Top 1000 Universities

Rank #2 United States

California Institute of Technology

Located in Pasadena, Caltech is a world-renowned private research university focused on science and engineering. Despite its small size, it maintains an incredible output of innovation and research, managing the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for NASA. Caltech is famous for its rigorous curriculum and a very high faculty-to-student ratio, leading to a massive concentration of Nobel laureates and National Medals of Science recipients among its alumni and faculty.

Overall Score: 94.5
Students: 2240
International: 30%

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Rank #4 United States

Stanford University

Established in 1885, Stanford is a private research university located in the heart of California's Silicon Valley. It is legendary for its proximity to and influence on the tech industry; its alumni have founded companies such as Google, Nike, Netflix, and Hewlett-Packard. Stanford is characterized by its massive 8,180-acre campus and its "multidisciplinary" approach to education, excelling in law, medicine, engineering, and business.

Overall Score: 94.3
Students: 16135
International: 23%

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Rank #5 United States

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Founded in 1861 in response to the increasing industrialization of the United States, MIT is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is defined by its "Mens et Manus" (Mind and Hand) motto, emphasizing practical application alongside theoretical knowledge. MIT has been instrumental in the development of modern computing, artificial intelligence, and aeronautics, and its researchers have won nearly 100 Nobel Prizes.

Overall Score: 93.6
Students: 11247
International: 34%

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Rank #6 United States

Princeton University

Princeton, founded in 1746, is a private Ivy League research university in New Jersey. It is unique among top-tier research institutions for its heavy emphasis on undergraduate education, requiring all seniors to complete a thesis. Princeton does not have schools of law, medicine, or business, instead focusing intensely on the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Overall Score: 93.2
Students: 7983
International: 25%

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Rank #7 United States

Harvard University

Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is a member of the Ivy League and possesses the world's largest academic library and the largest endowment of any university. Harvard is globally recognized for its graduate professional schools, particularly Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard Business School.

Overall Score: 93
Students: 20823
International: 24%

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Rank #8 United States

Yale University

Founded in 1701 as the "Collegiate School," Yale is a private Ivy League university in New Haven, Connecticut. It is highly regarded for its residential college system, which fosters close-knit communities within the larger university. Yale is particularly famous for its School of Drama, Law School (the most selective in the US), and its historic "Skull and Bones" secret society.

Overall Score: 91.7
Students: 12402
International: 20%

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Rank #9 United States

The University of Chicago

Established in 1890, the University of Chicago is a private research university known for its commitment to free and open inquiry. The "Chicago School" refers to influential movements in economics and law that originated here. It was the site of the first man-made, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction and is consistently ranked as one of the most rigorous academic environments in the world.

Overall Score: 90.2
Students: 13833
International: 28%

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Rank #11 United States

University of Pennsylvania

Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1740, "Penn" is a private Ivy League university in Philadelphia. It is home to the Wharton School, one of the world's most prestigious business schools. Penn is known for its "One University" policy, which allows students to easily take classes across any of its twelve undergraduate and graduate schools.

Overall Score: 89.6
Students: 20578
International: 21%

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Rank #12 United States

Johns Hopkins University

Founded in 1876 in Baltimore, Maryland, Johns Hopkins was the first university in the U.S. to integrate teaching and research based on the German model. It is widely considered the leading institution in the world for medical research and public health, and it receives more federal research funding than any other university in the United States.

Overall Score: 89.2
Students: 16171
International: 26%

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Rank #13 United States

University of California, Berkeley

Established in 1868, UC Berkeley is the flagship campus of the University of California system. It is a public land-grant university famous for its history of student activism, including the Free Speech Movement. Berkeley is a scientific juggernaut; its researchers have discovered or co-discovered 16 chemical elements on the periodic table.

Overall Score: 88.3
Students: 41081
International: 17%

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Rank #16 United States

Columbia University

Located in Upper Manhattan, New York City, Columbia was established in 1754 as King's College. It is the oldest institution of higher education in New York and is the administrator of the Pulitzer Prize. Columbia is deeply integrated into New York's global finance and media sectors and is a founding member of the Association of American Universities.

Overall Score: 87
Students: 26586
International: 37%

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Rank #17 United States

University of California, Los Angeles

UCLA is a public land-grant research university in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Founded in 1919, it is the most applied-to university in the United States. UCLA is renowned for its School of Theater, Film and Television, its medical center, and its record-breaking athletic programs (the Bruins).

Overall Score: 86.8
Students: 41066
International: 17%

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Rank #19 United States

Cornell University

Founded in 1865, Cornell is a private Ivy League university in Ithaca, New York. It was founded with the intent to teach "any person... any study," leading to a unique status as both a private Ivy and a federal land-grant institution. It is world-famous for its College of Veterinary Medicine and its School of Hotel Administration.

Overall Score: 85.1
Students: 22319
International: 25%

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Rank #20 United States

Duke University

Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is a private research university founded by Methodists and Quakers in 1838. It is known for its gothic architecture, high-ranking programs in law, medicine, and business, and its competitive "Blue Devils" basketball team. Duke is often referred to as the "Harvard of the South."

Overall Score: 84
Students: 15309
International: 19%

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Rank #21 United States

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Founded in 1817, Michigan is one of the premier public research universities in the world. It boasts one of the largest research expenditures of any U.S. university and is known for its "Big House" (the largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere) and its massive alumni network.

Overall Score: 83.8
Students: 42982
International: 17%

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Rank #22 United States

Northwestern University

Located in Evanston, Illinois, with a campus in Chicago and Qatar, Northwestern is a private research university known for its prestigious Medill School of Journalism and Kellogg School of Management. It combines the athletic competition of the Big Ten with the academic rigor of an elite private institution.

Overall Score: 83.5
Students: 17951
International: 20%

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Rank #26 United States

University of Washington

Based in Seattle, the "UW" is a public research university founded in 1861. It is a global leader in computer science and medicine, benefitting from its proximity to tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon. Its medical school is frequently ranked #1 in the U.S. for primary care.

Overall Score: 81.6
Students: 45692
International: 16%

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Rank #27 United States

Carnegie Mellon University

CMU is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded by Andrew Carnegie, it is world-renowned for its programs in computer science, robotics, and drama. Its "School of Computer Science" is a global pioneer in the development of artificial intelligence.

Overall Score: 81.3
Students: 13430
International: 48%

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Rank #29 United States

New York University

NYU is a private research university with its main campus in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. Founded in 1831, it is famous for its "campus without walls," integrating its buildings directly into the city streets. Its Tisch School of the Arts and Stern School of Business are world-leaders in their fields.

Overall Score: 81.1
Students: 44466
International: 33%

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Rank #31 United States

University of California, San Diego

UC San Diego is a public research university established in 1960. It is a major center for oceanography and biological sciences, home to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Its campus is famous for its "Geisel Library" and its unique residential college system.

Overall Score: 78.8
Students: 33579
International: 23%

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Rank #38 United States

Georgia Institute of Technology

Located in Atlanta, Georgia Tech is a public research university known for its elite engineering and computing programs. It maintains a strong focus on industrial application and research, with a massive presence in the aerospace and technology sectors.

Overall Score: 75.4
Students: 21372
International: 27%

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Rank #38 United States

University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. It is a public research university known for its massive endowment, its "Longhorn" athletic programs, and its high-ranking schools of business, engineering, and geosciences.

Overall Score: 75.4
Students: 49165
International: 10%

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Rank #38 United States

�cole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

EPFL is a public research university in Lausanne specializing in physical sciences and engineering. It is one of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology and is known for its highly innovative campus and its world-class research in robotics and neurotechnology.

Overall Score: 75.4
Students: 10492
International: 59%

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Rank #48 United States

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

UIUC is a public land-grant university founded in 1867. It is a powerhouse in engineering and computer science; its alumni and faculty are responsible for the development of the first graphical web browser (Mosaic) and the creation of companies like YouTube and PayPal.

Overall Score: 72.9
Students: 44916
International: 24%

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