100 Top-Ranked Universities in USA 2026
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Worried about getting admission to top US universities as an international student? Check out the list of the top 100 US universities 2026 that international students can consider for admission. This helps them choose better options and be able to choose between studying at the best US university.
Whenever it comes to studying abroad, the US is the undisputed choice of international students. Every study abroad aspirant wants to study in a top US college. However, not everyone can get admission in the top 10 universities in the USA. Whether one wants to pursue an MS, an MBA, or an undergraduate program, the US has been the top choice. Whether it is hospitality, engineering in various fields such as Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or pursuing business or management courses, educational institutions in the US offer the highest quality higher education.
Many students often wonder how to choose the right US university for study. The first and foremost step is shortlisting universities based on course. The next is based on rankings. There may be lots of options available, but students should go for preferably top ranking US universities. For those seeking admission in 2026, can check out the top 100 US universities as per QS and THE. Based on this, applicants can make a decision and apply at their preferred US intake for admission.
Top 100 Universities in the USA 2026
Check out the list of the top 100 Universities in the USA for 2026 based on QS and THE. We have also provided students with the Shiksha Popularity Ranking. You can visit each university listed below to learn more about the university in detail, including the courses offered, course duration, admission and eligibility requirements, and the updated living and tuition fee structure.
| Top 100 US Universities |
QS - WUR 2026 |
THE - WUR 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
2 |
|
| 3 |
5 |
|
| Harvard University |
5 |
5 |
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) |
10 |
7 |
| University of Chicago |
13 |
15 |
| University of Pennsylvania |
15 |
14 |
| Cornell University |
16 |
18 |
| 17 |
9 |
|
| Yale University |
21 |
10 |
| Johns Hopkins University |
24 |
16 |
| Princeton University |
25 |
3 |
| Columbia University |
38 |
20 |
| Northwestern University |
42 |
28 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor |
45 |
23 |
| University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
46 |
18 |
| Carnegie Mellon University |
52 |
24 |
| New York University (NYU) |
55 |
31 |
| Duke University |
62 |
28 |
| University of California, San Diego (UCSD) |
66 |
47 |
| University of Texas at Austin |
68 |
50 |
| Brown University |
69 |
65 |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
70 |
41 |
| University of Washington |
81 |
25 |
| Pennsylvania State University |
82 |
108 |
| Boston University |
88 |
76 |
| Purdue University |
88 |
85 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
110 |
53 |
| University of California, Davis |
114 |
64 |
| Rice University |
119 |
103 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology |
123 |
41 |
| University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill |
140 |
78 |
| Texas A&M University |
144 |
151 |
| University of Southern California |
146 |
73 |
| Michigan State University |
161 |
105 |
| Washington University in St. Louis |
167 |
67 |
| Arizona State University |
173 |
201-250 |
| University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) |
179 |
72 |
| Emory University |
182 |
107 |
| Ohio State University |
190 |
108 |
| University of Maryland, College Park |
207 |
116 |
| University of Minnesota (System) |
210 |
88 |
| University of Florida |
212 |
134 |
| University of Rochester |
236 |
127 |
| Dartmouth College |
247 |
180 |
| University of Massachusetts, Amherst |
247 |
112 |
| Vanderbilt University |
250 |
92 |
| North Carolina State University |
272 |
301-350 |
| University of Virginia |
275 |
166 |
| University of Pittsburgh |
281 |
156 |
| Georgetown University |
285 |
201-250 |
| University of Arizona |
287 |
138 |
| University of California, Irvine |
293 |
97 |
| Case Western Reserve University |
294 |
145 |
| University of Notre Dame |
294 |
194 |
| University of Colorado Boulder |
299 |
159 |
| Indiana University Bloomington |
306 |
198 |
| University of Miami |
314 |
201-250 |
| Rutgers University – New Brunswick |
328 |
301-350 |
| Tufts University |
334 |
189 |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
334 |
201-250 |
| George Washington University |
358 |
201-250 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) |
358 |
251-300 |
| Northeastern University |
384 |
201-250 |
| University at Buffalo SUNY |
410 |
301-350 |
| Washington State University |
423 |
401-450 |
| University of California, Riverside |
440 |
301-350 |
| Iowa State University |
449 |
401-500 |
| Stony Brook University |
452 |
301-350 |
| Colorado State University |
458 |
351-350 |
| University of California, Santa Cruz |
458 |
181 |
| University of Kansas |
465 |
351-400 |
| The University of Georgia |
525 |
351-500 |
| Boston College |
526 |
251-300 |
| University of Iowa |
530 |
301-350 |
| University of Connecticut |
534 |
201-250 |
| University of Utah |
540 |
201-250 |
| University of Hawaii at Mañoa |
546 |
251-300 |
| Florida State University |
549 |
301-350 |
| University of Delaware |
553 |
401-500 |
| University of Houston |
556 |
401-500 |
| Colorado School of Mines |
571 |
401-500 |
| Florida International University |
582 |
401-500 |
| American University |
587 |
601-800 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology |
591 |
301-350 |
| Tulane University |
597 |
401-500 |
| University of Texas at Dallas |
597 |
401-500 |
| University of Tennessee |
607 |
401-500 |
| City University of New York |
613 |
- |
| Oregon State University |
624 |
- |
| Yeshiva University |
624 |
- |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology |
628 |
601-800 |
| University of South Carolina |
628 |
401-500 |
| University of South Florida |
654 |
351-400 |
| University of Oklahoma |
664 |
601-800 |
| Lehigh University |
668 |
601-800 |
| Stevens Institute of Technology |
673 |
501-600 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
695 |
501-600 |
| University of Missouri, Columbia |
697 |
- |
| University of Central Florida |
701-710 |
401-500 |
| Drexel University |
711-720 |
401-500 |
Candidates seeking study abroad counsellors can contact us for more information.
Students looking to study abroad primarily want to gain admission to the best universities abroad. You can read about the best universities in the world for higher education and decide for yourself. Studying in a US university amounts to gaining a lifetime experience by joining a community for the rest of your life. The US is known for offering world-class higher education. Studying at a Tier I university can open doors of opportunity for you. Higher education institutions in the US are known to offer excellent extracurricular activities, such as community service or internships. It is not just the academics; these institutes are known to focus on the overall development of students. So, if you are planning to move ahead in your career, you can also plan to get the experience of a lifetime. Top medical universities often require passing the USMLE exam, which is crucial for residency and practice in the US.
According to the US News and World Report, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania has an acceptance rate of 87% which makes it somewhat selective for admissions. The general admission requirements for international applicants are given as follows:
- SAT/ACT scores
- Standardized Test Scores
- Student's Overall GPA
- High School Rank
- Letters of Recommendation
- Additional academic factors
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is a comprehensive university which is located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The university is internationally known for the following:
- It is included in one of the 14 institutions in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
- East Stroudsburg University offers more than 58 undergraduate, 21 masters, and 2 doctoral course degrees to international students every year.
- The university has been accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
- ESU Pennsylvania has 57 buildings which is located on approximately 258 acres in the East Stroudsburg Borough which includes academic facilities such as student dining hall, student center, fitness center, recreation center, and 8 residence halls.
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae
A score of 26 is a great start. Most good universities in United States generally look for student scores between 28 and 30. While the very best schools often expect a 33 or even higher. Always prepare well for it.