The United States is home to some of the best colleges in the world, and deciding which one is perfect for you can take time. What makes a college “the best” is a combination of factors, like the academic reputation of the faculty and curriculum, the resources and facilities available, and the student’s life and career prospects.
A college with a solid academic reputation is one where you’ll find top-notch faculty, a challenging curriculum, and opportunities for research and collaboration. Some of the best colleges also offer a supportive and inclusive environment where like-minded individuals surround you, have access to a vast alum network, and are set up for success in your future.
So, when choosing a college, consider all of these factors to find the one that’s perfect for you and check if it is in our list of the best colleges in the US.
Overview of the 20 Best Colleges in the US
| Top Institutes | Students Enroll | Lowest Required GPA | Graduation Rate | Student to Faculty Ratio | Tuition Cost | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 11,858 | 4.17 | 85% | 3 to 1 | $79,850 | 4.00% |
| Stanford University | 6,996 | 3.96 | 75% | 4 to 1 | $57,693 | 4.00% |
| Princeton University | 1,941 | 3.9 | 87% | 4 to 1 | $57,410 | 5.50% |
| Harvard University | 1,984 | 4.18 | 87% | 7 to 1 | $54,768 | 4.60% |
| Yale University | 11,905 | 4.14 | 88% | 6 to 1 | $62,250 | 6.30% |
| Duke University | 6,717 | 4.13 | 87% | 8 to 1 | $62,94 | 6% |
| University of Pennsylvania | 3,731 | 3.9 | 85% | 6 to 1 | $63,452 | 8.40% |
| Northwestern University | 21,000 | 2.3 | 84% | 6 to 1 | $62,391 | 9% |
| Claremont McKenna College | 1,300 | 3.3 | 85% | 8 to 1 | $82,127 | 11% |
| University of Chicago | 15,610 | 3.75 | 89% | 5 to 1 | $61,179 | 6% |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 1,300 | 3.3 | 85% | 8 to 1 | $82,127 | 11% |
| Johns Hopkins University | 28,890 | 3.9 | 87% | 7 to 1 | $60,480 | 9.90% |
| Brown University | 10,425 | 4.08 | 85% | 6 to 1 | $62,680 | 7.20% |
| Cornell University | 23,620 | 4.07 | 88% | 9 to 1 | $62,456 | 6.90% |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | 30,135 | 3 | 87% | 6 to 1 | $65,524 | 4.30% |
| University of Notre Dame | 8,874 | 3 | 91% | 9 to 1 | $60,301 | 19% |
| University of California – Berkeley | 32,479 | 3 | 74% | 20 to 1 | $41,473 | 11% |
| University of Southern California | 49,000 | 3.79 | 77% | 9 to 1 | $63,468 | 12% |
| Georgetown University | 6,610 | 3.89 | 89% | 11 to 1 | $62,052 | 12% |
| Bowdoin College | 1,915 | 3.93 | 88% | 8 to 1 | $60,952 | 9.10% |
List of 20 Top Colleges in THE US
The top 20 universities in the United States are listed below., ranked based on various factors such as academic excellence, research output, campus resources, and student life. These colleges are some of the country’s most prestigious and highly sought-after institutions of higher education, attracting students from all over the world.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
| No. Of Students Enrolled | 11,858 |
| Lowest Required Student GPA | 4.17 |
| Graduation Rate | 85% |
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 3 to 1 |
| Average Cost | $79,850 |
| Acceptance Rate | 4% |
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was established in 1861 and is known for its scientific, technology, and engineering programs.
With a faculty and alumni community that includes Nobel Prize winners and other influential figures, MIT is considered one of the top universities in the world.
Stanford University
| No. Of Students Enrolled | 6,996 |
| Lowest Required Student GPA | 3.96 |
| Graduation Rate | |
| Student to Faculty Ratio | |
| Average Cost | |
| Acceptance Rate | |
Stanford University is a private research university located in Stanford, California.
Founded in 1885, known for its degree programs in various disciplines, including the natural sciences, humanities, engineering, and business.
Princeton University
| No. Of Students Enrolled | |
| Lowest Required Student GPA | 3.9 |
| Graduation Rate | |
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Princeton University, located in Princeton, New Jersey, is a private Ivy League research university. It is the fourth-oldest institution in the United States, founded in 1746, and one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution.
Princeton is well known for its undergraduate liberal arts curriculum and emphasis on the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
Harvard University
| No. Of Students Enrolled | |
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Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
Harvard is known for its programs in a wide range of disciplines, including the humanities, natural sciences, engineering, and business, as well as its undergraduate liberal arts education.
Yale University
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Yale University is a private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1701. It is one of the oldest universities in the United States. It is known for its engineering, humanities, natural sciences, and business programs.
Yale also has a world-renowned undergraduate liberal arts college and a solid interdisciplinary study and research commitment.
Duke University
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Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1838 and is known for its law, education, humanities, natural sciences, engineering, and business degree programs.
Duke is particularly well-regarded for its undergraduate liberal arts education and graduate and professional law, medicine, and business schools.
University of Pennsylvania
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The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) is a private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1740, it is one of the oldest higher education institutions in the United States. It is known for its humanities, business, natural sciences, engineering, and interdisciplinary approach to education and research.
The University of Pennsylvania is particularly well-regarded for its undergraduate liberal arts education and graduate and professional law, medicine, and business schools.
Northwestern University
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Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois, with additional Chicago and Doha, Qatar campuses. It was established in 1851 and is known for its business, natural science, and humanities departments.
Northwestern is particularly well-regarded for its undergraduate liberal arts education and graduate and professional law, medicine, and journalism schools.
Claremont McKenna College
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Claremont McKenna College (CMC) is a private liberal arts college in Claremont, California, United States. Founded in 1946, it is one of the member institutions of the Claremont Colleges consortium, which includes five undergraduate colleges and two graduate institutions.
CMC is known for its degree programs in the social sciences, economics, government, and international relations.
University of Chicago
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The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. It was Founded in 1890 and is known for its natural sciences, engineering, and business degree programs.
The University of Chicago is top-rated for its undergraduate liberal arts education and graduate and professional law, medicine, and business schools.
Carnegie Mellon University
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Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in 1900 and is known for its humanities, engineering, and business programs.
CMU is particularly famous for its computer science, robotics, and fine arts programs and has a reputation for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Johns Hopkins University
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Johns Hopkins University (JHU) is a private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, It was the nation’s first research university. It is known for its strong humanities, natural sciences, and business programs.
JHU is particularly sought-after for its graduate and professional medical, public health, and nursing schools.
Brown University
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Brown University is a private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 1764, it is the 7th-oldest higher education institute in the United States. It is known for its humanities, natural sciences, law, engineering, business programs, interdisciplinary education, and research approach.
Brown is particularly well-regarded for its undergraduate liberal arts education and graduate and professional schools in medicine and public health.
Cornell University
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Cornell University is a private Ivy League research university in Ithaca, New York, with additional campuses in New York City and Doha, Qatar.
It was established in 1865 and is the only land-grant institution in New York State. It is renowned for its business, engineering, computer science, and humanities degree programs.
Cornell is famous for its undergraduate liberal arts education and graduate and professional schools in law, medicine, and veterinary medicine.
Columbia University in New York City
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Columbia University in New York City is a private Ivy League research university in New York City, New York. Founded in 1754, it is the fifth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. It is known for its humanities, healthcare, law, computer sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and business degree programs.
Columbia University is particularly well-regarded for its graduate and professional law, journalism, and international and public affairs schools.
University of Notre Dame
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The University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, Indiana. Founded in 1842, it is one of the most prestigious Catholic universities in the United States. It is known for its history, humanities, architectural design, natural sciences, law, healthcare, engineering, and business programs.
Notre Dame is particularly well-regarded for its undergraduate liberal arts education and graduate and professional law, business, and theology schools.
University of California – Berkeley
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The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is a public research university in Berkeley, California. Founded in 1868, it is the flagship campus of the University of California system. It is known for its humanities, nursing, natural sciences, history, engineering, and business programs and its interdisciplinary approach to education and research.
UC Berkeley is particularly well-regarded for its graduate and professional schools in law, journalism, natural resources, and the environment.
University of Southern California
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The University of Southern California (USC) is a private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880, USC is known for its humanities, computer sciences, healthcare, natural sciences, engineering, and business programs and its interdisciplinary approach to education and research.
USC is particularly well-regarded for its graduate and professional schools in film, music, journalism, and business.
Georgetown University
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Georgetown University is a private Jesuit research university located in Washington, DC. Founded in 1789, it is one of the oldest Jesuit universities in the United States. It is known for its strong humanities, natural sciences, engineering, and business programs and interdisciplinary approach to education and research.
Georgetown is Bowdoin College, a private liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine. Founded in 1794, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the country. It is known for its programs in undergraduate liberal arts education, as well as its commitment to student life, community engagement, and environmental sustainability.
Bowdoin’s curriculum emphasizes its arts and science programs, other humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences programs, and a focus on interdisciplinary study. Particularly well-regarded for its graduate and professional law, foreign service, and business schools.
Bowdoin College
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Conclusion
Choosing the college that works for you is an important decision that requires careful consideration of multiple factors.
Our picks of the best colleges in the US listed in this blog represent higher education in the United States that offer students a wide range of academic programs, research opportunities, and resources. Whether you are interested in a small liberal arts college or a large research university, there indeed is a college that meets your higher educational needs.
Remember to research your options, visit the colleges physically or virtually, and ultimately make a decision that aligns with your academic and personal goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the QS World University Rankings, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is the #1 college in the US and globally.
The QS World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), specializing in education and study abroad. The rankings are among the world’s most widely recognized and respected universities.
Many aspirants prefer states like California, Massachusetts, and New York, as these states are home to several highly-ranked universities, such as Stanford University, Harvard University, and Columbia University.
Some colleges may have less selective admissions processes and accept a higher percentage of applicants, while others may have highly competitive and demanding processes. The colleges with a 100% acceptance rate are the easiest to get into.
