Universities in USA 2024
- Education information
- US TOP Universities Rankings
- Top-Ranked Universities in the America
- Cost and Fees to Universities in America
- Required Documents for Admission into USA Universities
- Higher Education in the USA: A Guide for International Students
- Academic courses in the USA
- Literature and references
This content was developed with active participation of Steve Smith.
In the process of preparing the material, we referenced the following sources:
- https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-many-universities-are-in-the-us-and-why-that-number-is-changing
- https://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/.
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from 53000.00 $ / yearApply with documents -
#2 among U.S. national universities
USABoston, MassachusettsCurrently watching: 9Apply with documents -
from 28000.00 $ / semesterApply with documents -
from 27000.00 $ / semesterApply with documents -
from 41320.00 $ / yearApply with documents -
from 51870.00 $ / yearApply with documents -
from 12500.00 $ / semesterApply with documents -
#15 out of 439 National Universities
USALos Angeles, CaliforniaCurrently watching: 10from 29754.00 $ / yearApply with documents -
#15 out of 439 National Universities
USASan Francisco, CaliforniaCurrently watching: 8from 28000.00 $ / yearApply with documents -
#6 out of 240 US and international art and design colleges
USANew YorkCurrently watching: 7from 27955.00 $ / yearApply with documents
Alternative destinations
Education information
Nowadays, studying abroad has become exceptionally prestigious and fashionable. US TOP-100 universities have deserved excellent reputation as a desirable university for international students. Higher education in the USA provides up-to-date knowledge and required skills. American universities and US colleges offer a wide range of studying various fields of activity. America takes international students to study for many years and the country has accumulated a wealth of experience in pre-university education and work with foreign adolescents and adults who have come to study abroad. American higher educational institutions are the leaders in the international industry ratings year after year.
The universities of the USA offer a lot of practical programs for foreign students. Anyone, who would like to study in the USA with the newest technologies and huge opportunities, faces the problem of choosing an educational institution. It goes without saying that US universities and colleges are very diverse. So, it's quite difficult to deal with such diversity. SMAPSE team presents to your attention the most popular and prestigious universities in America and colleges in America.
US TOP Universities Rankings
The best universities in the USA are a diverse group, spanning various categories of educational institutions. At the pinnacle of American academia are the Ivy League schools, which include:
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Harvard: Arguably the best university in the USA
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Princeton
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Yale
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Brown University
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Columbia University: A renowned name among USA universities
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Cornell
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Dartmouth College
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University of Pennsylvania
Universities Excelling in Specialize
These universities, though not part of the Ivy League, are highly esteemed for their individual areas of expertise. Their degrees are sought-after in the global job market:
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Northwestern University: Renowned for mathematics
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Duke University: Notable for medicine
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University of Notre Dame: Business-centric
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Bard College: Specializing in arts and humanities
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United States Naval Academy
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Oregon State University: Known for business education and agricultural sciences
Students attending these top universities in the USA benefit from a balanced curriculum, developed by world-class professors hailing from around the globe.
Employment Prospects for Graduates
Impressively, graduates from well-known USA universities often find lucrative employment in their field within six months post-graduation. The Ivy League schools boast an employment rate exceeding 95%.
What are the criteria for evaluating American universities? How accurate is it?
The rankings are different, and therefore the criteria are different. Subtleties are covered such as the academic level of graduates, “retention rate” (how many students complete study programs), social mobility, and the number of recipients of financial aid. The final performance and GPA, academic reputation of students, resources of institutes and faculties, salaries of teachers, the number of doctoral / postdoctoral degrees among teachers (especially for those who are employed full-time at the university) can be taken into account.
They pay attention to the selectivity of students (which applicants scored SAT points, which results they showed in high school), financial indicators per student and the amount of debt of graduates (a common thing: many take out loans for education). Some rankings also use the parameter of academic citation, the intensity of research by the teaching staff. In general, there are more criteria than the rankings themselves!
Top-Ranked Universities in the America
Campus Life and Academic Resources
The USA's top 100 universities offer an enriching environment for international students, complete with comfortable living conditions on campus and extensive academic resources.
Academic and Career Guidance
These universities often have dedicated departments that cater to both American and international students. Vocational guidance services at universities in the USA help international students find part-time work, thereby reducing their overall universities in the USA fees.
English Language Support
Many top universities in the USA offer specialized English courses for international students, aiming to improve their language skills for a more effective academic experience.
Cost and Fees to Universities in America
When considering how to get into a university in the USA, tuition is often a concern. Costs can vary based on the US university's ranking and the chosen field of study in the USA. Generally speaking, higher-ranked institutions and programs involving extensive research (like medicine and dentistry) tend to be more expensive.
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High-end universities might charge between $30,000 and $60,000 per year.
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Community colleges start at around $10,000 per year for tuition, excluding on-campus living expenses.
Required Documents for Admission into USA Universities
To apply to one of the top 100 universities in the USA, you'll need more than just the standard set of documents. Requirements often include:
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Copy of passport or ID card
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For bachelor's applicants: High school certificate and/or successful completion of a Pathway program
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For master's applicants: Bachelor's degree diploma and possibly completion of a pre-Masters program
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TOEFL certificate (not older than 2 years)
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SSAT exams may be required depending on the university
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Letters of recommendation (usually from English and Math teachers, sometimes from a school principal or university dean)
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A letter of motivation
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Skype interview or personal campus visit
Note: Extra credentials like additional diplomas, certificates, or commendations can improve your chances of acceptance.
Choosing among the list of universities in the USA is an important step toward a successful future career. With the right academic and practical skills, graduates from top universities in the USA are well-prepared for prestigious roles in the global job market.
Higher Education in the USA: A Guide for International Students
Advantages in Top Universities in the USA for Future Career Prospects
Earning a degree from one of the best universities in the USA can offer several advantages, such as:
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Expansive career opportunities
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Potential for international employment
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Chances of securing top positions in global companies
Understanding the structure and features of the U.S. higher education system can be crucial for finding the best university prep courses in the USA.
Types of Educational Institutions in the USA
Universities
American universities usually comprise multiple faculties and colleges, offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. These institutions often provide a range of university preparation courses USA students and international students can enroll in.
Colleges
Colleges in the U.S. mainly focus on four-year bachelor's degree programs across various specialties. Preparing for university in the USA often starts here for many students.
Technical Educational Institutions
These facilities offer a wide array of programs, ranging in duration from six months to four years. Many of these institutions offer university prep courses USA students can benefit from.
Community Colleges
Community colleges provide two-year educational programs aimed at both local and international students. After completion, students may transition into the second year of a bachelor's degree at other American institutions. These colleges often have reasonable university preparation course fees.
Academic courses in the USA
Associate Degree
Granted after completing a 2-year community college course, an associate degree serves as an initial qualification.
Bachelor's Degree
A 4-year course at a college or university culminates in an undergraduate degree, either a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts.
Master's Degree
A two-year program leads to a Master's degree, which can be either professional or academic in nature.
Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)
Taking anywhere from 4 to 6 years, a Ph.D. is earned after the successful defense of a research dissertation. It is essential for those looking to pursue an academic career.
Public vs. Private Universities
Characteristics of State (Public) Universities:
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Generally larger student body
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More affordable tuition
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Various programs supporting talented students
Characteristics of Private Universities:
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Typically smaller in size
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More developed infrastructure
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A broader range of programs for creative and athletic development
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Generally higher tuition fees, affecting the overall cost of preparing for university in the USA
Can I work during my studies as an international student?
What are the application deadlines for US universities?
What are TOEFL and SAT? Do I need to take them for admission?
Can I transfer to a U.S. university from another country?
What is an F-1 visa and how do I get one?
Which universities in the United States are considered the most prestigious?
What are the language requirements for international students?
How much does it cost to study at an American university?
Is it possible for international students to study for free in the USA?
Which programs grant international students the right to work after graduation?
General statistics on education in the USA - ratings, specialties, universities
Times Higher Education’s top 50 best universities in USA 2024
|
Rank |
Name |
No. of FTE Students |
No. of students per staff |
International Students |
Female:Male Ratio |
|
2 |
Stanford University
|
14,517 |
6.4 |
23% |
47 : 53 |
|
3 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
|
11,085 |
8.0 |
33% |
41 : 59 |
|
4 |
Harvard University
|
20,050 |
9.0 |
25% |
51 : 49 |
|
6 |
Princeton University
|
7,753 |
7.3 |
23% |
47 : 53 |
|
7 |
California Institute of Technology
|
2,240 |
6.1 |
33% |
37 : 63 |
|
9 |
University of California, Berkeley
|
39,991 |
17.9 |
22% |
52 : 48 |
|
10 |
Yale University
|
11,924 |
5.2 |
21% |
51 : 49 |
|
13 |
The University of Chicago
|
15,792 |
6.2 |
36% |
47 : 53 |
|
15 |
Johns Hopkins University
|
15,772 |
4.1 |
28% |
56 : 44 |
|
16 |
University of Pennsylvania
|
21,312 |
6.2 |
22% |
54 : 46 |
|
17 |
Columbia University
|
25,914 |
5.2 |
35% |
n/a |
|
18 |
University of California, Los Angeles
|
42,634 |
9.6 |
15% |
56 : 44 |
|
20 |
Cornell University
|
23,620 |
10.0 |
24% |
51 : 49 |
|
23 |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
|
45,783 |
8.1 |
16% |
51 : 49 |
|
24 |
Carnegie Mellon University
|
13,562 |
11.9 |
44% |
44 : 56 |
|
25 |
University of Washington
|
49,486 |
10.1 |
16% |
56 : 44 |
|
26 |
Duke University
|
15,527 |
3.9 |
18% |
52 : 48 |
|
27 |
New York University
|
48,461 |
11.8 |
42% |
58 : 42 |
|
28 |
Northwestern University
|
18,894 |
13.1 |
18% |
52 : 48 |
|
34 |
University of California, San Diego
|
40,596 |
12.0 |
19% |
45 : 55 |
|
36 |
Georgia Institute of Technology
|
32,079 |
28.0 |
29% |
34 : 66 |
|
42 |
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
|
50,250 |
19.6 |
23% |
51 : 49 |
|
52 |
University of Texas at Austin
|
48,558 |
16.4 |
8% |
55 : 45 |
|
59 |
University of California, Davis
|
37,926 |
13.3 |
18% |
60 : 40 |
|
63 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison
|
41,209 |
9.9 |
13% |
n/a |
|
=64 |
Brown University
|
9,781 |
10.3 |
19% |
n/a |
|
68 |
Washington University in St Louis
|
13,825 |
7.3 |
22% |
52 : 48 |
|
69 |
University of California, Santa Barbara
|
25,540 |
27.5 |
18% |
54 : 46 |
|
72 |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
|
30,782 |
7.7 |
8% |
60 : 40 |
|
74 |
University of Southern California
|
44,083 |
14.2 |
24% |
49 : 51 |
|
78 |
Boston University
|
26,677 |
10.8 |
29% |
58 : 42 |
|
85 |
University of Minnesota
|
59,556 |
11.8 |
9% |
55 : 45 |
|
86 |
Purdue University West Lafayette
|
42,633 |
18.3 |
17% |
44 : 56 |
|
=92 |
University of California, Irvine
|
35,675 |
16.2 |
26% |
53 : 47 |
|
=92 |
Vanderbilt University
|
12,971 |
3.9 |
17% |
55 : 45 |
|
=99 |
Ohio State University (Main campus)
|
55,538 |
11.4 |
11% |
51 : 49 |
|
=106 |
Emory University
|
13,127 |
4.0 |
19% |
61 : 39 |
|
114 |
University of Maryland, College Park
|
33,988 |
17.0 |
9% |
49 : 51 |
|
=116 |
Michigan State University
|
44,514 |
16.1 |
11% |
52 : 48 |
|
118 |
Texas A&M University
|
64,427 |
20.5 |
6% |
47 : 53 |
|
=119 |
Rice University
|
7,318 |
9.8 |
26% |
42 : 58 |
|
122 |
Penn State (Main campus)
|
45,875 |
14.2 |
15% |
48 : 52 |
|
=123 |
University of Massachusetts
|
63,500 |
13.3 |
14% |
50 : 50 |
|
132 |
University of Florida
|
48,114 |
16.7 |
9% |
56 : 44 |
|
133 |
University of Rochester
|
9,855 |
7.3 |
34% |
50 : 50 |
|
=138 |
University of Colorado Boulder
|
35,844 |
16.5 |
8% |
45 : 55 |
|
=145 |
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh campus
|
26,305 |
5.4 |
10% |
56 : 44 |
|
=155 |
University of Arizona
|
45,517 |
19.9 |
7% |
56 : 44 |
|
=161 |
Dartmouth College
|
6,226 |
7.4 |
16% |
49 : 51 |
|
=164 |
Case Western Reserve University
|
10,294 |
8.8 |
25% |
51 : 49 |
Best universities in USA by state rankings 2024
| Alabama | University of Alabama, Auburn University |
| Alaska | - |
| Arizona | Arizona State University, The University of Arizona |
| Arkansas | University of Arkansas |
| California | Stanford University, Caltech, UCB, UCLA, UCSD, University of California Davis, University of Southern California, UCSB, University of California Irvine, University of California Santa Cruz, University of California Riverside, San Diego State University, University of San Diego, University of San Francisco, University of the Pacific |
| Colorado | University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Denver, Colorado State University, University of Denver |
| Connecticut | Yale University, University of Connecticut |
| Delaware | University of Delaware |
| Florida | University of Florida, University of Miami, Florida State University, University of South Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida International University, Miami University |
| Georgia | Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, The University of Georgia, Georgia State University |
| Hawaii | University of Hawai'i at Mañoa |
| Idaho | - |
| Illinois | University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, UIC, Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University Chicago |
| Indiana | Purdue University, University of Notre Dame, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianopolis |
| Iowa | University of Iowa, Iowa State University |
| Kansas | University of Kansas, Kansas State University |
| Kentucky | University of Kentucky |
| Louisiana | Tulane University, Louisiana State University |
| Maine | - |
| Maryland | Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland College Park, University of Maryland Baltimore County |
| Massachusetts | MIT, Harvard University, Boston University, Tufts University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Northeastern University, Boston College, Brandeis University, Clark University, University of Massachusetts Boston, Smith College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute |
| Michigan | University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Michigan Technological University |
| Minnesota | University of Minnesota |
| Mississippi | University of Mississippi |
| Missouri | Washington University in St. Louis, University of Missouri Columbia, Missouri University of Science and Technology |
| Montana | University of Montana Missoula |
| Nebraska | University of Nebraska |
| Nevada | - |
| New Hampshire | Dartmouth College, University of New Hampshire |
| New Jersey | Princeton University, Rutgers University - New Brunswick, Rutgers University - Newark, Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey Institute of Technology |
| New Mexico | University of New Mexico |
| New York | Cornell University, Columbia University, NYU, University of Rochester, University at Buffalo SUNY, Stony Brook University, The Katz School at Yeshiva University, Rensselaer Polytechnic University, New School University, Syracuse University, City University of New York, Clarkson University, University at Albany SUNY, Binghamton University SUNY, Fordham University |
| North Carolina | Duke University, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Wake Forest University |
| North Dakota | - |
| Ohio | Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University, University of Cincinnati, Kent State University, Ohio University |
| Oklahoma | University of Oklahoma, University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State University |
| Oregon | Oregon State University, University of Oregon |
| Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh, Lehigh University, Drexel University, Temple University |
| Rhode Island | Brown University |
| South Carolina | University of South Carolina at Columbia, Clemson University |
| South Dakota | - |
| Tennessee | Vanderbilt University, The University of Tennessee |
| Texas | University of Texas at Austin, Rice University, Texas A&M University, University of Texas Dallas, University of Houston, Southern Methodist University, Baylor University, Texas Tech University |
| Utah | University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Utah State University |
| Vermont | University of Vermont |
| Virginia | University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, College of William & Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason University |
| Washington | University of Washington, Washington State University |
| Washington D.C. | Georgetown University, George Washington University, Howard University, American University |
| West Virginia | - |
| Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin-Madison, Marquette University |
| Wyoming | University of Wyoming |
Cost of living in United States
| Expenses - USD/Month. | Min. | Med. |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 396 | 531 |
| Food | 260 | 454 |
| Transportation | 60 | 166 |
| Communications and utilities | 99 | 113 |
| Clothing | 19 | 71 |
| Sports and leisure | 24 | 91 |
| Total | 859 | 1,425 |
| Accommodation in United States | USD/Month. | |
| Shared room outside of centre | 400 | |
| Shared room in city centre | 536 | |
| 1 bedroom apartment outside of centre | 730 | |
| 1 bedroom apartment in city centre | 973 |
Statistics - Universities
| Universities in top 100 | 37 |
|---|---|
| Universities in top 200 | 59 |
| Universities in top 500 | 109 |
| Universities in top 1000 | 195 |
| Universities in top 5000 | 1142 |
Students Accommodation Options in the USA
| Accomondation | Meals | Number of people per room | Cost per week/min | Cost per week/max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homestay | full Board or half Board | 1-3 | 225 USD | 450 USD |
| School residence | full Board | 1-3 | 300 USD | 550 USD |
| Appartment | without meals | 1-2 | 30 USD/day | 400 USD/day |
| Hotel | with/out meals | 1-3 | 250 USD | 650 USD |
