The United States of America is one of the most popular countries among international students looking to study abroad. Over the past 20 years, the country has seen a massive enrollment of students from different parts of the world due to its high standard of education, top ranking universities, lucrative research funding opportunities, and many more.
This, probably, can be traced to the country’s high quality of livelihood and high employment rate which students will get good opportunities to explore after their academics. The United States is also a vast country and every state is unique in its culture, climate, history, economy, and more.
One very key attraction for international students in this study destination is the quality of education which can be attracted mainly to the universities and research institutions.
In this article, we have made a list long list of the top 50 universities in the United States of America. We hope this can be a good reference material for those searching for institutions in the USA and also as an educative piece.
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Top 50 universities in the U.S
The list below is only a guide to some of the best universities and research institutions in the United States; It is not a ranking par say. You can explore the scholarships and funding programs of each of the universities by clicking on university name.
Princeton University:
The private university is a private institution that was established in 1746. This university is located in New Jersey. Princeton university has highly ranked graduate programs through the Princeton school of public and international, and the school of engineering and applied sciences. Official website: www.princeton.edu
Massachusetts Institute of Technology:
This institution is a private institution established in 1861. It has about over 4,000 students and it is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This institution focuses on scientific and technological research. With its, high-ranked graduate schools which include the school of engineering and the school of management, this university receives funding from the U.S government. Official website: www.mit.edu
Harvard University:
This prestigious and widely recognized university was founded in 1636. It has over 7,000 enrollments and it is located outside Boston in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard University is made up of 12 graduates and professional schools. Most popular among its schools includes business school, medical school, graduate education school, school of engineering, law school, etc. Official website: www.harvard.edu
Stanford University:
Stanford university, which is currently ranking 3rd best university in the United States, was founded in 1885 and located in California. Stanford offers a wide range of students’ organization including the Stanford pre-business Association and Stanford Solar project etc. Stanford students are guaranteed housing for all four years and most choose to remain on campus. Official website: www.standford.edu
Yale University:
This private institution was founded in 1701 and it has a total number of 6,000 enrolled students. it is located in New Haven, Connecticut. Yale university is known for its excellent drama and music programs, which reaches outside the classroom with student organization such as Yale Whiffenpoofs and the Yale Dramatic Association. The Yale university is made up of a college, the graduate school of arts and sciences, and 13 professional schools. official website: www.yale.edu
University of Chicago:
This university is located in Hyde Park, Chicago. established in 1890, it has a total number of over 7,000 students and a large campus size of over 200 acres. This university has postgraduates’ offerings that include the highly ranked Booth school of business, law school, school of medicine, and school of public policy. Official website: www.uchicago.edu
John Hopkins University:
John Hopkins university is a private institution that was founded in 1876. It is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and has over 5,000 undergraduate enrollments. This university has four campuses and also has additional campuses for its school of advanced international studies in Washington D.C. Official websites: www.jhu.edu
University of Pennsylvania:
The university of Pennsylvania was founded in 1740 and it is located in Philadelphia. This prestigious institution was founded by Benjamin franklin and it is ranked number 7 in the 2022-2023 edition of best colleges in national universities. The University of Pennsylvania has 12 schools, of which five offer undergraduate and graduate studies, and seven offer only graduate studies. Official website: www.upenn.edu
California Institute of Technology:
The California Institute of Technology was established in 1891 and it is located in Pasadena, California. This institution focuses on science and engineering and it ranked number 9 in the country’s national ranking. California Institute of Technology produces a significant amount of research, receiving grants from institutions such as NASA (the national science foundation) and the Department of Health and Human Services. Official websites: www.caltech.edu
Duke University:
The duke university is a private institution founded in 1838 and it is located in Durham, North Carolina. Duke University is divided into 10 schools and colleges, many of which serve both undergraduate and graduate students. Its most esteemed undergraduate scholarship is the Robertson scholars’ leadership program which is offered to students at both Duke university and the university of North Carolina. Official website: www.duke.edu
Northwestern University:
This institution was founded in 1851 and has over 8,000 undergraduate enrollments. The main campuses of the northern university are located along Lake Michigan in Evanston and Chicago. Northwestern’s women’s lacrosse has won multiple NCAA national championships. Official websites: www.northwestern.edu
Dartmouth College:
This prestigious institution was founded in 1769. it is located in Hanover, New Hampshire and it offers a wide range of students’ activities, including more than 30 NCAA division I varsity sports teams. Dartmouth College is comprised of undergraduate arts and sciences, engineering departments, and four graduate programs. It is ranked 12 in the country’s national ranking. official website: www.home.dartmouth.edu
Brown University:
The brown university was founded in 1764 and is a private institution. This university is located in Providence, Rhode Island. At Brown university students are required to live on campus for the first six semesters, although some students may receive permission to live off campus. With 7,000 undergraduate enrollments in this university, this university offers several graduate studies through its graduate school which includes well-regarded programs in English and history. Official website: www.brown.edu
Vanderbilt University:
This prestigious university was founded in 1873 and it has a total number of over 7,000 undergraduates enrolled. located in Nashville, this university offers a wide range of student activities which includes sports, entertainment, etc. Vanderbilt university comprises 10 schools and colleges offering courses in humanities, music, and engineering. The Vanderbilt University Medical center is ranked one of the best in the nation. Official websites: www.vanderbilt.edu
Rice University:
The rice university is a private institution that was established in 1912. This university is located in the heart of Houston’s Museum District and has over 4,000 undergraduates. The rice university comprises eight schools which include the school of social sciences, the school of humanities, and the wises school of natural sciences. The rice university is widely regarded as a school of architecture and school of music. Official Website: www.rice.edu
Washington University in St. Louis:
This institution is a private institution located in St. Louis. established in 1853 this university is divided into eight schools including four that serve undergraduate students. The Washington University graduate programs are the top-ranked George Warren brown school of social work, the highly ranked Olin business school, school of law, school of medicine, school of design and visual arts, McKelvey school of engineering, and a graduate program in education. official website: www.wustl.edu
Cornell University:
The Cornell university was founded in 1865 and it is located in Ithaca, New York. With a large number of over 15,000 undergraduates, this institution has over 1,000 students’ organization on campus which range from the Big red marching band to the international student affairs society. This university is well recognized for its top-ranked college of veterinary medicine and highly esteemed school of hotel administration. Official website: www.cornell.edu
Columbia University:
The Columbia university is a private institution located in New York City. Established in 1754, this prestigious university has three undergraduate schools namely: Columbia College, The Fu Foundation school of engineering and applied science, and the school of General studies. this university is well regarded as the college of dental medicine and graduate journalism school. Official website: www.columbia.edu
University of Notre Dame:
The University of Notre Dame is a private catholic research institution located in South Bend, India. Founded in 1842, this university is a well-regarded school of Architecture that offers undergraduate and graduate programs. The university is divided into eight schools and colleges, the largest of which is the college of arts and letters. Official website: www.nd.edu
University of California Berkeley:
The University of California is a public institution founded in the year 1868. This university is home to over 30,000 undergraduates and it is ranked number 20 in the country’s national ranking. This university is located in Berkeley San Francisco Bay and it has schools and colleges. this institution is well known as a hub of liberal student activism. Official website: www.berkeley.edu
University of California Los Angeles:
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles. Established in 1919 this university has over 30,000 undergraduates’ enrolment and it encompasses highly ranked graduate school which include Anderson school of management, Henry Samueli school of engineering and applied science, school of law, and David school of medicine. Official website: www.ucla.edu
Carnegie Mellon University:
The Carnegie Mellon university is a private institution that was founded in 1900. This prestigious university is located in Pittsburgh, and it is being founded by a renowned industrialist and Philanthropist named Andrew Carnegie. This university is well known for its programs in science and technology, it has seven schools and college which includes the college of fine arts and the Dietrich college of humanities and social sciences. Official website: www.cmu.edu
Emory University:
This university is a private institution that was founded in 1836 and it is located near downtown Atlanta. It is a home of over 7,000 undergraduates both local and international students. The Emory university is divided into nine schools and colleges, four of which serve undergraduates and graduate students. Emory’s university graduate programs include the highly rated Goizueta Business school, school of law, and school of medicine. Official website: www.emory.edu
Georgetown University:
The Georgetown university is a private institution that was established in the year 1789. This university comprises several undergraduates, graduates, and professional schools and is home to over 7,000 undergraduates, it is ranked number 22 in the country’s ranking. Official website: www.georgetown.edu
New York University:
The New York University was founded in 1831 and is a private research institution. The New York university’s primary campus is located in the lively Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan and is home to over 28,000 undergraduates both local and international. New York University is divided into several schools and colleges, the largest of which is the colleges of arts and sciences. Official website: www.nyu.edu
The University of Michigan:
This public institution was founded in 1817. It is widely known for its widely well-regarded school of dentistry and Taubman College for Architecture and urban planning and has a tradition of excellence in research learning teaching. This university offers highly ranked graduate programs which include the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, College of Engineering, Law school, and medical school. Official website: www.umich.edu
University of Southern California:
The university of southern California is a private institution that was founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney. Located in Los Angeles this university comprises the USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, arts and sciences, and 22 Graduate and Professional Schools. This institution is widely known for its Annenberg school of communication and journalism, and its highly esteemed school of cinematic arts. Official website: www.usc.edu
University of Virginia:
The University of Virginia is a public institution founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson. This university is located in Charlottesville, it is commonly called the Mr. Jefferson university or simply the university by insiders. This institution has over 17,000 undergraduate enrollments, and it is ranked 25 in the national ranking. This university has graduated 55 Rhodes scholars, eight of most in the United States, and its alumni have founded many companies such as Reedit, CNET, and Space Adventures. Official websites: www.virginia.edu
University of Florida:
The University of Florida is a prestigious university in the United States founded in 1853. this university is located in Florida, Gainesville, and has a large campus size of 200 acres. It ranked 29 in the nation’s university ranking among others. This university is also integrated with the retirement community Oak Hammock, where students can work, complete internships, and find mentors. Official websites: www.ufl.edu
University of North Carolina:
This university is the oldest public institution in the United States. Founded in 1789, it is regarded as an institution that offers a wide range of student activities and organizations which includes the daily Tarheel, UNCs student Newspaper, and the student-run radio station. Located at Chapel Hill, this institution is divided into several schools and colleges, the largest of which is the undergraduate college of arts and sciences. Official websites: www.unc.edu
Wake Forest University:
The wake university is a private research institution that is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Founded in 1834, this institution is made up of six schools and its graduate programs include those in the highly ranked school of law, school of business, and school of medicine. At wake forest university students are enrolled in either wake forest college or the business school, and this institution is home to over 5,000 undergraduates both local and international. Official website: www.wfu.edu
Tufts University:
Tufts university is a private research institution located not far from downtown Boston. Founded in 1852, this institution comprises the school of arts and sciences and the school of engineering that serves both undergraduates and graduates. This institution’s school of medicine and cummings school of veterinary medicine is highly ranked over the years. With over 6,000 undergraduates, this institution is ranked 32 in the country ranking among others and its campus size is 1500 acres. Official website: www.tufts.edu
University of California Santa Barbara:
This institution is widely recognized for its excellence in engineering and education. founded in 1909, this university is located 100 miles up the coast from Los angles and it has over 20,000 undergraduate enrollments, with a large campus size of over 900 acres. This university comprises five schools and colleges, the largest of which is the college of letters and sciences, serving undergraduates and graduates. Official website: www.ucsb.edu
University of California, Irvine:
The University of California is a public research institution that specializes in areas such as Cancer and neuroscience studies in conjunction with the highly ranked UC Irvine medical center. Founded in 1965, this institution is located in Irvine, California, and has over 25,000 undergraduates, and the campus size is 1,475 acres. It is currently ranked 34 in the nation’s ranking, and it has earned accolades for its eco-friendly measures, promoting green initiatives through student groups like the Anteaters for recycling and conservation. Official websites: www.uci.edu
University of California San Diego:
The University of California, San Diego was founded in 1960 and it is a public research institution. Located in San Diego, this university lies alongside the Pacific Ocean in the Jolla community of San Diego, and is home to over 30,000 undergraduates, with a large campus size of 1,967 acres. Its institution school of medicine and Jacobs school of engineering is widely recognized and highly ranked worldwide. Official website: www.ucsd.edu
Boston College:
The Boston university is one of the oldest and most prestigious private catholic research institutions in the United States. Founded in 1863, this university is located just outside downtown Boston, and it was founded by the Society of Jesus and has it has maintained its roman catholic Jesuit religious affiliation. Boston College has nine schools, and it is highly ranked for its graduate programs as the lynch school of education, Boston college law of education, and Carroll school of management. Official website: www.bc.edu
University of Rochester:
The University of Rochester is a private research institution founded in 1850. This institution sees itself as one of the smallest and most collegiate schools among the nation’s top research universities. Located in Rochester, this university has over 6,000 undergraduate students enrollment. The William E. Simon graduate school, Hajim school of engineering, and departments of economics and political sciences are highly and widely recognized. The school’s unique “take five scholars” program provides students with additional tuition-free semesters or years studying the topic of interest outside their major. Official website: www.rochester.edu
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University of California, Davis:
The university of California, Davis is one of the 10 schools in the University of California system. Founded in 1905 as a public institution, this institution is located just 15 miles from Sacramento, this university is home to over 30,000 undergraduates, with a campus size of 5,300 acres. This institution offers a wide range of academic options for its undergraduates, graduates, and professional schools and colleges. Its school of law, graduate school of management, college of engineering, and school of veterinary medicine are highly ranked and widely recognized. Official website: www.ucdavis.edu
The University of Texas at Austin:
This university is a public research university that was founded in 1883. It is one of the largest schools in the U.S and it is divided into 13 schools and colleges. located in Texas, this institution specializes in mostly engineering and nursing courses, with its college of liberal arts the biggest of colleges. Official website: www.utexas.edu
University of Wisconsin – Madison:
This public research institution was founded in 1848 and it has a large enrollment of over 35,000 students both local and international. It is ranked 38 in the country’s ranking among others The institution has highly rated graduate schools which include: the school of education, the school of business, the school of medicine and public health, and also the law school. Official website: www.wisc.edu
Boston University:
Boston University is one of the largest independent, nonprofit universities in the United States. Founded in 1839, this private research institution has over 18,000 undergraduates, and it has a campus size of 140 acres. The Boston university school of medicine is the nation’s first combined cancer research and teaching laboratory. Notable alumni include: Dr. martin Luther king junior. Actresses Julianne Moore and Geena Davis e.tc. Official website: www.bu.edu
University of Illinois Urbana:
This public institution is located in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign in east-central Illinois. This public institution was founded in 1867 and has over 34,000 undergraduates and a campus size of 1,783 acres. This university comprises 15 colleges and schools, its school of information sciences, college of engineering, and depart of psychology are the best in the United States. According to research, it was the first school to provide disability access to all university services, curricula, and facilities. Official website: www.illinois.edu
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William & Mary:
The William & Mary college is a public institution founded in 1693. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia. it is the second oldest college in the United States. It currently has more than 30 undergraduate programs and more than 10 graduate and professional degree programs. Its highly rated Marshall-Wythe school of law and is the first school of law in the United States. Official website: www.wm.edu
Brandeis University:
This private institution was founded in 1948 and it is located in Waltham, Mass. Just nine miles west of Boston. Ranked 44 in the nation’s ranking, Brandeis is comprised of the college of arts and science and four graduates, and the graduate school of arts and science offers highly rated programs in English and history. Official website: www.brandeis.edu
Case Western Reserve University:
This university is known for its world-class research and is located about 20 minutes from downtown Cleveland. Founded in 1967, this world-class university is recognized in the range of top-rated specialty graduate programs, like its health law curriculum at the school of law. The university also has renowned offerings in biomedical engineering at the school of engineering and nonprofit management at the Weatherhead school of management. Official website: www.case.edu
Georgia Institute of Technology:
The Georgia institute of technology specializes in sciences and technology. Founded in 1885, this institute is home to over 17,000 undergraduates and it is located in the heart of Atlanta. In addition to its campuses in Atlanta and Savannah, this institute has other campuses in France, Ireland, costa Rica, Singapore, and china. Georgia institute of technology has six colleges, and its highly ranked schools include the college of engineering and the schiller college of business. it is ranked 44 in the country’s ranking. Official website: www.gatech.edu
Northeastern University:
The Northeastern University is a private institution that was founded in 1898. This university receives big research grants each year from the national science foundation and the national institutes of health, as well as the departments of homeland security, energy, and defense. It is home to over 15,000 undergraduates. Official website: www.northeastern.edu
All the above listed universities are open to both local and international students. In choosing a school, it is always important that one gets to know their area of specialization and how best they fit for their preferred course of study.