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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.

554

Georgia Southwestern State UniversityD

Americus, Georgia · United States · Global #1065
75% acceptance 41% graduation $48,757 median earnings $20,484/yr 2,424 students
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555

Georgia State UniversityD

Atlanta, Georgia · United States · Global #1066
75% acceptance 41% graduation $48,757 median earnings $20,484/yr 2,424 students
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556

Howard Community CollegeD

Columbia, Maryland · United States · Global #1067
24% graduation $49,020 median earnings $16,774/yr 6,649 students
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557

Keene State CollegeD

Keene, New Hampshire · United States · Global #1068
90% acceptance 60% graduation $54,368 median earnings $29,993/yr 2,699 students
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558

Keuka CollegeD

Keuka Park, New York · United States · Global #1069
68% acceptance 58% graduation $58,289 median earnings $54,760/yr 966 students
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559

Knox CollegeD

Galesburg, Illinois · United States · Global #1070
71% acceptance 68% graduation $54,820 median earnings $68,134/yr 1,127 students
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560

Maryville UniversityD

Saint Louis, Missouri · United States · Global #1071
95% acceptance 66% graduation $62,105 median earnings $41,959/yr 5,658 students
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561

Meredith CollegeD

Raleigh, North Carolina · United States · Global #1072
74% acceptance 70% graduation $51,539 median earnings $57,313/yr 1,188 students
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562

Oklahoma Baptist UniversityD

Shawnee, Oklahoma · United States · Global #1073
49% acceptance 52% graduation $48,434 median earnings $48,695/yr 1,308 students
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563

Oklahoma State UniversityD

Stillwater, Oklahoma · United States · Global #1074
40% graduation $45,744 median earnings $23,334/yr 3,514 students
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564

Plymouth State UniversityD

Plymouth, New Hampshire · United States · Global #1075
88% acceptance 52% graduation $57,304 median earnings $29,644/yr 3,153 students
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565

Rider UniversityD

Lawrenceville, New Jersey · United States · Global #1076
79% acceptance 61% graduation $62,208 median earnings $55,967/yr 3,106 students
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566

Saint Louis UniversityD

Saint Louis, Missouri · United States · Global #1077
95% acceptance 66% graduation $62,105 median earnings $41,959/yr 5,658 students
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567

Seattle Central CollegeD

Seattle, Washington · United States · Global #1078
32% graduation $43,307 median earnings $17,889/yr 3,953 students
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568

Seattle Pacific UniversityD

Seattle, Washington · United States · Global #1079
83% acceptance 62% graduation $64,506 median earnings $56,826/yr 1,762 students
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569

Shawnee State UniversityD

Portsmouth, Ohio · United States · Global #1080
48% graduation $39,596 median earnings $21,974/yr 2,247 students
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570

Southeast Missouri State UniversityD

Cape Girardeau, Missouri · United States · Global #1081
74% acceptance 58% graduation $44,030 median earnings $25,177/yr 6,373 students
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571

Suffolk UniversityD

Boston, Massachusetts · United States · Global #1082
82% acceptance 61% graduation $67,506 median earnings $65,281/yr 4,268 students
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572

University of AlaskaD

Anchorage, Alaska · United States · Global #1083
30% graduation $51,871 median earnings $24,096/yr 7,212 students
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573

University of Alaska - AnchorageD

Anchorage, Alaska · United States · Global #1084
30% graduation $51,871 median earnings $24,096/yr 7,212 students
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574

University of Tennessee at ChattanoogaD

Chattanooga, Tennessee · United States · Global #1085
81% acceptance 50% graduation $51,151 median earnings $25,489/yr 10,074 students
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575

Valley City State UniversityD

Valley City, North Dakota · United States · Global #1086
99% acceptance 53% graduation $52,725 median earnings $20,468/yr 958 students
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576

Woodbury UniversityD

Burbank, California · United States · Global #1087
82% acceptance 60% graduation $65,668 median earnings $58,010/yr 779 students
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577

Arcadia CollegeD

Glenside, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #1088
80% acceptance 67% graduation $58,336 median earnings $64,645/yr 1,948 students
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578

Ashland UniversityD

Ashland, Ohio · United States · Global #1089
76% acceptance 61% graduation $52,928 median earnings $43,434/yr 2,199 students
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579

California Baptist UniversityD

Riverside, California · United States · Global #1090
85% acceptance 62% graduation $61,504 median earnings $54,038/yr 8,179 students
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580

Capital UniversityD

Columbus, Ohio · United States · Global #1091
70% acceptance 60% graduation $54,143 median earnings $57,130/yr 1,585 students
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581

Centenary College of LouisianaD

Shreveport, Louisiana · United States · Global #1092
56% acceptance 56% graduation $50,330 median earnings $60,620/yr 685 students
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582

Central Methodist CollegeD

Fayette, Missouri · United States · Global #1093
57% acceptance 51% graduation $48,991 median earnings $43,635/yr 1,040 students
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583

Coppin State UniversityD

Baltimore, Maryland · United States · Global #1094
46% acceptance 26% graduation $46,490 median earnings $23,748/yr 1,844 students
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584

East Texas Baptist UniversityD

Marshall, Texas · United States · Global #1095
58% acceptance 47% graduation $52,788 median earnings $44,211/yr 1,352 students
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585

Eastern Washington UniversityD

Cheney, Washington · United States · Global #1096
91% acceptance 43% graduation $57,897 median earnings $24,478/yr 6,222 students
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586

Erie Community CollegeD

Buffalo, New York · United States · Global #1097
28% graduation $41,228 median earnings $14,348/yr 6,099 students
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587

Felician UniversityD

Lodi, New Jersey · United States · Global #1098
47% graduation $57,602 median earnings $50,316/yr 1,774 students
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588

Frostburg State UniversityD

Frostburg, Maryland · United States · Global #1099
89% acceptance 50% graduation $55,493 median earnings $27,056/yr 2,909 students
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589

Jacksonville State UniversityD

Jacksonville, Alabama · United States · Global #1100
78% acceptance 55% graduation $45,235 median earnings $24,257/yr 7,036 students
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590

Jacksonville UniversityD

Jacksonville, Florida · United States · Global #1101
78% acceptance 55% graduation $45,235 median earnings $24,257/yr 7,036 students
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591

Lebanon Valley CollegeD

Annville, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #1102
84% acceptance 65% graduation $62,621 median earnings $66,497/yr 1,684 students
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592

Madison Area Technical CollegeD

Madison, Wisconsin · United States · Global #1103
29% graduation $45,413 median earnings $19,434/yr 10,073 students
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593

McDaniel CollegeD

Westminster, Maryland · United States · Global #1104
78% acceptance 63% graduation $60,663 median earnings $65,294/yr 1,617 students
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594

Missouri Western State CollegeD

Saint Joseph, Missouri · United States · Global #1105
39% graduation $42,647 median earnings $21,595/yr 2,219 students
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595

Morehead State UniversityD

Morehead, Kentucky · United States · Global #1106
77% acceptance 52% graduation $43,197 median earnings $21,961/yr 4,578 students
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596

Murray State UniversityD

Murray, Kentucky · United States · Global #1107
86% acceptance 61% graduation $44,737 median earnings $23,485/yr 6,688 students
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597

Polytechnic University of Puerto RicoD

Orlando, Florida · United States · Global #1108
33% graduation $47,540 median earnings $23,011/yr 96 students
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598

Robert Morris UniversityD

Moon Township, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #1109
90% acceptance 66% graduation $62,105 median earnings $51,621/yr 2,896 students
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599

Saint Joseph's College (IN)D

Standish, Maine · United States · Global #1110
84% acceptance 66% graduation $59,045 median earnings $59,782/yr 964 students
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600

Southern Illinois University-EdwardsvilleD

Edwardsville, Illinois · United States · Global #1111
98% acceptance 57% graduation $56,346 median earnings $28,919/yr 8,750 students
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601

St. Bonaventure UniversityD

Saint Bonaventure, New York · United States · Global #1112
82% acceptance 67% graduation $57,214 median earnings $57,271/yr 2,012 students
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602

University of Nebraska KearneyD

Kearney, Nebraska · United States · Global #1113
89% acceptance 58% graduation $50,105 median earnings $25,808/yr 4,088 students
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603

University of the District of ColumbiaD

Washington, District of Columbia · United States · Global #1114
33% graduation $44,236 median earnings $20,437/yr 3,351 students
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Rankings tell you how good a university is. They do not tell you what it costs. See student debt against graduate salary at 795 US universities — and how many years the degree takes to pay for itself. Is college worth it? See the numbers →