HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — Among the nearly 500 students graduating this weekend from a high school in the suburbs of New York City, 30 are twins.
People are also reading…
- One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County
- Highway patrol: Juvenile killed in McDowell County wreck while driving electric bike
- Marion man charged with death by distribution in 22-year-old's 2025 overdose death
- ‘No kings’ rally in downtown Marion draws more than 275 people, organizers say
- McDowell County Emergency Services Director Will Kehler to retire
- McDowell County man charged with abuse of child, adults with special needs
- Firefighters battle blaze off Armstrong Creek Road in northern McDowell County
- No Kings protests will happen in area for a 3rd time this Saturday. See when and where
- Multiple departments responding to wildfire in Buck Creek section of McDowell County
- Marion man charged with murder Wednesday in 2024 death of 3-month-old daughter
- McDowell County women's powerlifter inducted into North Carolina hall of fame
- Old Fort mayor suddenly resigns from office, mayor pro tem appointed acting mayor
- Fire in Buck Creek section of McDowell still 175 acres Monday morning, 0% contained
- Property tax exemptions are available for qualifying property owners in McDowell County
- McDowell County alumni Dwayne Ledford went from high school football player to NFL coach
The 2024-2025 school year saw a growing number of students at campuses nationwide. Undergraduate enrollment was up by 3.2% in the spring of 2025, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. That increase is all the more noteworthy when you consider the current price tag for a college education—per the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of one year at a higher education institution clocks in at more than $38,000 in 2022-23. Still, college offers a valuable return on investment for many prospective students. An analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that in recent years, college grads earned a median of $80,000 per year, while workers with only a high school diploma earned a median of $47,000 per year.
With this in mind, the return on investment may be more apparent at some schools than others. Stacker compiled a list of the best colleges in America using Niche's 2026 rankings. All four-year schools in Niche's database were considered. Niche ranks colleges using various factors, including academics, admissions, finances, and student life. You can check out the full methodology here.
- Winston Tan // Shutterstock
Best colleges in America
![]()
Best colleges in America
The 2024-2025 school year saw a growing number of students at campuses nationwide. Undergraduate enrollment was up by 3.2% in the spring of 2025, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. That increase is all the more noteworthy when you consider the current price tag for a college education—per the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of one year at a higher education institution clocks in at more than $38,000 in 2022-23. Still, college offers a valuable return on investment for many prospective students. An analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that in recent years, college grads earned a median of $80,000 per year, while workers with only a high school diploma earned a median of $47,000 per year.
With this in mind, the return on investment may be more apparent at some schools than others. Stacker compiled a list of the best colleges in America using Niche's 2026 rankings. All four-year schools in Niche's database were considered. Niche ranks colleges using various factors, including academics, admissions, finances, and student life. You can check out the full methodology here.
- Winston Tan // Shutterstock

