NH)
13. University of Chicago (IL)
14. Duke University (NC)
15. Johns Hopkins University (MD)
16. Brown University (RI)
17. Williams College (MA)
18. Columbia University (NY)
19. University of Notre Dame (IN)
20. Wellesley College (MA)
21. Pomona College (CA)
22. Vanderbilt University (TN)
23. Washington and Lee University (VA)
24. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
25. University of Florida (FL)
26. Harvey Mudd College (CA)
27. Amherst College (MA)
28. Colby College (ME)
29. Bowdoin College (ME)
30. Grinnell College (IA)