Whether you’re looking for an engineering university or a business one, getting into a highly-ranked university is important for your academic credibility.
Different factors are taken into account while ranking a university for students. Factors like quality of education, co-curricular activities, research, campus life, and job placement are some of the important ones. While tuition fee is a consideration, it isn’t taken into account while ranking them in this article. We are assuming that you have the funds to enter the top ten universities in the U.S.
Most of the universities are ranked generally – taking into account all programs. However, even if you’re looking for a top-tier university in a specific program, the list is almost the same. This is because the universities in this top 10 list are equally good in all programs.
Now, while there are many organizations (like QS World Rankings, Centre for World University Rankings, and Times Higher Education) that rank universities, the most credible one is QS World University Rankings. This top 10 universities list has been composed according to QS World Rankings.
Here are the top ten universities in the US:
- MIT
- Stanford University
- Harvard University
- Caltech University
- The University of Chicago
- Princeton University
- The University of Pennsylvania
- Yale University
- Cornell University
- Michigan-ann Arbor University
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT is, hands down, the best university in the world. Many debates over whether Harvard, Stanford, or other Ivy League universities are better than MIT but the ranking says otherwise.
MIT is a medium-sized university having a student/faculty ratio of 4. Around 34 percent of the students are international students.
The research output is one of the highest ones, if not the highest. MIT is best known for its engineering programs. Contradictory to what many people think, MIT isn’t an Ivy League college.
2. Stanford University
An Ivy League university, Stanford ranks number 2 worldwide. The student-to-faculty ratio is 3 (less than that of MIT).
Located in Northern California, it is close to Silicon Valley (home of technology and innovation). The location of the campus is ideal for activities outside of working hours which is why the campus life at Stanford University is one of the best ones.
As far as the tuition fee is concerned, just like other Ivy League colleges, Stanford offers generous financial aid. So, you don’t have to worry about money while applying for it.
3. Harvard University
Without a doubt, this is one of the most notable universities, if not the most famous university in the world. This is a renowned university even among those who are not actively involved in academics.
It was established in 1636 which makes it one of the oldest universities in the US. Known for its low acceptance rate, Harvard only accepts the most hardworking and intelligent students.
A huge central library, along with other facilities (like the majestic dining hall), makes this a great place for when you’re not studying.
4. California Institute of Technology
Commonly known as Caltech, the California Institute of Technology has a very high rate of acceptance of international students. Its placement in the top ten universities in the US should be no surprise.
Having the highest student to faculty ratio in this list, Caltech provides unparalleled supervision by professors. Labs like the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, The International Observatory Network are a part of Caltech’s identity.
Such state-of-the-art facilities ensure that the students get the best hands-on experience along with theoretical knowledge.
5. University of Chicago
A rather known university, the University of Chicago is no stranger in the academic world. Unlike most of the universities in this list, the university isn’t famous for engineering programs.
Instead, it is known for its management and business studies – not that its engineering programs are bad at all, though.
Other than MIT, this is another university among the top 10 universities that aren’t Ivy League universities.
More than 400 societies and clubs are run by students, so you can opt for a society of your choice. The co-curricular and extra-curricular activities here are great for personality development.
6. Princeton University
Princeton University is one of the leading and oldest research universities located in the United States. What makes it unique is that it offers almost all highly-ranked graduate programs.
Many leading personalities, including the former first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, have graduated from Princeton University.
Besides providing its students with high-class eating clubs and residential areas, Princeton is also well-known for having more than five hundred student organizations – that’s even more than the societies in the University of Chicago.
Princeton’s valuable education, along with the degree to its students, is worth more than the semester fee students are required to pay.
7. University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania offers a variety of undergraduate as well as graduate programs.
The University of Pennsylvania issues highly-ranked degrees for medicine, technology, social sciences, and business.
An interesting fact about this university is that it provides students with the option of combining their master of engineering degree with an M.B.A.
8. Yale University
Yale is popular among students because of its high-class residential college system. It offers students an attractive and welcoming environment that makes them feel worthy of their presence.
Being the dream college of teenagers since 1701, Yale provides students with exciting majors in Computer Sciences, Biotechnology, Economics, and Political Sciences.
Yale has achieved the rank of third-best Ivy League university, proof of its authenticity and quality education.
Yale has been a highly selective institute with an acceptance rate of 5.9 percent only.
9. Cornell University
Cornell is a renowned private research university that provides exceptional education. It has the honor of delivering the world’s first degree of journalism.
Located in Ithaca, Cornell is also known as the first truly American university. It has built sixteen different colleges and schools covering different degrees, such as medical, engineering and business.
Cornell manages more than a thousand on-campus student organizations.
Cornell’s two most prominent undergraduate colleges include the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Art and Sciences.
10. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
The University of Michigan is a public research university that has been providing high-quality education since 1817.
Michigan’s academic calendar is trimester-based. Its well-regarded graduate programs include law, engineering, medical, and business.
Its acceptance rate is 26 percent which makes it a selective institute. To equally divide the genders, Michigan selects the candidates with a ratio of 50 percent males and 50 percent females, every year.
All of the above universities are almost the same – academic-wise. How to select the best among the top 10 universities in the U.S. boils down to the major you’re looking to get yourself enrolled in, the campus life you aspire to lead, activities, and the atmosphere that you want.
All these universities are unique in their way. The culture, values, and traditions are unique to every university.
Which major are you looking to get yourself into? Have you applied to any of these colleges yet?