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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454
University of RedlandsD+
Redlands, California · United States · Global #965
83% acceptance 67% graduation $72,690 median earnings $76,630/yr 2,049 students
455
Ursinus CollegeD+
Collegeville, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #966
92% acceptance 73% graduation $73,721 median earnings $76,815/yr 1,491 students
456
Wagner CollegeD+
Staten Island, New York · United States · Global #967
88% acceptance 65% graduation $74,360 median earnings $65,574/yr 1,651 students
457
Waubonsee Community CollegeD+
Sugar Grove, Illinois · United States · Global #968
39% graduation $44,788 median earnings $19,336/yr 5,721 students
458
Wayne State UniversityD+
Detroit, Michigan · United States · Global #969
81% acceptance 58% graduation $53,493 median earnings $27,350/yr 15,587 students
459
Westmont CollegeD+
Santa Barbara, California · United States · Global #970
77% acceptance 70% graduation $64,778 median earnings $71,150/yr 1,302 students
460
Brigham Young University - IdahoD
Rexburg, Idaho · United States · Global #971
96% acceptance 55% graduation $53,406 median earnings $15,246/yr 44,397 students
461
Central Washington UniversityD
Ellensburg, Washington · United States · Global #972
91% acceptance 54% graduation $61,580 median earnings $28,816/yr 7,833 students
462
Coe CollegeD
Cedar Rapids, Iowa · United States · Global #973
64% acceptance 66% graduation $57,125 median earnings $67,372/yr 1,164 students
463
Delaware State UniversityD
Dover, Delaware · United States · Global #974
47% acceptance 39% graduation $49,307 median earnings $27,939/yr 4,398 students
464
East Central UniversityD
Ada, Oklahoma · United States · Global #975
58% acceptance 34% graduation $44,962 median earnings $18,459/yr 2,467 students
465
Eastern Illinois UniversityD
Charleston, Illinois · United States · Global #976
65% acceptance 47% graduation $51,989 median earnings $26,996/yr 4,188 students
466
Everett Community CollegeD
Everett, Washington · United States · Global #977
37% graduation $45,434 median earnings $20,451/yr 4,709 students
467
Gannon UniversityD
Erie, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #978
74% acceptance 66% graduation $58,845 median earnings $52,869/yr 2,365 students
468
Lindenwood UniversityD
Saint Charles, Missouri · United States · Global #979
57% acceptance 49% graduation $53,278 median earnings $35,436/yr 4,624 students
469
N
New York Institute of TechnologyD
Old Westbury, New York · United States · Global #980
81% acceptance 59% graduation $70,080 median earnings $56,976/yr 3,440 students
470
Pace UniversityD
New York, New York · United States · Global #981
76% acceptance 60% graduation $70,378 median earnings $69,550/yr 7,665 students
471
Peru State CollegeD
Peru, Nebraska · United States · Global #982
38% graduation $47,071 median earnings $22,240/yr 1,092 students
472
Pittsburg State UniversityD
Pittsburg, Kansas · United States · Global #983
89% acceptance 57% graduation $50,579 median earnings $22,099/yr 4,210 students
473
Platt CollegeD
Alhambra, California · United States · Global #984
63% graduation $40,669 median earnings $32,164/yr 570 students
474
Saginaw Valley State UniversityD
University Center, Michigan · United States · Global #985
72% acceptance 48% graduation $51,955 median earnings $24,936/yr 5,989 students
475
Sarah Lawrence CollegeD
Bronxville, New York · United States · Global #986
62% acceptance 71% graduation $53,603 median earnings $82,467/yr 1,530 students
476
Shenandoah UniversityD
Winchester, Virginia · United States · Global #987
77% acceptance 67% graduation $58,433 median earnings $51,928/yr 2,116 students
477
South Dakota State UniversityD
Brookings, South Dakota · United States · Global #988
98% acceptance 62% graduation $55,070 median earnings $24,636/yr 9,198 students
478
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleD
Carbondale, Illinois · United States · Global #989
87% acceptance 62% graduation $53,390 median earnings $28,329/yr 8,494 students
479
S
St. John's UniversityD
Queens, New York · United States · Global #990
83% acceptance 66% graduation $69,571 median earnings $65,527/yr 9,477 students
480
Stevenson UniversityD
Owings Mills, Maryland · United States · Global #991
79% acceptance 68% graduation $62,079 median earnings $58,394/yr 3,102 students
481
Tarrant County CollegeD
Fort Worth, Texas · United States · Global #992
34% graduation $42,727 median earnings $11,130/yr 42,300 students
482
Taylor UniversityD
Upland, Indiana · United States · Global #993
74% acceptance 74% graduation $52,198 median earnings $53,405/yr 2,025 students
483
Tennessee Technological UniversityD
Cookeville, Tennessee · United States · Global #994
76% acceptance 58% graduation $48,501 median earnings $25,663/yr 8,698 students
484
Union CollegeD
Schenectady, New York · United States · Global #995
35% graduation $41,595 median earnings $13,569/yr 7,939 students
485
University of North GeorgiaD
Dahlonega, Georgia · United States · Global #996
68% acceptance 37% graduation $50,135 median earnings $18,177/yr 16,146 students
486
University of Pittsburgh at BradfordD
Bradford, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #997
89% acceptance 48% graduation $66,125 median earnings $30,478/yr 995 students
487
University of South DakotaD
Vermillion, South Dakota · United States · Global #998
98% acceptance 62% graduation $55,070 median earnings $24,636/yr 9,198 students
488
University of Texas at TylerD
Tyler, Texas · United States · Global #999
94% acceptance 54% graduation $57,053 median earnings $24,505/yr 7,440 students
489
University of West AlabamaD
Livingston, Alabama · United States · Global #1000
43% acceptance 35% graduation $44,232 median earnings $22,758/yr 2,974 students
490
University of Wisconsin - OshkoshD
Oshkosh, Wisconsin · United States · Global #1001
87% acceptance 46% graduation $55,548 median earnings $19,652/yr 6,877 students
491
U
University of Wisconsin–ParksideD
Kenosha, Wisconsin · United States · Global #1002
75% acceptance 40% graduation $51,129 median earnings $18,199/yr 2,844 students
492
University of WyomingD
Laramie, Wyoming · United States · Global #1003
97% acceptance 59% graduation $56,880 median earnings $24,818/yr 7,944 students
493
Wichita State UniversityD
Wichita, Kansas · United States · Global #1004
43% graduation $38,679 median earnings $17,592/yr 2,828 students
494
Aiken Technical CollegeD
Graniteville, South Carolina · United States · Global #1005
34% graduation $39,225 median earnings $13,171/yr 1,925 students
495
Alvernia UniversityD
Reading, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #1006
58% acceptance 56% graduation $55,055 median earnings $57,565/yr 2,152 students
496
Andrews UniversityD
Berrien Springs, Michigan · United States · Global #1007
82% acceptance 72% graduation $53,187 median earnings $45,218/yr 1,224 students
497
Aurora UniversityD
Aurora, Illinois · United States · Global #1008
81% acceptance 60% graduation $58,709 median earnings $40,625/yr 3,974 students
498
Biola UniversityD
La Mirada, California · United States · Global #1009
74% acceptance 68% graduation $56,778 median earnings $62,757/yr 3,474 students
499
Central CollegeD
Pella, Iowa · United States · Global #1010
44% graduation $38,203 median earnings $18,424/yr 5,033 students
500
C
Chatham UniversityD
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #1011
62% acceptance 63% graduation $52,410 median earnings $61,261/yr 1,232 students
501
College of Saint BenedictD
Saint Joseph, Minnesota · United States · Global #1012
92% acceptance 77% graduation $63,260 median earnings $68,453/yr 1,370 students
502
Drury CollegeD
Springfield, MO · United States · Global #1013
43% graduation $40,694 median earnings $19,698/yr 632 students
503
Eastern Connecticut State UniversityD
Willimantic, Connecticut · United States · Global #1014
83% acceptance 58% graduation $56,469 median earnings $31,983/yr 3,418 students