10 Best Universities in the USA for International Students

Whenever any student says that he/she want to study abroad, first thought that pops up in their mind is USA. Because it is home of some reputed universities globally. MIT and Harvard university are among the top universities in USA and the world.

USA is still a top choice among Indian students for higher studies. Especially students who want to study STEM courses. Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University are not only the best in USA but in world. From Engineering to Medicine and from management studies to humanities, these universities offer subjects in nearly every field.

To study in these elite institutes, you need to have a big pocket. Also, a bit of luck to get approval for student visa. Minimum INR 1Cr to 1.5 Cr is mandatory budget to cover the cost of studying in USA. Other than this, some money to cover living expenses. 

MIT has been ranked on #1 for last 12 years. From year 2012, this institute has been awarded top position in QS ranking. There are different factors behind this. Let us explore the top universities in USA based on their rankings in QS and THE rankings.

10 Top Universities in USA 2026

Candidates looking to visit the States for higher education can look at the comprehensive list of top universities in the USA. 

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. 

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. 

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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