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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.

Best for Agriculture & Food Best for Architecture & Built Environment Best for Arts & Design Best for Biology & Life Sciences Best for Business & Management Best for Chemistry Best for Computer Science & IT Best for Economics & Finance Best for Education Best for Engineering Best for Environmental & Earth Sciences Best for History & Archaeology Best for Humanities & Literature Best for Languages & Linguistics Best for Law Best for Mathematics & Statistics Best for Media & Communication Best for Medicine & Health Best for Music & Performing Arts Best for Other Fields Best for Physics & Astronomy Best for Political Science & IR Best for Psychology Best for Social Sciences
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University of Louisiana at Lafeyette

United States
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University of Maine at Machias

Machias, Maine · United States
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University of Maine at Presque Island

United States
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University of Maine System

Orono, Maine · United States
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University of Maryland, Baltimore

Baltimore, Maryland · United States
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University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Baltimore, Maryland · United States
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University of Maryland, College Park

College Park, Maryland · United States
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University of Mississippi Medical Center

Jackson, Mississippi · United States
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University of Missouri - Rolla

United States
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University of Missouri - Saint Louis

United States
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University of Mount Olive

Mount Olive, North Carolina · United States
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University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Lincoln, Nebraska · United States
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University of Nebraska, Omaha

Omaha, Nebraska · United States
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University of Nevada

Henderson, Nevada · United States
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University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada · United States
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University of Nevada, Reno

Reno, Nevada · United States
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University of New England

Biddeford, Maine · United States
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University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online

Manchester, New Hampshire · United States
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University of New Orleans

New Orleans, Louisiana · United States
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University of North Alabama

Florence, Alabama · United States
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University of North Texas

Denton, Texas · United States
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University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, Texas · United States
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University of North Texas Health Science Center

Fort Worth, Texas · United States
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University of Notre Dame USA

United States
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University of Phoenix

Phoenix, Arizona · United States
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University of Pikeville

United States
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University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

United States
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University of Pittsburgh-Titusville

United States
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University of Saint Thomas (MN)

Miami Gardens, Florida · United States
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University of Saint Thomas (TX)

Miami Gardens, Florida · United States
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University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma

Chickasha, Oklahoma · United States
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University of South Carolina Upstate

United States
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University of South Carolina, Beaufort

United States
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University of Southwestern Louisiana

United States
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University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

United States
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University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Knoxville, Tennessee · United States
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University of Tennessee, Martin

Martin, Tennessee · United States
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University of Texas - Pan American

United States
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University of Texas at Brownsville

United States
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University of Texas Medical Branch

Galveston, Texas · United States
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University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Dallas, Texas · United States
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University of the People

Pasadena, California · United States
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University of Virginia, Charlottesville

United States
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University of Western States (UWS)

Portland, Oregon · United States
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University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse

United States
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University of Wisconsin Colleges

United States
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University of Wisconsin System

United States
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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Flex

Milwaukee, Wisconsin · United States
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University System of Maryland

United States
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Urban College of Boston

Boston, Massachusetts · United States
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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 →