Top US Universities and All Other Good Options

Let’s start with the list of US universities itself. This table outlines the recognized educational institutions according to the worldwide and US rankings.

US rankings in 2020	Title	Where	World rankings in 2020
1	California Institute of Technology	Pasadena, California	2
2	Stanford University	Stanford, California	4
3	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Cambridge, Massachusetts	5
4	Princeton University	Princeton, New Jersey	6
5	Harvard University	Cambridge Massachusetts	7
6	Yale University	New Haven, Connecticut	8
7	University of Chicago	Chicago, Illinois	9
8	University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	11
9	Johns Hopkins University	Baltimore, Maryland	12
10	University of California	Berkeley, California	13
11	Columbia University	New York City, New York	16
12	University of California, Los Angeles	Los Angeles, California	17
13	Cornell University	Ithaca, New York	19
14	Duke University	Durham, North Carolina	20
15	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	Ann Arbor, Michigan	21
16	Northwestern University	Evanston, Illinois	22
17	University of Washington	Seattle, Washington	26
18	Carnegie Mellon University	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	27
19	New York University	New York City, New York	29
20	University of California, San Diego	San Diego, California	31
21	Georgia Institute of Technology	Atlanta, Georgia	38
21	University of Texas at Austin	Austin, Texas	38
23	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	Champaign, Illinois	48
24	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Madison, Wisconsin	51
25	Washington University in St Louis	St. Louis, Missouri	52
26	Brown University	Providence, Rhode Island	53
27	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Chapel Hill, North Carolina	54
28	University of California, Davis	Davis, California	55
29	University of California, Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara, California	57
30	Boston University	Boston, Massachusetts	61
31	University of Southern California	Los Angeles, California	62
32	Ohio State University (Main campus)	Columbus, Ohio	70
33	Penn State (Main campus)	State College, Pennsylvania	78
34	University of Minnesota	Minneapolis, Minnesota	79
35	Emory University	Atlanta, Georgia	80
36	Michigan State University	East Lansing, Michigan	84
37	Purdue University West Lafayette	West Lafayette, Indiana	88
38	University of Maryland, College Park	College Park, Maryland	91
39	Dartmouth College	Hanover, New Hampshire	94
40	University of California, Irvine	Irvine, California	96
41	Georgetown University	Washington D.C	102
42	University of Arizona	Tucson, Arizona	104
43	Rice University	Houston, Texas	105
44	University of Virginia (Main campus)	Charlottesville, Virginia	107
45	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh campus	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	113
46	Vanderbilt University	Nashville, Tennessee	116
47	Case Western Reserve University	Cleveland, Ohio	119
48	University of Colorado Boulder	Boulder, Colorado	124
49	Indiana University	Bloomington, Indiana	134
50	Tufts University	Medford, Massachusetts	139
51	Arizona State University	Tempe, Arizona	155
52	University of Notre Dame	Notre Dame, Indiana	157
53	Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey	New Brunswick, New Jersey	168
54	University of Alabama at Birmingham	Birmingham, Alabama	172
55	Northeastern University	Boston, Massachusetts	173
55	University of Rochester	Rochester (NY), New York	173
57	University of Florida	Gainesville, Florida	175
58	Texas A&M University	College Station, Texas	178
59	University of California, Santa Cruz	Santa Cruz, California	179
60	George Washington University	Washington D.C	198
61	Brandeis University	Waltham, Massachusetts	201–250
61	University of Hawai’i at Mānoa	Honolulu, Hawai’i	201–250
61	Howard University	Washington D.C	201–250
61	University of Iowa	Iowa City, Iowa	201–250
61	University of Massachusetts	Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, Worcester Massachusetts	201–250
61	University of Miami	Coral Gables, Florida	201–250
61	University of South Florida (Tampa)	Tampa, Florida	201–250
61	University of Utah	Salt Lake City, Utah	201–250
61	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	Blacksburg, Virginia	201–250
61	Wake Forest University	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	201–250
61	William & Mary University	Williamsburg, Virginia	201–250
72	University at Buffalo	Buffalo, New York	251–300
72	University of California, Riverside	Riverside, California	251–300
72	University of Cincinnati	Cincinnati, Ohio	251–300
72	University of Delaware	Newark (DE), Delaware	251–300
72	Florida State University	Tallahassee, Florida	251–300
72	George Mason University	Fairfax, Virginia	251–300
72	University of Illinois at Chicago	Chicago, Illinois	251–300
72	University of Oregon	Eugene, Oregon	251–300
72	Oregon Health and Science University	Portland, Oregon	251–300
72	Syracuse University	Syracuse, New York	251–300
82	Boston College	Boston, Massachusetts	301–350
82	Colorado School of Mines	Golden, Colorado	301–350
82	University of New Mexico (Main campus)	Albuquerque, New Mexico	301–350
82	North Carolina State University	Raleigh North, Carolina	301–350
82	Nova Southeastern University	Davie, Florida	301–350
82	Rush University	Chicago, Illinois	301–350
82	Stony Brook University	Stony Brook, New York	301–350
82	Temple University	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	301–350
82	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	Knoxville, Texas	301–350
82	University of Texas at Dallas	Richardson, Texas	301–350
82	Tulane University	New Orleans, Louisiana	301–350
93	University of Alaska Fairbanks	Fairbanks, Alaska	351–400
93	University of California, Merced	Merced, California	351–400
93	Clark University	Worcester, Massachusetts	351–400
93	University of Connecticut	Mansfield, Connecticut	351–400
93	University of Denver	Denver, Colorado	351–400
93	Hofstra University	Hempstead, New York	351–400
93	Iowa State University	Ames, Iowa	351–400
93	Oregon State University	Corvallis, Oregon	351–400
93	State University of New York Albany	Albany, New York	351–400
93	Washington State University	Pullman, Washington	351–400
93	Wayne State University	Detroit, Michigan	351–400
104	University of Alabama	Tuscaloosa, Alabama	401–500
104	American University	Washington D.C	401–500
104	Colorado State University, Fort Collins	Fort Collins, Colorado	401–500
104	Drexel University	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	401–500
104	University of Georgia	Athens, Georgia	401–500
104	Georgia State University	Atlanta, Georgia	401–500
104	University of Houston	Houston, Texas	401–500
104	University of Kansas	Lawrence, Kansas	401–500
104	University of Kentucky	Lexington, Kentucky	401–500
104	University of Missouri-Columbia	Columbia, Missouri	401–500
104	University of Missouri-St Louis	St. Louis, Missouri	401–500
104	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	Lincoln, Nebraska	401–500
104	New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology	Socorro, New Mexico	401–500
104	Oklahoma State University	Stillwater, Oklahoma	401–500
104	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Troy, New York	401–500
104	University of South Carolina-Columbia	Columbia, South Carolina	401–500
104	University of Texas at San Antonio	San Antonio, Texas	401–500
104	University of Tulsa	Tulsa, Oklahoma	401–500
122	University of Alabama in Huntsville	Huntsville, Alabama	501–600
122	Binghamton University, State University of New York	Binghamton, New York	501–600
122	Florida International University	Miami, Florida	501–600
122	University of Idaho	Moscow, Idaho	501–600
122	Louisiana State University	Baton Rouge, Louisiana	501–600
122	Missouri University of Science and Technology	Rolla, Missouri	501–600
122	University of Nebraska Medical Center	Omaha, Nebraska	501–600
122	New Jersey Institute of Technology	Newark (NJ), New Jersey	501–600
122	Northern Arizona University	Flagstaff, Arizona	501–600
122	University of Rhode Island	South Kingstown, Rhode Island	501–600
122	San Diego State University	San Diego, California	501–600
122	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	501–600
134	University of Arkansas	Fayateville, Arkansas	601–800
134	Auburn University	Auburn, Alabama	601–800
134	Baylor University	Waco, Texas	601–800
134	University of Central Florida	Orlando, Florida	601–800
134	Clemson University	Clemson, South Carolina	601–800
134	Creighton University	Omaha, Nebraska	601–800
134	Kansas State University	Manhattan, Kansas	601–800
134	Kent State University	Kent, Ohio	601–800
134	Lehigh University	Bethlehem, Pennsylvania	601–800
134	University of Maryland, Baltimore County	Baltimore, Maryland	601–800
134	University of Nevada, Las Vegas	Las Vegas, Nevada	601–800
134	New Mexico State University (Main campus)	Las Cruces, New Mexico	601–800
134	University of North Carolina at Greensboro	Greensboro, North Carolina	601–800
134	Ohio University (Main campus)	Athens, Ohio	601–800
134	Old Dominion University	Norfolk, Virginia	601–800
134	Portland State University	Portland, Oregon	601–800
134	University of South Dakota	Vermillion, South Dakota	601–800
134	Stevens Institute of Technology	Hoboken, New Jersey	601–800
134	University of Texas at Arlington	Arlington, Texas	601–800
134	Texas Tech University	Lubbock Texas	601–800
134	University of Toledo	Toledo, Ohio	601–800
134	Western Washington University	Bellingham, Washington	601–800
134	West Virginia University	Morgantown, West Virginia	601–800
134	Worcester Polytechnic Institute	Worcester, Massachusetts	601–800
159	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University	Daytona Beach, Florida	801– 1000
159	Florida Atlantic University	Boca Raton, Florida	801– 1000
159	Florida Institute of Technology	Melbourne, Florida	801– 1000
159	Louisiana Tech University	Ruston, Louisiana	801– 1000
159	Marquette University	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	801– 1000
159	Mississippi State University	Starkville, Mississippi	801– 1000
159	The New School	New York City, New York	801– 1000
159	Rochester Institute of Technology	Rochester (NY), New York	801– 1000
159	University of Texas at El Paso	El Paso, Texas	801– 1000
168	California State University, Long Beach	Long Beach, California	1001+
168	University of North Carolina Wilmington	Wilmington, North Carolina	1001+
168	University of North Florida	Jacksonville, Florida	1001+
168	Oakland University	Rochester, Michigan	1001+
168	Texas State University	San Marcos, Texas	1001+

How to Choose Your University?

Yes, it is not an easy thing when it comes to choosing a university. But, if you consider some things and avoid mistakes, you increase the chances of success. Here is what we mean by that.

When you conduct searches, you need to take into account these points:

• Your target specialization 

It is always useful to make your searches field-specific. Those universities you choose should be strong in your area of interest. For instance, many universities offer courses in Computer Science. Still, from all these offers, those universities that propose the most advanced preparation can be shortlisted easily. Focus on such options to obtain better education and chances to get a better job or launch your business in the future. 

• Rakings these universities have 

When you have shortlisted all potential options, look through the rankings. Universities get high rankings thanks to their good results and achievements. So, it is better to emphasize this point. At the same time, it is wise to keep in mind that the higher rankings a university has a more competitive environment and high demands are there also. If this sounds for you good, focus on the universities with high rankings mostly. 

• Employer’s preferences

Your education is for the future professional activity. So, emphasize those universities that are well known and appreciated among employers. Having this education, you will have better chances for the successful start of your career pass and better chances comparing with other applicants.

• Prices for education

If your resources are unlimited, the matter of prices cannot be relevant too much for you. Still, if you have certain limitations about your budget, it is better to range all options you have shortlisted according to their prices for education. This way, you will see which of them you can afford easily and for which of them you require additional funds. 

• Scholarships

If you lack your own financial resources, you may apply for scholarships. Many universities have such an option. So, you should be aware of that to pick the most possible for you.  

• Distance from your place of origin and place where you want to live in the future

These aspects also can matter in some cases. The first one maybe not so problematic as students usually strive to go far away from their homes. But, the second aspect can be even more important. For instance, your place of education can be nearby cities or places where you can get the first experience and start your professional pass. Yes, it can be easier if you are nearby these places. You can obtain more first-hand information this way, reach professionals in your field, start building your network of contacts, etc. 

Final Words

There are so many universities in the USA. Still, the best university for you is one that completely matches your preferences, and future plans are affordable and convenient enough. You should keep in mind that Top 10 universities from the list above have a highly competitive environment. So, if you feel well about that, it is better to try your effort. On the other side, if you prefer a more peaceful study environment, it is normal also. Still, everything depends on you most of all. Your commitment to education and becoming a professional are even more important.