Harvard is no longer the dream school; here’s what is
A new report reveals Harvard University is no longer considered the ultimate "dream" school among current college applicants.
The 2025 report by The Princeton Review surveyed more than 7,000 students from high school students from all 50 states who were applying to college.
MIT ranked more desirable college
This year, Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranked as the top spot of most desirable colleges, according to the survey. Harvard fell to No. 2.
People walk through the gate on Harvard Yard at the Harvard University campus on June 29, 2023 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Credit: Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
The 10 schools most named by students surveyed this year as their "dream college" were:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Harvard College (MA)
- Stanford University (CA)
- Princeton University (NJ)
- Yale University (CT)
- Columbia University (NY)
- New York University
- University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of California – Los Angeles
What they're saying:
"We are truly grateful to the 235,000+ applicants and parents that have participated in our College Hopes & Worries survey over the years," said Rob Franket, the editor-in-chief of The Princeton Review. "Their feedback on their application experiences has provided important insights not only for our company but for all who are dedicated to helping students identify and gain admission to their 'best fit' colleges."
Cost is a major concern
Despite the results, the ability to pay for the college was a top concern among students and parents.
By the numbers:
Nearly all the respondents (98%) indicated they were planning to apply for financial aid. When asked how necessary financial aid would be to pay for college, nearly half (48%) chose the answer "Extremely" while 29% chose the answer "Very."
Most popular colleges
Dig deeper:
Earlier this year, WalletHub released its 2025 rankings of the best US colleges and universities.
RELATED: Here are the best colleges in the US for 2025
The study analyzed over 800 higher education institutions across 30 different metrics, including student selectivity, cost, faculty resources, and career outcomes.
Top universities like Princeton, Yale, and Harvard continued to dominate, while smaller colleges like Swarthmore and Hamilton also made their mark. MIT ranked fourth on the list.