Highlights:
- Top Universities: As per QS rankings 2025, MIT, Stanford University, and Harvard are within the top most university in USA.
- Popular Courses - Courses such as MBA, Finance, Masters in Psychology, architecture, and Computer Science, are the top specializations in US universities.
- Top MBA Colleges- The best universities in USA for MBA are Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate Business school. Most MBA colleges in USA need at least 2 years of work experience.
- Top Colleges for Computer Science- The University of California, Berkeley, Harvard University, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor are the most prestigious universities in USA for CS. The tuition fee for these courses ranges from $20000 to $123,000
- Eligibility - You need a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0, a competitive SAT score, and ELP scores like IELTS, and TOEFL. You also need academic transcripts, resumes, etc for top colleges in USA.
Students wishing to pursue higher education in the US have plenty of university choices and can opt for any of the top rated universities in the US. The United States is a popular study-abroad destination due to the high reputation of its educational institutions. According to the QS World University Rankings 2025, the United States has various top-ranked universities. Notably, 197 of the best colleges in the United States have secured their place in the QS World University Rankings 2025.
- The Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks 1st among the world's top 100 universities in USA, followed by Harvard University and Stanford University.
- The University of California Berkeley, University of Michigan, University of Florida, etc. are some of the best universities in America.
- The minimum requirement for an international student to get into top universities in the USA is a CGPA of 3.0-3.5 out of 4.0 scale. The exams to study in the USA include English Language Score requirements which are IELTS: 6.0-8.0 and TOEFL: 80-110.
- Graduates after studying from top rated universities in USA gradually placed in organizations like Google, Amazon, PwC, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, Apple, IBM, etc.
- You must know that the Fall intake in the USA is the main academic session for admission in the USA for students, which begins in September. So you should apply for the universities way before the deadlines to avoid any hassle.
Table of Content
Top 15 Universities in USA
With a significant number of universities ranking in the top universities list of various reputed ranking organizations, the USA truly has set benchmarks in standards of education. The following table contains top 10 universities in America
| University | QS Ranking 2025 | THE Ranking 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | #1 | #3 |
| Stanford University | #6 | #2 |
| Harvard University | #4 | #4 |
| California Institute of Technology | #10 | #7 |
| The University of Chicago | - | #13 |
| University of Pennsylvania | #11 | #16 |
| Princeton University | #22 | #6 |
| Yale University | #23 | #9 |
| Cornell University | #16 | #20 |
| Columbia University | #34 | #17 |
| Johns Hopkins University | #32 | #15 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | #44 | #23 |
| University of California, Berkeley | #12 | #9 |
| Northwestern University | #50 | #28 |
| New York University | #43 | #27 |
Top Universities in USA: Top Courses and Specializations
The good universities in USA offer a variety of specialization courses to postgraduate students. Almost all the colleges and universities offer specialization degrees to the postgraduate students. Extensive double-degree programs are also offered by several universities with specialization in two homogenous programs. Following are some of the top specialization programs offered by the US universities:
| Programs | Specializations |
|---|---|
| MBA | Accounting, Marketing |
| MFin | Finance |
| M.S. in Computer Science | Programming Languages, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity |
| MSN | Family Nurse Practitioner |
| M..S. in Business Analytics | Big Data Analytics, Supply Chain Analytics |
| M.S. in Psychology | Clinical Psychology, Forensic Psychology |
| Master of Architecture | Building Architecture |
| M.S. in Aerospace Engineering | Flight Mechanics |
| M.S. in International Business | International Business and Trade |
Note: The aforementioned programs are only a few among the diverse range of specializations offered to international students interested in studying in USA.
Top Universities in USA for Bachelors
The undergraduate programs in the USA are equally popular among international students like the graduate and postgraduate programs. The students planning to prepare for the graduate programs from an early stage choose to take admission to a US college or university. This eases their endeavor to gain admission to the top institutions like medical science or engineering colleges in USA.
Besides, some of the regional universities offer a 3-year undergraduate program which is not accepted by the universities in the USA. In rarest of the cases, these degrees are accepted with a demonstration of additional test documents. To avoid such burdens, students prefer to study in a 4-year undergraduate program at a US institution.
As an added advantage, the English proficiency test requirements are waived for admission to postgraduate programs, if the student already completes a 4-year graduate program in the USA. Some of the top undergraduate programs offered by the US universities are tabulated below:
| Popular Undergraduate Programs | Top Universities |
|---|---|
| BBA | Harvard University Stanford University Columbia University |
| Bachelor of Physics | Stanford University The University of Chicago MIT |
| B.Sc. in Nursing | University of Pennsylvania University of California Los Angeles University of Washington |
| B.Sc. in Computer Science | Harvard University Stanford University MIT |
| B.Sc. in Chemistry | University of California Los Angeles Princeton University Columbia University |
| B.Sc. in Civil Engineering | California Institute of Technology Yale University John Hopkins University |
| B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering | University of California San Diego University of Washington New York University |
| B.Sc. in Biology | Harvard University University of California Berkeley Stanford University |
| B. Sc. in Physics | Harvard University Stanford University MIT |
| B.A. in Economics | Northwestern University University of Michigan Cornell University |
| B.A. in Psychology | Harvard University Stanford University University of California Berkeley |
Note: The above table comprises only a few of the top universities offering these programs. Each of these programs are offered by numerous other universities and colleges in USA.
Top Universities in USA for Masters
The international students from all across the world visit the USA to study graduate programs. In general, nearly 1.1 million international students enrol in the universities and colleges of the USA in an academic year. International candidates steadily comprise 5.5% of the student population in the USA due to the wide availability of the uncommon programs and best universities in us for masters.
Another reason for choosing US universities over others is, students with a US degree are valued anywhere around the world. Following are some of the USA top universities for masters
| Popular Graduate Programs | Top Universities |
|---|---|
| MBA | Harvard University Stanford University MIT |
| M.S. in Computer Engineering | University of California Columbia University Yale University |
| M.S. in Finance | Harvard University Princeton University University of Pennsylvania |
| MSN | Yale University University of Pennsylvania University of California Los Angeles |
| M.S. in Biomedical Engineering | John Hopkins University Duke University Stanford University |
| M.S. in Mathematics | University of California Harvard University Stanford University |
| M.Sc. in Economics | The University of Chicago Cornell University Columbia University |
| M.S. in Statistics | University of Pennsylvania Harvard University Stanford University |
| M.S. in Marketing | Georgia State University University of Washington Duke University |
| M.S. in Mechanical Engineering | Harvard University University of Washington New York University |
| M.S. in Artificial Intelligence | Stanford University Columbia University Northwestern University |
| M.S. in Robotics | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor New York University |
Best MS Colleges in USA
MS programs are abundant in the top colleges in USA. The cost of studying this program varies based on several factors like the university type, tuition cost, and additional research costs. The majority of these MS in USA programs are STEM discipline-centred. The duration of the MS program in USA varies between 1-3 years based on the time taken to complete the thesis. Some universities offer accelerated programs to international students which takes only 1 year to complete MS. Some of the popular MS courses and a few colleges offering those programs are tabulated below:
| Programs | Universities |
|---|---|
| M.S. in Computer Engineering | Harvard University Stanford University Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| M.S. in Finance | University of California Berkeley University of Pennsylvania New York University |
| M.S. in Marketing | John Hopkins University University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Northwestern University |
| M.S. in Mechanical Engineering | Harvard University MIT Stanford University |
| M.S. in Civil Engineering | Duke University Washington University University of Minnesota |
| M.S. in Data Science | University of California Berkeley Illinois Institute of Technology Columbia University |
| M.S. in Electrical Engineering | California Institute of Technology Georgia Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics | University of Texas Austin University of Michigan Ann Arbor Stanford University |
| M.S. in Physics | Yale University Columbia University University of Pennsylvania |
| M.S. in Biology | Harvard University Brown University Carnegie Mellon University |
Best Universities in USA for MBA
MBA being one of the most coveted programs to study in the USA, expectedly attracts a large number of international candidates. The country offers over 1000 MBA programs across various colleges, B-schools, and universities. International students can study full-time MBA, part-time MBA, executive MBA, and other accelerated MBA programs in USA. After completing their MBA in USA, graduate students earn a yearly salary of around 160,000 USD on average. Some of the top MBA colleges in USA are listed below:
| Colleges | Annual Cost in USD | Admission Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard Business School | 112,000 | Transcripts, TOEFL iBT: 109, IELTS: 7.5 or PTE: 75 |
| Stanford Graduate School of Business | 119,000 | Transcripts, GMAT or GRE, LOR, Essays, SOP, English proficiency tests |
| The Wharton School | 115,000 | Transcripts, GRE or GMAT score, Applications, English proficiency tests |
| University of Chicago Booth School of Business | 112,000 | UG degree, GMAT or GRE score, TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores |
| John Hopkins Carey Business School | 67,000 | Transcripts, Resume, 2 essays, LOR, GMAT or GRE score, TOEFL or IELTS score, Interview |
| MIT Sloan School of Management | 79,000 | Cover letter, Resume, Video statement, LOR, Organizational chart, Transcripts, GMAT or GRE scores, Professional certificates, Relevant coursework |
| Kellogg School of Management | 111,000-150,000 | Transcripts, Test scores, Work experience, Interpersonal skills |
| Columbia Business School | 118,000 | Transcripts, Test scores |
| Stern School of Business, NYU | 121,000 | 4-years degree, IELTS, TOEFL or DET score |
| Yale School of Management | 104,000 | Bachelor’s degree, GMAT, GRE or EA, Professional LOR, Employer approval, Resume, Essays and area of focus |
Best Universities in USA for MS in Computer Science
M.S. is one of the most awarded degrees offered to international students in the USA across a wide variety of programs. Most of the renowned colleges offer the MS in Computer Science programs to international applicants. The admission requirements for the programs are higher in comparison to the other countries. Some of the top colleges in USA for MS are-
| Colleges | Annual Cost in USD |
|---|---|
| University of California, Berkeley | 10,000-18,000 |
| Harvard University | 55,000 |
| University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | 28,000 |
| Columbia University (Dual degree) | 119,000-123,000 |
| Stanford University | 33,000 |
| Cornell University | 50,000 |
| John Hopkins University | 59,000 |
| New York University | 50,000 |
| Northwestern University | 91,000 |
| Princeton University | 56,400 |
Top Universities in USA for Doctoral Courses
There is an abundance of doctoral and postdoctoral programs in the USA for overseas candidates. Students get state-of-the-art technology and research options while pursuing their doctoral programs across several universities in the USA. Some scholars are offered with fully-funded doctoral programs by various top universities in USA.
As the USA is an industry-rich country, students get on-hand opportunities to observe professionals closely. This helps in learning lessons practically and in their proper implementation. Some of the significant doctoral and research programs in USA are listed below:
| Programs | Popular Colleges | Average Costs in USD |
|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. in Computer Science | Harvard University Stanford University MIT |
25,000 |
| Ph.D. in Business Administration | Columbia University Stanford University University of California Berkeley |
18,000 |
| Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering | Stanford University Duke University Columbia University |
Fully-funded |
| Ph.D. in Neuroscience | Stanford University Harvard University University of Pennsylvania |
72,000 |
| Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology | Harvard University MIT John Hopkins University |
25,000 |
| Ph.D. in Data Science | Stanford University California Institute of Technology Harvard University |
25,000 |
| Ph.D. in Statistics | Yale University University of California Berkeley University of Washington |
Fully-funded |
| Ph.D. in Genetics | MIT Harvard University Boston University |
70,000 |
| Ph.D. in Anthropology | Stanford University MIT Columbia University |
17,000-72,000 |
| Ph.D. in Immunology | The University of Chicago Stanford University Harvard University |
72,000 |
Special Programs at Top Universities in USA
The variety of vocational programs in the USA are vast and dependent on the occupations of the locality of the institutes. Students with goals to start earning early shows the tendency to choose these programs. Some of the secondary vocational programs also provide general and specialized job-market preparations. Some of the top disciplines of vocational programs in USA are:
- Health
- Agriculture
- Business and office
- Marketing and distribution
- Trade and industry
- Occupational home industries
There are also technical education opportunities like engineering and science technologies, communication technologies, computer and data processing, and protective services. The number of international students is less than the natives pursuing the vocational programs, as the ROI for other postsecondary programs are higher on a long term basis.
Admission Requirements for USA Universities
The admission requirements widely differ across various programs and top universities in the USA. Following are some of the common application requirements for admission to US colleges:
- Official transcripts, marksheets and proof of degree
- Translated copies of documents in regional languages
- Official evaluation of scores by recognized foreign score evaluators
- Application fees
- A minimum GPA of 3.0-4.0 (~83-100%)
- Competitive SAT or ACT scores
- CV/resume
- SOP
- GRE or GMAT scores
- Academic and profession LOR, based on the program requirements
- Proof of financial availability to support the expenses in USA
- English proficiency test scores
Scholarships at Top Universities in USA
The top universities in the USA offer a plethora of scholarships to the international students. Most of the scholarships are merit-based or need-based and dependent on the duration of the programs. The top universities do not distinguish students according to their selected programs. Furthermore, the government and external organizations also offer several international student scholarships in USA. Here is a list of some of the best scholarships offered by the authority of the top colleges in USA:
| Scholarships | University | Grant Details |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Scholars Award | Harvard University | 67,000 USD |
| Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship Program | Stanford University | 150,000 USD |
| MIT Scholarships | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Full or partial cost of studying |
| Helen Lansdowne Resor Scholarship | Columbia University | 10,000 USD |
| UChicago Scholarships | The University of Chicago | 10,000 USD |
| Bershadsky Family Scholarship in Science or Engineering | Princeton University | 10,000 USD |
| University Grants | Yale University | Up to 74,000 USD |
| Knight Scholarship | Cornell University | Up to 40,000 USD |
Top Universities in USA by ROI
One of the key reasons for students choosing top US universities for graduation is the promising high salaried career opportunities. The top US college graduates are esteemed with excellent salaries by various multinational brands in and out of the USA. Following are some of the top universities in USA and the average starting salaries offered to the graduate students according to US News and World Report:
| Universities | Mean Starting Salaries in USD |
|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology | 82,900 |
| MIT | 82,700 |
| Thomas Jefferson University | 73,000 |
| Stanford University | 73,900 |
| Colorado School of Mines | 72,400 |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | 71,500 |
| Princeton University | 71,300 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 71,200 |
The top colleges and universities in the USA accept a huge number of students every year. However, these universities never compromise on their world-class education quality. Although different universities have contrasting goals and teaching objectives, all the universities focus on implementation of advanced study modules and equipment for the betterment of the future. The top US universities ensure excellent placement options of the alumni across various multinational companies and other desirable employment opportunities, attracting a humongous number of international students every year.
FAQs
Ques. What is the Number 1 University in the USA?
Ans. According to the QS ranking 2024, MIT is the top university with #1 rank, and according to the Times higher education 2024, Stanford is the top university in the USA.
Ques. How many Universities are there in the top 10?
Ans. The top 10 universities in the US are -
- Harvard University.
- Stanford University.
- Massachusetts Institute of technology.
- University of California, Berkeley(UCB)
- Columbia University.
- University of California, Los Angeles(UCLA)
- Yale University.
- University of Pennsylvania.
Ques. Which is the best course to study in the USA?
Ans. Computer science, MBA, Engineering, Data Science are the best and demanding courses to study in the USA, with a competitive salary package.
Ques. What is the most useful degree in USA?
Ans. Computer science and engineering are the most useful degrees in USA for international students.
Ques. What are the admission requirements for US universities?
Ans. Each university has its own set of admission criteria, including standardized test scores, GPA requirements, letters of recommendation, essays, and extracurricular activities. It's best to check the university's admissions website for specific details.
Ques. Which subject has the most scope in USA?
Ans. The following subjects have the highest scopes in USA
- Computer science and mathematics (23 per cent or 240,230 students)
- Engineering (19 per cent or 202,801 students)
- Business and management (15 per cent or 157,281 students)
Ques. Which university has the highest acceptance rate in USA?
Ans. Most of the top colleges in USA have a higher acceptance rate-
- Princeton University. 98.4%
- Harvard University. 98.1%
- Kenyon College. 98%
- Yale University. 97.5%
- University of Pennsylvania. 97.1%
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 96.9%
- Stanford University. 96.5%
Ques. Why is Harvard so famous?
Ans. Harvard has been the no 1 choice for all the students because of their availability of ground-breaking research and innovative courses.
Ques. What are the fees for the top universities in the USA?
Ans. Harvard University – tuition between 5,500 – 33,000 USD/year. University of Chicago – tuition between 13,500 – 39,500 USD/year. Yale University – tuition between 22,000 – 46,000 USD/year. Columbia University – tuition between 23,000 – 59,000 USD/year.
Ques. Is MIT better than Harvard?
Ans. Both MIT and Harvard are widely recognized as among the most prestigious institutions in the world, but they excel in different academic domains
Found 1010 universities
| CD Rank | College Info | Tuition Fees & living Cost(Avg.) | Top Courses | Ranking & Reviews |
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| #1001 |  California State University-Dominguez Hills, CarsonCalifornia, Usa89%Acceptance Rate | Tuition: $9.8K/YrAdmission | M.S Cyber SecurityIELTS6.5PTE53$21.7K/Yr Course duration: 2 years 8+ More Programs | |
| #1002 |  Concordia University Chicago, River ForestIllinois, Usa88%Acceptance Rate | Tuition: $29.7K/YrAdmission | M.B.ATOEFL72PTE61$21.8K/Yr Course duration: 1 year 12+ More Programs | |
| #1003 |  Thomas College, WatervilleMaine, Usa81%Acceptance Rate | Tuition: $61.4K/YrLiving: $7.3K/YrAdmission | M.B.A AccountingDuolingo105TOEFL72$61.4K/Yr Course duration: 1 year 13+ More Programs | |
| #1004 |  New York University Tandon School of Engineering, BrooklynNew York, Usa35%Acceptance Rate | Tuition: $65.1K/YrLiving: $12K/YrAdmission | M.S Computer ScienceDuolingo125IELTS7PTE65$70K/Yr Course duration: 2 years 38+ More Programs | |
| #1005 |  Nexford University, WashingtonDistrict Of Columbia, Usa96%Acceptance Rate | Tuition: $5.3K/YrAdmission | M.B.A Advanced AI and the Future...IELTS5.5PTE50$4K/Yr Course duration: 2 years 16+ More Programs | |
| #1006 |  Cornell Tech, IthacaNew York, Usa12%Acceptance Rate | Tuition: $66.7K/YrLiving: $38K/Yr | M.Eng Computer ScienceIELTS7.5$65.2K/Yr Course duration: 1 year 7+ More Programs | |
| #1007 |  Westcliff University, IrvineCalifornia, Usa72%Acceptance Rate | Tuition: $19.8K/YrAdmission | M.B.ADuolingo105TOEFL79PTE58$23.8K/Yr Course duration: 2 years 16+ More Programs | |
| #1008 |  Herzing University, MilwaukeeWisconsin, Usa94%Acceptance Rate | Tuition: $15.7K/Yr | M.B.A Accounting and FinanceDuolingo100TOEFL80$18.4K/Yr Course duration: 2 years 12+ More Programs | |
| #1009 |  Minerva University, San FranciscoCalifornia, Usa0.999%Acceptance Rate | Tuition: $24.4K/Yr | MDA Decision Analysis$23.7K/Yr Course duration: 21 months 6+ More Programs | |
| #1010 |  Governors State University, ChicagoIllinois, Usa57%Acceptance Rate | Tuition: $21.3K/Yr | M.Sc Information TechnologyDuolingo125TOEFL68$19.2K/Yr Course duration: 18 months 8+ More Programs | |
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