10 Best Universities in the USA for International Students
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The USA is home to some of the world's most popular and prestigious universities. In turn, the US attracts millions of international students annually. With maximum US universities making it to the top 10, students apply here to witness its world-class faculty, cutting-edge research facilities, and diverse student bodies. Check out everything about the top 10 ranking US universities globally in this article.
Studying in US is a melting pot of various cultures and ethnicities, the country offers unparalleled educational experience. International students experience flexible part-time work options in US and a promising career in their field of study after their graduation. With these reasons for studying in USA, let us explore the top 10 US universities that have been ranked by QS and THE globally and by US News for national rankings. Also providing insights into their unique strengths, admissions processes, and student life. We will also delve into the costs of studying in the US, visa requirements, and tips for international students.
Top Ranking US Universities Globally 2024-25
Candidates looking to visit the States for higher education can look at the comprehensive list of top 10 universities in the USA.
| University |
QS - World University Rankings 2025 |
THE - World University Rankings 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Shiksha Grade: A++) |
#1 |
#5 |
| (Shiksha Grade: A++) |
#4 |
#2 |
| (Shiksha Grade: A++) |
#6 |
#3 |
| California Institute of Technology (Shiksha Grade: A++) |
#10 |
#6 |
| (Shiksha Grade: A++) |
#11 |
#14 |
| University of California, Berkeley (UCB) (Shiksha Grade: A++) |
#12 |
#8 |
| (Shiksha Grade: A++) |
#16 |
#20 |
| (Shiksha Grade: A++) |
#21 |
#13 |
| (Shiksha Grade: A++) |
#22 |
#7 |
| (Shiksha Grade: A++) |
#23 |
#9 |
Equipped with the latest facilities, modern amenities, and boarding facilities, these universities welcome a large number of international students every year and hence they have been ranked accordingly by QS and THE for recent years.
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Important read: Eligibility for Studying Abroad
Shiksha Grading has been introduced to help students check out university rankings thus, these are based on aggregate rankings of courses and universities available across different agencies.
US Universities Ranking Nationally 2024
Here's a list of top US universities that have been ranked nationally in the USA by US News for the year 2024 are as follows:
| Top US Universities | US News & World Report - National University Ranking (2024) |
|---|---|
| Princeton University | #1 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | #2 |
| Harvard University | #3 |
| Stanford University | #3 |
| Yale University | #5 |
| University of Pennsylvania | #6 |
| California Institute of Technology | #7 |
| Duke University | #7 |
| Brown University | #9 |
| Johns Hopkins University | #9 |
| Northwestern University | #9 |
Princeton University
Studying at the world-famous Princeton University would allow students to have access to world-class teaching, state-of-art facilities, and extraordinary resources. Students taking admission to the colleges would benefit from the low student-to-faculty ratio which would allow them to develop close relationships with professors who are stalwarts in their fields. Students would get a chance to explore many disciplines and also develop a deep understanding of one area of concentration.
Harvard University
With over 375 years of shaping great minds in every endeavour, Harvard University boasts an education that is based on knowing and doing, on individual achievement, and on meaningful collaboration in a supportive environment that fosters intellectual risk-taking. The college provides world-class faculty, dedication to affordability, and groundbreaking research opportunities to committed scholars who have all the resources they need to fulfil their academic and personal potential.
Cornell University
The University of Cornell ranks in the top 1 per cent of best universities in the world, according to QS rankings. Students looking to pursue their higher education can opt for the various programmes offered at the university campus. A traditional college campus with a touch of modernity, students are greeted by academic buildings and residence halls, libraries and eateries, research labs, and facilities during their stay on campus. The first college to offer a major in American studies, Cornell’s mission is to discover, preserve and disseminate knowledge, to educate the next generation of global citizens, and to promote a culture of broad inquiry throughout and beyond the Cornell community.
Columbia University
One of the oldest Universities in the United States, the Columbian University is home to over 82 Nobel Laureates. A regular among top universities in New York, the college hosts over 14,000 international students, faculty, researchers, and visiting scholars from over 150 countries plus family members who accompany them. International students can opt for the various programmes available at the university. A relief for international students, the university provides an on-campus accommodation facility to its students in its 19 undergraduate residence halls and 18 brownstones which house traditional residential students as well as special living communities.
Also Read: Top Universities in USA - Courses & Fees
New York University
A regular among top universities in the USA, the New York University welcomes one of the highest numbers of international students to its various graduate and postgraduate programmes every year. The University is equipped with 22 residence halls and two graduate living communities and is home to over 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students during the academic year and summer session. Each student taking admission into the renowned university is provided with a bed, twin mattress, desk, desk chair, drawer space, and closet/wardrobe space for his use. A top-quality institution, New York University believes in bringing together talented and driven people together on the same platform to make magic happen.
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MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.
As per an unofficial source, the University of Illinois Chicago ranked at #80 among national universities which is better than the NIU ranking at #273 position. The UIC is also exceeding in terms of graduation rates and easier selection than NIU. However, the tuition cost is more affordable at Northern Illinois University as compared to UIC. Students can get more clarity from the comparison table given below:
Particulars | University of Illinois Chicago | Northern Illinois University |
|---|---|---|
US News National Rankings 2024 | #80 | #273 |
Acceptance Rate | 79% | 70% |
Graduation Rate | 40% | 33% |
Tuition Cost | UG: INR 22L-INR 49L PG: INR 13L-INR 37L | UG: INR 10L-INR 16.5L PG: INR 8L-INR 45L |
Student-faculty ratio | 17:1 | 14:1 |
The definition of a good ACT score varies from university to country. However, to get into the top 100 universities, you must aim for a score higher than 31 on the ACT.
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
Purdue University application must have the following components:
Undergraduate Admissions
- The application itself
- Purdue-specific questions from the application
- Self-reported high-school grades
- Self-reported SAT or ACT scores (if applicable)
- Application fee
Steps to apply for Purdue University Undergraduate Courses
- First of all, complete and submit a Common application as per the Purdue University application deadlines
- Make sure that Purdue University receives all material required to complete the application
Graduate Admissions Steps
- Firstly, check Purdue University entry requirements
- Then, create an application account to start the application
- Choose the campus and course as per the preference
- Then, submit the results of the tests needed for the graduate program
- Prepare the additional documents based on the graduate program
- Lastly, pay the non-refundable application fee to submit the application. Purdue University graduate application fee is USD 75 for international applicants
Northwest Missouri State University expects a cumulative GPA of 2 for UG programs and 3 for PG programs on a scale of 4. GPA is one of the top factors when considering students for university admissions. Along with GPA, the university expects a student to provide high school transcripts from previously attended university or school, standardized test scores, English language proficiency test scores, and more. In addition, students with relevant experience in the chosen field are preferred over the studious students.
The USD provides over 200 undergraduates and 80 master's programs in specializations such as Business Analytics, Business Administration, Accountancy, Computer Science, Mathematics, and more. The University of South Dakota tuition fees for international students range between INR 6L and INR 21L for graduates and around INR 10L for undergraduates. Students can check the table below for the tuition cost of the popular courses at the university:
Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
MBA/PGDM (4 courses) | INR 10 L - 12 L |
MS (10 courses) | INR 9 L - 18 L |
BSN (1 course) | INR 11 L |
MIM (3 courses) | INR 10 L - 12 L |
BSc (30 courses) | INR 11 L |
BBA (14 courses) | INR 11 L |
BA (18 courses) | INR 11 L |
BE / BTech (4 courses) | INR 11 L |
MA (19 courses) | INR 10 L - 21 L |
PG Certificate (10 courses) | INR 7 L |
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(1)
R
5 years ago
hello Suresh. you can check out Study in US page for all the available courses in the US: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/usa
There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.