Best Universities in United States 2026
891 universities in United States ranked on real data — QS reputation, admission rate, graduation & graduate earnings. How we rank.
Which are the best universities in United States in 2026? We rank 891 United States universities on real published data — QS World reputation, admission selectivity, graduation rates and graduate earnings — never opinion.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology tops the ranking with an independent grade of A+ (5% acceptance, $143,372 median graduate earnings), ahead of Stanford University and Harvard University. Every university carries an independent ScholarshipsAds grade, so you can compare quality, selectivity, tuition and graduate outcomes at a glance.
Filter by field of study below, or open any university for its full review, programs, tuition and scholarships.
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804
University of Puerto RicoF
Bayamon, Puerto Rico · United States · Global #1315
81% acceptance 46% graduation $27,997 median earnings $14,498/yr 1,883 students
805
Virginia Wesleyan CollegeF
Buckhannon, West Virginia · United States · Global #1316
93% acceptance 57% graduation $51,593 median earnings $48,190/yr 954 students
806
West Virginia Wesleyan CollegeF
Buckhannon, West Virginia · United States · Global #1317
93% acceptance 57% graduation $51,593 median earnings $48,190/yr 954 students
807
Austin Peay State UniversityF
Clarksville, Tennessee · United States · Global #1318
96% acceptance 40% graduation $44,301 median earnings $22,233/yr 7,560 students
808
Barry UniversityF
Miami, Florida · United States · Global #1319
77% acceptance 38% graduation $55,966 median earnings $50,778/yr 2,212 students
809
Baylor UniversityF
Waco, Texas · United States · Global #1320
96% acceptance 49% graduation $56,132 median earnings $46,874/yr 2,759 students
810
Columbus State UniversityF
Columbus, Georgia · United States · Global #1321
99% acceptance 42% graduation $44,544 median earnings $21,676/yr 5,625 students
811
Delta State UniversityF
Cleveland, Mississippi · United States · Global #1322
100% acceptance 48% graduation $41,991 median earnings $22,445/yr 1,620 students
812
E
Eureka CollegeF
Eureka, Illinois · United States · Global #1323
85% acceptance 42% graduation $51,641 median earnings $39,578/yr 522 students
813
Heidelberg CollegeF
Tiffin, Ohio · United States · Global #1324
86% acceptance 52% graduation $48,466 median earnings $47,025/yr 915 students
814
Lesley UniversityF
Cambridge, Massachusetts · United States · Global #1325
97% acceptance 58% graduation $51,173 median earnings $51,538/yr 1,122 students
815
Liberty UniversityF
Lynchburg, Virginia · United States · Global #1326
99% acceptance 65% graduation $44,813 median earnings $42,025/yr 50,012 students
816
Saint Leo UniversityF
Saint Leo, Florida · United States · Global #1327
78% acceptance 45% graduation $48,364 median earnings $45,264/yr 6,721 students
817
Saint Mary CollegeF
Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana · United States · Global #1328
72% acceptance 47% graduation $43,845 median earnings $49,512/yr 853 students
818
S
Simmons UniversityF
Boston, Massachusetts · United States · Global #1329
90% acceptance 46% graduation $54,771 median earnings $45,904/yr 1,283 students
819
Simon's Rock CollegeF
Barrytown, New York · United States · Global #1330
96% acceptance 68% graduation $46,543 median earnings $85,262/yr 225 students
820
Simpson CollegeF
Indianola, Iowa · United States · Global #1331
86% acceptance 49% graduation $54,340 median earnings $54,688/yr 809 students
821
University of the Incarnate WordF
San Antonio, Texas · United States · Global #1332
98% acceptance 51% graduation $56,733 median earnings $48,681/yr 4,440 students
822
Wesleyan UniversityF
Middletown, Connecticut · United States · Global #1333
73% acceptance 42% graduation $50,074 median earnings $51,255/yr 1,256 students
823
Auburn University at MontgomeryF
Montgomery, Alabama · United States · Global #1334
92% acceptance 33% graduation $44,391 median earnings $21,353/yr 2,542 students
824
Bowling Green State UniversityF
Bowling Green, Ohio · United States · Global #1335
11% graduation $47,896 median earnings $22,070/yr 1,251 students
825
Bridgewater CollegeF
Bridgewater, Virginia · United States · Global #1336
92% acceptance 53% graduation $53,453 median earnings $58,702/yr 1,400 students
826
Curry CollegeF
Milton, Massachusetts · United States · Global #1337
88% acceptance 51% graduation $54,400 median earnings $64,020/yr 1,780 students
827
Davenport UniversityF
Grand Rapids, Michigan · United States · Global #1338
98% acceptance 57% graduation $45,099 median earnings $37,319/yr 3,134 students
828
Doane UniversityF
Crete, Nebraska · United States · Global #1339
98% acceptance 57% graduation $53,316 median earnings $57,836/yr 978 students
829
Franklin UniversityF
Columbus, Ohio · United States · Global #1340
93% acceptance 54% graduation $53,353 median earnings $64,185/yr 992 students
830
Grand Canyon UniversityF
Phoenix, Arizona · United States · Global #1341
79% acceptance 43% graduation $42,186 median earnings $32,702/yr 73,371 students
831
Metropolitan State UniversityF
Saint Paul, Minnesota · United States · Global #1342
99% acceptance 32% graduation $52,093 median earnings $24,622/yr 15,002 students
832
National Park CollegeF
Hot Springs, Arkansas · United States · Global #1343
35% graduation $32,444 median earnings $19,331/yr 1,789 students
833
Norfolk State UniversityF
Norfolk, Virginia · United States · Global #1344
88% acceptance 39% graduation $44,666 median earnings $26,633/yr 5,392 students
834
North Carolina Central UniversityF
Durham, North Carolina · United States · Global #1345
87% acceptance 42% graduation $42,968 median earnings $26,556/yr 6,081 students
835
R
Rockford UniversityF
Rockford, Illinois · United States · Global #1346
93% acceptance 47% graduation $54,794 median earnings $49,169/yr 972 students
836
University of LouisvilleF
Louisville, Kentucky · United States · Global #1347
50% graduation $28,188 median earnings $25,356/yr 347 students
837
University of Southern MississippiF
Hattiesburg, Mississippi · United States · Global #1348
99% acceptance 49% graduation $44,140 median earnings $26,566/yr 10,075 students
838
Wilberforce UniversityF
Wilberforce, Ohio · United States · Global #1349
41% acceptance 12% graduation $38,298 median earnings $25,676/yr 822 students
839
William Woods UniversityF
Fulton, Missouri · United States · Global #1350
71% acceptance 47% graduation $42,401 median earnings $49,094/yr 1,300 students
840
Capella UniversityF
Minneapolis, Minnesota · United States · Global #1351
20% graduation $42,189 median earnings $22,820/yr 18,364 students
841
Coastal Alabama Community CollegeF
Bay Minette, Alabama · United States · Global #1352
31% graduation $34,894 median earnings $20,605/yr 4,798 students
842
Guilford CollegeF
Greensboro, North Carolina · United States · Global #1353
80% acceptance 46% graduation $47,590 median earnings $55,689/yr 1,001 students
843
Hawaii Pacific UniversityF
Honolulu, Hawaii · United States · Global #1354
86% acceptance 35% graduation $59,593 median earnings $50,674/yr 2,392 students
844
Lane Community CollegeF
Eugene, Oregon · United States · Global #1355
20% graduation $38,075 median earnings $18,699/yr 6,064 students
845
Laurus CollegeF
San Luis Obispo, California · United States · Global #1356
43% graduation $30,896 median earnings 1,116 students
846
Marymount Manhattan CollegeF
New York, New York · United States · Global #1357
83% acceptance 49% graduation $49,131 median earnings $65,767/yr 1,577 students
847
New Jersey City UniversityF
Jersey City, New Jersey · United States · Global #1358
98% acceptance 34% graduation $52,745 median earnings $28,255/yr 3,681 students
848
Northeastern State UniversityF
Tahlequah, Oklahoma · United States · Global #1359
100% acceptance 35% graduation $45,379 median earnings $21,551/yr 4,772 students
849
Point Park UniversityF
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #1360
97% acceptance 59% graduation $45,856 median earnings $52,643/yr 2,331 students
850
University of Maryland Eastern ShoreF
Princess Anne, Maryland · United States · Global #1361
96% acceptance 35% graduation $47,697 median earnings $25,941/yr 2,391 students
851
Evergreen State CollegeF
Olympia, Washington · United States · Global #1362
96% acceptance 41% graduation $45,320 median earnings $28,477/yr 2,160 students
852
Full Sail UniversityF
Winter Park, Florida · United States · Global #1363
44% graduation $38,219 median earnings $47,530/yr 25,777 students
853
Johnson & Wales UniversityF
Providence, Rhode Island · United States · Global #1364
88% acceptance 55% graduation $43,418 median earnings $60,314/yr 3,868 students