Thinking about studying in the US can be overwhelming because there are so many options. Which US university is the best? Where are the top universities in the United States?
We thought you might like to know the top universities in the US based on the highly respected Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024.
There are 169 US universities and colleges among the world’s best, so wherever you want to study in the US, a top university will not be far away. Almost all states and about 130 cities are represented in the best US universities list.
5. California Institute of Technology (CalTech)
Across the six faculties at CalTech, there is a focus on science and engineering.CalTech has an impressive number of successful graduates and affiliates, including 39 Nobel laureates, six Turing Award winners and four Fields Medallists.
In addition to Nobel laureates and top researchers, the CalTech graduate community includes a number of politicians and public advisers, particularly in the areas of science, technology and energy.
4. Princeton University
Princeton University is one of the oldest universities in the US. It is part of the prestigious group of Ivy League universities.As well as high-quality teaching and research output, the university is known for its beautiful campus, with some buildings designed by some of America’s most well-known architects.
Notable alumni who have won Nobel prizes include the physicists Richard Feynman and Robert Hofstadter and the chemists Richard Smalley and Edwin McMillan.As well as high-quality teaching and research output, the university is known for its beautiful campus, with some buildings designed by some of America’s most well-known architects.
3. Harvard University
Founded in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest higher education institution in the US and one of the top law schools in the US..Although tuition is expensive, Harvard’s financial endowment allows for plenty of financial aid for students.
The Harvard library system is made up of 79 libraries and is the largest academic library in the world.Among many famous alumni, Harvard can count eight US presidents, 158 Nobel laureates, 14 Turing Award winners and 62 living billionaires.
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
A third of MIT’s 11,000 students are international, hailing from 154 countries.
Famous alumni include astronaut Buzz Aldrin, former UN secretary general Kofi Annan and physicist Richard Feynman.
MIT cultivates a strong entrepreneurial culture, which has seen many alumni found notable companies such as Intel and Dropbox.Unusually, the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at MIT are not wholly separate; many courses can be taken at either level.
2. Stanford University
Many faculty members, students and alumni have founded successful technology companies and start-ups, including Google, Snapchat and Hewlett-Packard.Of the 16,000 students, most of whom live on campus, 22 per cent are international.
Based in Palo Alto, right beside Silicon Valley, Stanford University has had a prominent role in encouraging the region’s tech industry to develop.Of the 16,000 students, most of whom live on campus, 22 per cent are international.
The university is often referred to as “the Farm” because the campus was built on the site of the Stanford family’s Palo Alto stock farm. The campus covers 8,180 acres (3,300 hectares), but more than half of the land is not yet developed.
With its distinctive sand-coloured, red-roofed buildings, Stanford’s campus is thought to be one of the most beautiful in the world. It contains a number of sculpture gardens and art museums, as well as a public meditation centre.