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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254
Northland CollegeC-
Thief River Falls, Minnesota · United States · Global #765
56% graduation $44,425 median earnings $19,638/yr 1,554 students
255
South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyC-
Rapid City, South Dakota · United States · Global #766
80% acceptance 53% graduation $72,257 median earnings $25,385/yr 2,071 students
256
University of HawaiiC-
Laie, Hawaii · United States · Global #767
47% acceptance 53% graduation $52,064 median earnings $25,098/yr 2,889 students
257
University of TampaC-
Tampa, Florida · United States · Global #768
40% acceptance 64% graduation $59,436 median earnings $51,614/yr 10,572 students
258
University of Wisconsin - Eau ClaireC-
Eau Claire, Wisconsin · United States · Global #769
82% acceptance 64% graduation $58,561 median earnings $21,705/yr 8,895 students
259
West Virginia UniversityC-
Morgantown, West Virginia · United States · Global #770
37% acceptance 33% graduation $55,939 median earnings $18,907/yr 981 students
260
Adelphi UniversityC-
Garden City, New York · United States · Global #771
66% acceptance 67% graduation $75,482 median earnings $63,189/yr 5,276 students
261
Butler UniversityC-
Indianapolis, Indiana · United States · Global #772
85% acceptance 80% graduation $77,235 median earnings $65,970/yr 4,317 students
262
Columbia Southern UniversityC-
Orange Beach, Alabama · United States · Global #773
33% graduation $63,534 median earnings $18,226/yr 12,176 students
263
Fort Hays State UniversityC-
Hays, Kansas · United States · Global #774
73% graduation $38,616 median earnings 315 students
264
Hendrix CollegeC-
Conway, Arkansas · United States · Global #775
56% acceptance 72% graduation $60,376 median earnings $55,013/yr 1,100 students
265
I
Illinois CollegeC-
Jacksonville, Illinois · United States · Global #776
83% acceptance 42% graduation $92,405 median earnings $40,826/yr 14,027 students
266
Jones CollegeC-
Decatur, Georgia · United States · Global #777
75% graduation $42,636 median earnings $31,921/yr 338 students
267
Lake Forest CollegeC-
Lake Forest, Illinois · United States · Global #778
57% acceptance 78% graduation $61,825 median earnings $70,655/yr 1,813 students
268
Pacific UniversityC-
Forest Grove, Oregon · United States · Global #779
71% acceptance 69% graduation $78,445 median earnings $71,515/yr 3,204 students
269
Pomona CollegeC-
Claremont, California · United States · Global #780
71% graduation $39,876 median earnings 381 students
270
Rollins CollegeC-
Winter Park, Florida · United States · Global #781
48% acceptance 75% graduation $58,295 median earnings $76,108/yr 2,631 students
271
Saint Anselm CollegeC-
Manchester, New Hampshire · United States · Global #782
78% acceptance 80% graduation $73,371 median earnings $67,213/yr 2,087 students
272
University of Detroit MercyC-
Detroit, Michigan · United States · Global #783
75% acceptance 67% graduation $71,030 median earnings $42,211/yr 2,438 students
273
Winona State UniversityC-
Winona, Minnesota · United States · Global #784
75% acceptance 57% graduation $58,532 median earnings $23,683/yr 5,144 students
274
Bellevue UniversityC-
Bellevue, Nebraska · United States · Global #785
33% graduation $61,289 median earnings $23,531/yr 10,220 students
275
Bemidji State UniversityC-
Bemidji, Minnesota · United States · Global #786
56% acceptance 48% graduation $53,755 median earnings $22,744/yr 3,139 students
276
Capitol Technology UniversityC-
Laurel, Maryland · United States · Global #787
74% acceptance 43% graduation $85,035 median earnings $42,471/yr 315 students
277
Chadron State CollegeC-
Chadron, Nebraska · United States · Global #788
50% graduation $47,002 median earnings $21,132/yr 1,540 students
278
Eastern Florida State CollegeC-
Melbourne, Florida · United States · Global #789
52% graduation $37,195 median earnings $11,966/yr 10,490 students
279
Lawrence Technological UniversityC-
Southfield, Michigan · United States · Global #790
56% acceptance 61% graduation $69,151 median earnings $58,166/yr 1,668 students
280
LeTourneau UniversityC-
Longview, Texas · United States · Global #791
38% acceptance 59% graduation $57,103 median earnings $51,124/yr 1,468 students
281
Mississippi CollegeC-
Summit, Mississippi · United States · Global #792
56% graduation $33,227 median earnings $11,644/yr 1,474 students
282
Salisbury UniversityC-
Salisbury, Maryland · United States · Global #793
87% acceptance 68% graduation $61,515 median earnings $28,310/yr 6,057 students
283
Slippery Rock UniversityC-
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #794
71% acceptance 66% graduation $53,032 median earnings $25,537/yr 6,788 students
284
Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaC-
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #795
71% acceptance 66% graduation $53,032 median earnings $25,537/yr 6,788 students
285
St. Johns River State CollegeC-
Palatka, Florida · United States · Global #796
49% graduation $41,728 median earnings $12,906/yr 4,403 students
286
Temple UniversityC-
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #797
80% acceptance 75% graduation $63,727 median earnings $40,903/yr 20,970 students
287
Truman State UniversityC-
Kirksville, Missouri · United States · Global #798
84% acceptance 69% graduation $56,280 median earnings $25,115/yr 2,513 students
288
University of Massachusetts at LowellC-
Lowell, Massachusetts · United States · Global #799
83% acceptance 65% graduation $64,874 median earnings $30,786/yr 11,434 students
289
University of Texas at ArlingtonC-
Arlington, Texas · United States · Global #800
80% acceptance 54% graduation $63,199 median earnings $25,261/yr 32,294 students
290
Appalachian State UniversityC-
Boone, North Carolina · United States · Global #801
90% acceptance 75% graduation $51,836 median earnings $23,169/yr 19,444 students
291
Arkansas State UniversityC-
Jonesboro, Arkansas · United States · Global #802
46% graduation $41,524 median earnings $15,060/yr 1,236 students
292
Bradley UniversityC-
Peoria, Illinois · United States · Global #803
77% acceptance 76% graduation $66,852 median earnings $54,730/yr 3,574 students
293
Catholic University of AmericaC-
Washington, District of Columbia · United States · Global #804
83% acceptance 79% graduation $73,250 median earnings $75,481/yr 3,154 students
294
Dakota State UniversityC-
Madison, South Dakota · United States · Global #805
95% acceptance 64% graduation $62,203 median earnings $23,716/yr 9,471 students
295
Duquesne UniversityC-
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #806
84% acceptance 77% graduation $74,742 median earnings $67,776/yr 5,350 students
296
Kennesaw State UniversityC-
Kennesaw, Georgia · United States · Global #807
69% acceptance 52% graduation $57,552 median earnings $24,008/yr 41,254 students
297
Lewis UniversityC-
Romeoville, Illinois · United States · Global #808
71% acceptance 67% graduation $66,099 median earnings $47,313/yr 4,015 students
298
Minnesota State University MoorheadC-
Moorhead, Minnesota · United States · Global #809
59% acceptance 57% graduation $50,527 median earnings $25,197/yr 3,072 students
299
Montana State University - NorthernC-
Havre, Montana · United States · Global #810
41% graduation $49,505 median earnings $16,578/yr 761 students
300
North Dakota State UniversityC-
Fargo, North Dakota · United States · Global #811
95% acceptance 64% graduation $62,203 median earnings $23,716/yr 9,471 students
301
Northern Kentucky UniversityC-
Highland Heights, Kentucky · United States · Global #812
68% acceptance 52% graduation $50,220 median earnings $19,725/yr 8,246 students
302
Northern State UniversityC-
Aberdeen, South Dakota · United States · Global #813
41% graduation $49,505 median earnings $16,578/yr 761 students
303
Rhodes CollegeC-
Memphis, Tennessee · United States · Global #814
47% graduation $41,855 median earnings $14,578/yr 1,590 students