List Of Universities In USA

lists of universities in usa

The USA is the world's most popular study destination for international students. It has one of the largest education systems globally, with over 4,000 institutions, including five of the top ten ranked universities according to QS World University Rankings 2022.

Higher education institutions in the US are known as graduate schools or grad schools. They award postgraduate degrees, most commonly masters and doctorate (PhD).

USA universities

American universities are divided into two main types, profit-based schools and not-for-profit schools (also known as “proprietary schools”):

Profit-based, private universities – smaller universities that are funded through donations, fees and grants. They have fewer students but higher fees.
Not-for-profit public universities – large, state-funded institutions that have lower tuition fees but more students.

According to the QS World University Rankings 2022, five of the top ten universities in the world are USA institutions. These are:

1st - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

3rd - Stanford University

5th - Harvard University

6th - California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

10th - University of Chicago

There are eight prestigious institutions that make up the American Ivy League. These historical institutions have a reputation for high scholastic achievement and social prestige:

Harvard University (Massachusetts)
Yale University (Connecticut)
Columbia University (New York)
Brown University (Rhode Island)
Cornell University (New York)
Dartmouth College (New Hampshire)
Princeton University (New Jersey)
University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania)

Postgraduate study in the US

In the United States, graduate courses at the graduate school level are more focused than undergraduate courses and the subject area plays a far more significant role in rankings than the institution's overall national ranking.

Tuition fees & costs in the USA

Universities in the USA are required to publish their Cost of Attendance on their website. This gives a good guide to the cost of tuition as well as the cost of living in the local area.

As an international student, you will find that tuition fees vary between institutions and can depend on a number of factors including the demand for the university, reputation, location, discipline, length of study, online or campus learning and application fees. There is also a difference in fees between profit-based schools and not-for-profit schools.

The average cost of tuition and fees at ranked universities in 2021-2022 was $38,185 at private schools, $22,698 for public out-of-state, and $10,388 for public in-state. The University of New Mexico has some of the cheapest public in-state tuition fees, averaging around $6,920.

Though, many top-ranking USA university fees can range from around $50,000 to $64,000.

USA university applications & admissions

On average, application fees for US universities cost around $100. To be successful in your application you will need a first degree in a relevant subject area. If your first degree is not from an English speaking university, then you will need to prove your English language skills.

Universities in the USA often use standardised testing for entrance, so if you wish to study a masters program in law or medicine or even business, you will probably need to complete a test. The GMAT covers management and business-related courses, the LSAT is for entry into law school and MCAT is for medical school.

The GPA (Grade Point Average) is also used by US high schools and universities to evaluate a student’s academic success throughout school, their undergraduate degree and masters program. A student’s average GPA shows how well they have scored in their exams and classes throughout their course, and the score can fluctuate depending on their overall grades.

Find your PERFECT POSTGRAD PROGRAM

Student life at Grad School in the USA

Students in the USA are career focused and this is doubly so at Grad School. By the time students have completed their first degree and moved onto postgraduate study, they have a clear idea of what they want from their career. The relatively high tuition fees and private loans that many students need to use to attend a university in the United States also help to concentrate their minds. Universities in the USA often have large sports teams and plenty of campus-based activities to be enjoyed.

Apply for one of our x5 bursaries worth £2,000

We've launched our new Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries for 2024. Full-time, part-time, online and blended-learning students eligible. 2024 & 2025 January start dates students welcome. Study postgraduate courses in any subject taught anywhere worldwide.

Find out more

Top-ranked universities in the USA

The university or grad school you choose to attend for your postgraduate study is an important decision that should be thoroughly researched. To help with the process, we've compiled a list of the top universities in the USA.

Top 10 universities in the USA

Here are the top universities in the United States, with information on their tuition fees and the number of students:

University	Number of Students	Tuition Fees
Princeton University	4,773	$56,101
Columbia University	6,170	$63,530
Harvard University	5,222	$55,587
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	4,361	$55,878
Yale University	4,703	$59,950
Stanford University	6,366	$56,169
University of Chicago	6,989	$60,963
University of Pennsylvania	9,872	$61,710
California Institute of Technology	901	$58,680
Duke University	6,717	$60,489

Source

10 largest universities in the USA

These are the 10 largest universities in the United States together with the number of students enrolled:

University	Number of Students
University of Phoenix	72,485
Arizona State University	63,124
University of Central Florida	61,456
Grand Canyon University	58,997
Texas A&M University	55,568
Florida International University	48,664
Liberty University	47,988
The Ohio State University	46,984
University of Texas at Austin	40,048
The Pennsylvania State University	39,809