The school year has officially kicked back into gear , with many college students heading back to their university campuses for the semester.

Have you ever wondered how Illinois universities rank against others in the country? U.S. News and World Report released a list of the top universities in the U.S. , based on factors like graduation rates, publications and financial resources for students.

Here's how Illinois schools fared.

Best Universities in the US

Two Illinois schools made the Top 15 list of National Universities. Here's the ranking:

1. Princeton University

2. Massachusetts University of Technology

3. Harvard University

4. Stanford University

5. Yale University

6 (TIE). California Institute of Technology

6 (TIE). Duke University

6 (TIE). Johns Hopkins University

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