With back to school season just around the corner, Forbes has released their sixth annual Top 100 American Colleges for those preparing for higher education.

For the first time in the history of the list, two non-Ivy league schools have taken first and second place: Stanford University (No. 1) and Pomona College (No. 2).

However, don't count of the Ivy League universities.  All eight of the prestigious schools made it in the top 20. 

"Princeton, Yale University and Columbia University take Nos. 3 to 5. Harvard is No. 8 this year, dropping from No. 6 in 2012 and 2011, while University of Pennsylvania jumps up six spots to No. 11, Brown University moves up seven to No. 12," Forbes wrote.  "Dartmouth moves up nine to No. 16. But the biggest winner of all is Cornell University, which leaps from No. 51 to No. 19. For millions of students, and not just Americans, Ivy League schools continue to hold unequivocal prestige and value."

Forbes created the list based on their firm belief in "output" over "input."  They are not concerned what gets a student into a specific university, but rather what someone's Return Open Investment (ROI) after getting their degree.

"We look at factors that directly concern today's incoming students (and their families) who will be footing a bill which has multiplied into the six figures: Will my classes be interesting? Is it likely I will graduate in four years? Will I incur a ton of debt getting my degree? And once I get out of school, will I get a good job and be a leader in my chosen profession? We pointedly ignore any metrics that would encourage schools to engage in wasteful spending," Forbes wrote.

Nevertheless, the verdict is in and below is the top 10 universities, according to Forbes.

The Top 10 Colleges (in order):

1              Stanford University, Calif.

2              Pomona College, Calif.

3              Princeton University, N.J.

4              Yale University, Conn.

5              Columbia University, N.Y.

6              Swarthmore College, P.A.

7              United States Military Academy, N.Y.

8             Harvard University, Mass.

9              Williams College, Mass.

10           Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mass.

To see what other schools made it onto the Forbes list, click here.