In spring 2010, for the third year in a row, U.S. News asked the experts who respond to our annual peer assessment survey to identify institutions in their U.S. News ranking category that are making the most promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, and student life. The 68 that received the most nominations in their ranking peer group for being up-and-coming are listed here.
| 排名 | 学校 |
| 1 | Hendrix College Conway, AR |
| 2 | Ursinus College Collegeville, PA |
| 3 | College of St. Benedict St. Joseph, MN |
| 3 | Whitman College Walla Walla, WA |
| 5 | University of North Carolina--Asheville ... |