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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304
Sonoma State UniversityC-
Rohnert Park, California · United States · Global #815
93% acceptance 58% graduation $65,986 median earnings $24,648/yr 5,166 students
305
Thomas Jefferson UniversityC-
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #816
81% acceptance 69% graduation $77,449 median earnings $64,197/yr 3,755 students
306
University of Mary WashingtonC-
Fredericksburg, Virginia · United States · Global #817
80% acceptance 66% graduation $60,613 median earnings $31,137/yr 3,566 students
307
University of Minnesota - DuluthC-
Duluth, Minnesota · United States · Global #818
89% acceptance 65% graduation $62,616 median earnings $27,680/yr 7,336 students
308
University of North DakotaC-
Grand Forks, North Dakota · United States · Global #819
95% acceptance 64% graduation $62,203 median earnings $23,716/yr 9,471 students
309
University of Northern IowaC-
Cedar Falls, Iowa · United States · Global #820
93% acceptance 68% graduation $55,177 median earnings $22,278/yr 7,529 students
310
Vance-Granville Community CollegeC-
Henderson, North Carolina · United States · Global #821
53% graduation $34,304 median earnings $13,153/yr 1,665 students
311
Washington & Jefferson CollegeC-
Washington, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #822
81% acceptance 70% graduation $67,918 median earnings $42,972/yr 1,295 students
312
Aquinas CollegeD+
Grand Rapids, Michigan · United States · Global #823
83% acceptance 84% graduation $55,619 median earnings $43,426/yr 566 students
313
Berea CollegeD+
Berea, Kentucky · United States · Global #824
19% acceptance 58% graduation $43,150 median earnings $60,718/yr 1,513 students
314
Carroll CollegeD+
Helena, Montana · United States · Global #825
75% graduation $29,074 median earnings 180 students
315
Christopher Newport UniversityD+
Newport News, Virginia · United States · Global #826
86% acceptance 72% graduation $60,509 median earnings $33,766/yr 4,365 students
316
Florida Polytechnic UniversityD+
Lakeland, Florida · United States · Global #827
58% acceptance 55% graduation $21,817/yr 1,689 students
317
Georgia CollegeD+
Milledgeville, Georgia · United States · Global #828
78% acceptance 64% graduation $58,140 median earnings $30,258/yr 5,947 students
318
Hallmark UniversityD+
San Antonio, Texas · United States · Global #829
51% acceptance 66% graduation $40,183 median earnings 769 students
319
Hofstra UniversityD+
Hempstead, New York · United States · Global #830
68% acceptance 69% graduation $69,039 median earnings $70,624/yr 6,488 students
320
Ithaca CollegeD+
Ithaca, New York · United States · Global #831
69% acceptance 76% graduation $63,548 median earnings $68,699/yr 4,242 students
321
Linfield CollegeD+
McMinnville, Oregon · United States · Global #832
85% acceptance 70% graduation $78,638 median earnings $65,935/yr 1,621 students
322
New College of FloridaD+
Sarasota, Florida · United States · Global #833
73% acceptance 67% graduation $48,082 median earnings $24,449/yr 843 students
323
Oregon Institute of TechnologyD+
Klamath Falls, Oregon · United States · Global #834
95% acceptance 54% graduation $72,273 median earnings $27,524/yr 2,892 students
324
Phillips UniversityD+
Enid, Oklahoma · United States · Global #835
55% graduation $29,552 median earnings $11,567/yr 614 students
325
Regent UniversityD+
Virginia Beach, Virginia · United States · Global #836
38% acceptance 57% graduation $44,498 median earnings $32,838/yr 4,729 students
326
Saint Vincent CollegeD+
Latrobe, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #837
62% acceptance 69% graduation $59,982 median earnings $56,752/yr 1,259 students
327
Sierra CollegeD+
Rocklin, California · United States · Global #838
42% graduation $45,294 median earnings $17,002/yr 14,122 students
328
S
Southern California University of Health SciencesD+
Whittier, California · United States · Global #839
50% graduation $70,649 median earnings $57,740/yr 158 students
329
Southern Utah UniversityD+
Cedar City, Utah · United States · Global #840
82% acceptance 61% graduation $50,296 median earnings $19,416/yr 9,289 students
330
T
The College of WoosterD+
Wooster, Ohio · United States · Global #841
60% acceptance 74% graduation $59,629 median earnings $75,656/yr 1,730 students
331
Thomas More CollegeD+
Merrimack, New Hampshire · United States · Global #842
63% graduation $53,565 median earnings $42,082/yr 97 students
332
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusD+
Denver, Colorado · United States · Global #843
75% acceptance 46% graduation $64,270 median earnings $24,902/yr 10,519 students
333
University of Colorado at DenverD+
Denver, Colorado · United States · Global #844
75% acceptance 46% graduation $64,270 median earnings $24,902/yr 10,519 students
334
University of DenverD+
Denver, Colorado · United States · Global #845
75% acceptance 46% graduation $64,270 median earnings $24,902/yr 10,519 students
335
University of Wisconsin - PlattevilleD+
Platteville, Wisconsin · United States · Global #846
89% acceptance 56% graduation $61,760 median earnings $21,266/yr 5,837 students
336
University of Wisconsin - River FallsD+
River Falls, Wisconsin · United States · Global #847
82% acceptance 57% graduation $54,458 median earnings $19,781/yr 4,205 students
337
University of Wisconsin - WhitewaterD+
Whitewater, Wisconsin · United States · Global #848
86% acceptance 59% graduation $55,356 median earnings $18,719/yr 9,405 students
338
Wentworth Institute of TechnologyD+
Boston, Massachusetts · United States · Global #849
91% acceptance 68% graduation $82,721 median earnings $61,096/yr 3,747 students
339
Wheaton CollegeD+
Wheaton, Illinois · United States · Global #850
87% acceptance 85% graduation $63,756 median earnings $59,263/yr 2,121 students
340
Allegheny CollegeD+
Meadville, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #851
46% graduation $37,453 median earnings $14,612/yr 46 students
341
A
Augustana UniversityD+
Sioux Falls, South Dakota · United States · Global #852
68% acceptance 73% graduation $59,217 median earnings $55,159/yr 1,965 students
342
California Institute of the ArtsD+
Valencia, California · United States · Global #853
32% acceptance 67% graduation $41,198 median earnings $77,560/yr 860 students
343
C
Cascadia CollegeD+
Bothell, Washington · United States · Global #854
32% graduation $54,133 median earnings $21,077/yr 1,032 students
344
Central Connecticut State UniversityD+
New Britain, Connecticut · United States · Global #855
73% acceptance 48% graduation $58,562 median earnings $24,870/yr 7,822 students
345
Davidson CollegeD+
Davidson, North Carolina · United States · Global #856
46% graduation $36,337 median earnings $14,280/yr 2,633 students
346
East Carolina UniversityD+
Greenville, North Carolina · United States · Global #857
89% acceptance 63% graduation $55,146 median earnings $23,867/yr 19,896 students
347
El Camino CollegeD+
Torrance, California · United States · Global #858
42% graduation $41,589 median earnings $15,246/yr 19,210 students
348
Goldey-Beacom CollegeD+
Wilmington, Delaware · United States · Global #859
85% acceptance 57% graduation $59,892 median earnings $26,502/yr 691 students
349
Grand Valley State UniversityD+
Allendale, Michigan · United States · Global #860
83% acceptance 67% graduation $56,118 median earnings $28,367/yr 18,854 students
350
Indian River State CollegeD+
Fort Pierce, Florida · United States · Global #861
45% graduation $38,315 median earnings $11,576/yr 11,822 students
351
Kalamazoo CollegeD+
Kalamazoo, Michigan · United States · Global #862
75% acceptance 76% graduation $65,590 median earnings $74,208/yr 1,149 students
352
Lake Superior CollegeD+
Duluth, Minnesota · United States · Global #863
42% graduation $46,449 median earnings $19,723/yr 2,471 students
353
Marywood UniversityD+
Scranton, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #864
61% acceptance 72% graduation $55,817 median earnings $55,582/yr 1,784 students