Best Colleges 2016;

The 2016 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges guidebook offers comprehensive advice for high school students and their families on researching their college choices, drawing up a smart shortlist, putting together a slam-dunk application and finding the money to pay the bills. Find out what programs to look for that will raise your chances of thriving at college, the many ways to wow the admissions office, what you need to know about the new SAT and how to negotiate the best possible financial aid package. You ll also get our latest exclusive college rankings. Discover the country's best universities, liberal arts colleges, regional colleges and universities, historically black colleges and universities, and undergraduate engineering and business programs. Plus: Should you consider an honors college at a public university? What schools are doing to improve student safety Profiles: How 8 recent high school grads navigated the college-application process A calendar of important tasks for the college-bound student Take a road trip with U.S. News to 12 colleges and universities in Central Massachusetts, Minnesota and the San Francisco area The pros and cons of graduating in three years as a cost-management move State-by-state directory profiling nearly 1,600 schools