Capital University has made The Princeton Review’s list of the nation’s best colleges, giving the Bexley school some national recognition heading into the 2026-27 academic year.
Capital is one of 392 four-year colleges included in the education company’s latest edition of The Best 392 Colleges. The schools featured in the guide represent about 14% of the nearly 2,800 four-year colleges in the country.
The Princeton Review is a college admissions and education company that publishes guides meant to help students compare schools beyond the usual rankings. Its annual “Best Colleges” list looks at academic offerings and student experiences, with the company surveying college administrators as well as students at the schools it considers for the guide.
For this year’s edition, more than 172,000 students responded to surveys about their colleges.
Their feedback is also used for The Princeton Review’s individual rankings, which cover things like professors, academics, campus life and quality of life.
Capital’s student feedback highlighted the school’s smaller environment and the amount of attention students receive from professors. Students also pointed to hands-on learning opportunities, leadership experiences and the benefit of having a small-campus setting in the middle of the Columbus area.
The recognition doesn’t mean Capital was ranked No. 1 out of 392 schools.
The Princeton Review doesn’t give the colleges in its Best Colleges guide an overall numerical ranking. Instead, the list identifies schools the organization considers academically strong and gives prospective students a closer look at what students experience on each campus.
Capital is the oldest university in Central Ohio and has been located in Bexley since 1830. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs, with an emphasis on liberal arts and experiential learning.
For local students looking at colleges, the Princeton Review recognition gives Capital another national credential to add to the list. More importantly, the student feedback offers a glimpse into what makes the university stand out: a smaller campus, close relationships with professors and plenty of opportunities to get experience outside the classroom.
