MINNEAPOLIS — The most-played series in major college football history, the bitter border-state rivalry between Minnesota and Wisconsin, is punctuated each year with a postgame ritual by the winning team that could be described as jubilant yardwork.
Wisconsin players hold up Paul Bunyan's Axe after winning 31-0 against Minnesota in a Nov. 25, 2017, NCAA college football game in Minneapolis.
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Michigan defensive tackle Quinton Washington (76) and cornerback Courtney Avery (11) celebrate with the Little Brown Jug trophy Oct. 5, 2013, after the team's win over Minnesota in an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Tony Ding, Associated Press
Iowa defensive lineman Bryce Hawthorne (96) celebrates with the Floyd of Rosedale trophy Oct. 25 after an NCAA college football game against Minnesota in Iowa City, Iowa.
Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press
Indiana's Mike Katic celebrates with the Old Oaken Bucket after defeating Purdue in a Nov. 30, 2024, NCAA college football game in Bloomington, Ind.
Darron Cummings, Associated Press
Texas punter Jack Bouwmeester (19) celebrates Oct. 11 with the Golden Hat after defeating Oklahoma in an NCAA college football game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
Sara Diggins, Austin American-Statesman
UNLV pulls the Fremont Cannon trophy, awarded to the winner of the annual Battle of Nevada game, on the field after defeating Nevada in a Nov. 30, 2024, NCAA college football game in Las Vegas.
David Becker, Associated Press
TCU safety Bud Clark (21) celebrates Sept. 20 with the "iron skillet" after the team's win over SMU in an NCAA college football game in Fort Worth, Texas.
Tony Gutierrez, Associated Press
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
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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

