U.S. News & World Report Ranks Harvard Number One Most Popular National University

After being bested by Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah for the past two years, Harvard regained its position atop of U.S. News and World Report's rankings as the most popular national university among college applicants.

BYU came in a close second with a yield of 74.7 percent.

U.S. News and World Report analyzed yield rates, the percentage of accepted applicants at a given university who choose to attend, to determine the rankings of these universities. U.S. News and World Report describes eligible universities as "research-oriented institutions that offer degrees of all levels." Liberal arts colleges had separate rankings.

In a press release, Dean of Admissions William R. Fitzsimmons attributed Harvard's popularity to its extensive financial aid program and to the recently enhanced support that students receive once enrolled.

Though the recent ranking was based on the yield rates for the class of 2014, which at Harvard was 75.5 percent, the yield rate for the class of 2015 was even higher: 75.9 percent. It looks like Harvard will do well in next year's rankings.

Additionally, the reintroduction of early action at Harvard will likely affect the yield rate for the class of 2016.

Stanford University, Yeshiva University, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks rounded out the top five in the rankings.

Yale grabbed the eighth spot, with a 65.91 percent yield.

Of the liberal arts colleges, the United States Naval, Military, and Air Force Academies, as well as Savannah State University and Berea College all had higher yields than Harvard.

Harvard also currently sits atop U.S. News and World Report's Best Universities ranking.