Want to know the list of the top 100 universities and colleges in the United States? If so, it is highly recommended you do some preliminary research first because the college or university you select will play a vital role in shaping your future.
To assist you in this endeavor, we have compiled a list of the top 100 US colleges and universities, which is based on the latest QS World University Rankings.
We believe this ranking of universities can assist you in choosing where to pursue your degree program. Also, these institutions provide bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs at different levels. Read on to see the list of the top 100 universities and colleges in the US.
How to Choose the Right University?
Opting for the right university is of utmost importance for every student, as it significantly influences their future professional path. Hence, it is essential to take into account various factors such as location, financial aid, campus culture, academic programs, and extracurricular opportunities when making this decision.
Also, participating in virtual tours, personally visiting the campuses, and engaging with present students and alumni can provide valuable insights into university life, aiding in the selection process.
Factors Considered in Ranking
You should consider the following factors when choosing which universities in the USA to pursue your degree program:
Student-Faculty Ratio – Prior to making a decision on which university to attend, it is important to evaluate the student-faculty ratio. A low ratio is advantageous as it guarantees personalized attention and provides students with a solid foundation of academic support.
Academic Reputation – It is important to evaluate the university’s overall academic performance, taking into account the quality of faculty, university atmosphere, research achievements, and other relevant aspects.
Alumni Success – The consideration of alumni success is crucial for international students when choosing the best US university. The accomplishments of former students serve as a testament to the university’s influence on career development and professional achievements.
Research Opportunities – When aspiring for a career in the research field, it is crucial to explore the research opportunities offered by universities. Institutions with extensive research resources encourage innovation and groundbreaking discoveries. Therefore, it is advisable to thoroughly examine the research opportunities available for international students at the university.
Graduation Rate – It is advisable for candidates to review the graduation rate from the past five years as it serves as an indicator of a nurturing and favorable learning atmosphere.
Here are the top 100 universities and colleges in the US.
Top 100 Universities in the United States
| S.No. | Top US Universities | Place | QS World University Rankings 2024 | Times Higher Education World University Rankings |
| 1. | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Cambridge | 1 | 5 |
| 2. | Harvard University | Cambridge | 4 | 2 |
| 3. | Stanford University | Stanford | 5 | 3 |
| 4. | University of California, Berkeley (UCB) | Berkeley | 10 | 8 |
| 5. | University of Chicago | Chicago | 10 | 13 |
| 6. | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | 12 | 14 |
| 7. | Cornell University | Ithaca | 13 | 20 |
| 8. | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | Pasadena | 15 | 6 |
| 9. | Yale University | New Haven | 16 | 9 |
| 10. | Princeton University | Princeton | 17 | 7 |
| 11. | Columbia University | New York City | 23 | 11 |
| 12. | Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore | 28 | 15 |
| 13. | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | Los Angeles | 29 | 21 |
| 14. | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | 33 | 23 |
| 15. | New York University (NYU) | New York City | 38 | 24 |
| 16. | Northwestern University | Evanston | 47 | 26 |
| 17. | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh | 52 | 28 |
| 18. | Duke University | Durham | 57 | 25 |
| 19. | University of Texas at Austin | Austin | 58 | 50 |
| 20. | University of California, San Diego (UCSD) | San Diego | 62 | 32 |
| 21. | University of Washington | Seattle | 63 | 26 |
| 22. | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Champaign | 64 | 48 |
| 23. | Brown University | Providence | 73 | 61 |
| 24. | Pennsylvania State University | University Park | 83 | 151 |
| 25. | Boston University | Boston | 93 | 71 |
| 26. | Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta | 88 | 38 |
| 27. | Purdue University | West Lafayette | 99 | 127 |
| 28. | University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison | 102 | 81 |
| 29. | University of Southern California | Los Angeles | 116 | 65 |
| 30. | University of California, Davis | Davis | 118 | 63 |
| 31. | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | 132 | 69 |
| 32. | Texas A&M University | College Station | 134 | 181 |
| 33. | Michigan State University | East Lansing | 136 | 106 |
| 34. | Rice University | Houston | 145 | 147 |
| 35. | Ohio State University | Columbus | 151 | 112 |
| 36. | Washington University in St Louis | St. Louis | 154 | 57 |
| 37. | University of California, Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | 163 | 64 |
| 38. | Emory University | Atlanta | 166 | 82 |
| 39. | University of Florida | Gainesville | 168 | 151 |
| 40. | University of Maryland | College Park | 169 | 104 |
| 41. | Arizona State University | Tempe | 179 | 156 |
| 42. | University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | 222 | 144 |
| 43. | University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | Minneapolis | 195 | 101 |
| 44. | University of Rochester | Rochester | 224 | 154 |
| 45. | Dartmouth College | Hanover | 237 | 123 |
| 46. | The University of Massachusetts, Amherst | Amherst | 245 | 191 |
| 47. | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland | 255 | 134 |
| 48. | University of Virginia | Charlottesville | 260 | 156 |
| 49. | Vanderbilt University | Nashville | 261 | 98 |
| 50. | University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder | 264 | 148 |
| 51. | University of California, Irvine | Irvine | 268 | 95 |
| 52. | North Carolina State University | Raleigh | 274 | 351-400 |
| 53. | University of Miami | Miami | 278 | 194 |
| 54. | The University of Arizona | Tucson | 285 | 180 |
| 55. | Georgetown University | Washington D.C. | 297 | 136 |
| 56. | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Brunswick | 299 | 201-250 |
| 57. | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | Blacksburg | 302 | 251-300 |
| 58. | University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame | 304 | 201-250 |
| 59. | Indiana University Bloomington | Bloomington | 313 | 170 |
| 60. | University of Illinois at Chicago | Chicago | 317 | 251-300 |
| 61. | University of California, Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz | 332 | 192 |
| 62. | George Washinton University | Washington D.C. | 340 | 201-250 |
| 63. | Yeshiva University | New York City | 369 | – |
| 64. | Northeastern University | Boston | 375 | 168 |
| 65. | Tufts University | Medford | 312 | 151 |
| 66. | University of Hawaii | Honolulu | 386 | 251-300 |
| 67. | Stony Brook University | Stony Brook | 396 | 301-350 |
| 68. | Iowa State University | Ames | 400 | 401-500 |
| 69. | University of California, Riverside | Riverside | 404 | 251-300 |
| 70. | Colorado State University | Fort Collins | 409 | 401-500 |
| 71. | University of Kansas | Lawrence | 410 | 401-500 |
| 72. | Washington State University | Pullman | 419 | 351-400 |
| 73. | University of Utah | Salt Lake City | 441 | 251-300 |
| 74. | University of Connecticut | Storrs | 444 | 401-500 |
| 75. | The University of Tennessee | Knoxville | 446 | 301-350 |
| 76. | Florida State University | Tallahassee | 461 | 301-350 |
| 77. | Colorado School of Mines | Golden | 465 | 401-500 |
| 78. | Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago | 469 | 401-500 |
| 79. | Missouri University of Science & Technology | Rolla | 480 | 501-600 |
| 80. | University of Buffalo, SUNY | Buffalo | 491 | 301-350 |
| 81. | University of Iowa | Iowa City | 491 | 301-350 |
| 82. | Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy | 494 | – |
| 83. | University of Delaware | Newark | 498 | 351-400 |
| 84. | Oregon State University | Corvallis | 505 | – |
| 85. | The University of Georgia | Athens | 514 | 601-800 |
| 86. | University of Texas Dallas | Richardson | 520 | 351-400 |
| 87. | City University of New York | New York City | 545 | – |
| 88. | Lehigh University | Bethlehem | 548 | 601-800 |
| 89. | University of Nebraska – Lincoln | Lincoln | 551 | 401-500 |
| 90. | Florida International University | Miami | 556 | 501-600 |
| 91. | University of South Florida | Tampa | 563 | 201-250 |
| 92. | University of South Carolina | Columbia | 575 | 501-600 |
| 93. | University of Missouri, Columbia | Columbia | 586 | 601-800 |
| 94. | University of Central Florida | Orlando | 593 | 601-800 |
| 95. | Tulane University | New Orleans | 600 | 351-400 |
| 96. | Drexel University | Philadelphia | 601-610 | 301-350 |
| 97. | Stevens Institute of Technology | Hoboken | 621-630 | 501-600 |
| 98. | Boston College | Chestnut Hill | 631-640 | 251-300 |
| 99. | University of New Mexico | Albuquerque | 631-640 | 351-400 |
| 100. | New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) | Newark | 631-640 | – |