Our machine learning ranks colleges and universities by the scholarly impact of faculty and alumni associated with the schools, degree programs, and disciplines. Here are America’s most influential universities in each state over the last 10 years.
What are the most influential universities in the US? Which schools have had the most profound impact on the academic landscape, and on the world at large? And what exactly makes a university so influential?
True influence is created by innovative professors and elite students, by the individuals who have made lasting contributions to their universities, their professions, and to civilization. The most influential universities throughout history are those whose students, alumni and educators have achieved the greatest degree of influence across the widest range of disciplines and time periods.
AcademicInfluence.com quantifies this influence, using machine learning and human quality control to provide an objective and dynamic ranking of the world’s universities. Our Influence Ranking algorithm ranks universities and colleges based on the influence of the individuals who have taught and learned at each institution. Our ranking engine identifies influential faculty and alumni associated with schools as well as with specific degree programs, departments, and disciplines. Methodology
Generally, the best universities are those that demonstrate a history of impacting various fields of study. Hosting a faculty strong in research and academic activities, and producing alumni who positively impact society, are two central aspects of being a top university or college. This doesn’t necessarily mean that any of these are the best for you. For that, you may need to condsider a host of other factors. Location remains on the top of students’ selection criteria, likely for the cost savings and familiarity with the school. We can help you with more college selection questions.
For a look at the most influential universities in a given discipline, visit our Custom College Ranking tool.
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
72%
Student body
35K
Median SAT/ACT
1210/27
University of Alabama’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
79%
Student body
28K
Median SAT/ACT
1235/28
Auburn University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
61%
Student body
19K
Median SAT/ACT
1227/25
University of Alabama at Birmingham’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$23K
Acceptance
61%
Graduation
52%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
989/20
Tuskegee University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
77%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1160/26
Samford University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
67%
Graduation
39%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/21
University of Alaska Fairbanks’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
30%
Student body
9K
University of Alaska Anchorage’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
18%
Student body
1K
University of Alaska Southeast’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$21K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
56%
Student body
<1K
Alaska Pacific University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
35%
Student body
<1K
Iḷisaġvik College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
65%
Student body
39K
Median SAT/ACT
1235/25
University of Arizona’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
66%
Student body
74K
Median SAT/ACT
1240/25
Arizona State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
57%
Student body
27K
Northern Arizona University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
47%
Student body
88K
Grand Canyon University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
98%
Graduation
49%
Student body
<1K
Prescott College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
78%
Graduation
68%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1210/26
University of Arkansas’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$22K
Acceptance
55%
Graduation
72%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1165/25
Harding University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
56%
Graduation
42%
Student body
7K
University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$33K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
65%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1255/29
Hendrix College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
46%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1060/24
University of Central Arkansas’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
5%
Graduation
95%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1505/33
Stanford University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
92%
Student body
43K
Median SAT/ACT
1430/33
University of California, Berkeley’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
91%
Student body
45K
Median SAT/ACT
1415/32
University of California, Los Angeles’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
92%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1545/35
California Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
16%
Graduation
92%
Student body
40K
Median SAT/ACT
1445/32
University of Southern California’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
61%
Graduation
75%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1260/28
University of Denver’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Acceptance
13%
Graduation
87%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1335/30
United States Air Force Academy’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
88%
Student body
2K
Colorado College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
70%
Student body
29K
Median SAT/ACT
1180/26
Colorado State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$19K
Acceptance
55%
Graduation
84%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1310/30
Colorado School of Mines’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
96%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1515/34
Yale University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
21%
Graduation
91%
Student body
4K
Wesleyan University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
36%
Graduation
82%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1374/30
Trinity College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
56%
Graduation
83%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1305/29
University of Connecticut’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
38%
Graduation
82%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1380/31
Connecticut College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
66%
Graduation
82%
Student body
23K
Median SAT/ACT
1255/27
University of Delaware’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$27K
Acceptance
61%
Graduation
17%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
940/15
Wesley College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
39%
Graduation
48%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
920/19
Delaware State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$26K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
44%
Student body
<1K
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
55%
Graduation
51%
Student body
1K
Goldey–Beacom College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
94%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1465/33
Georgetown University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
43%
Graduation
85%
Student body
21K
Median SAT/ACT
1375/31
George Washington University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$53K
Acceptance
39%
Graduation
79%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1300/29
American University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$29K
Acceptance
39%
Graduation
64%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
1205/24
Howard University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$52K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
74%
Student body
5K
The Catholic University of America’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
31%
Graduation
89%
Student body
47K
Median SAT/ACT
1390/30
University of Florida’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
33%
Graduation
83%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1355/30
University of Miami’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
32%
Graduation
84%
Student body
40K
Median SAT/ACT
1270/28
Florida State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
49%
Graduation
74%
Student body
44K
Median SAT/ACT
1250/27
University of South Florida’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
45%
Graduation
74%
Student body
60K
Median SAT/ACT
1255/27
University of Central Florida’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
90%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1445/32
Emory University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
21%
Graduation
91%
Student body
31K
Median SAT/ACT
1405/31
Georgia Tech’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
48%
Graduation
87%
Student body
38K
Median SAT/ACT
1330/29
University of Georgia’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
54%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1125/22
Georgia Southern University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
53%
Student body
35K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/23
Georgia State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
62%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1170/23
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
67%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1170/24
Brigham Young University–Hawaii’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$30K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
46%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1100/21
Hawaii Pacific University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$27K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
59%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1065/21
Chaminade University of Honolulu’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
74%
Graduation
38%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/20
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
74%
Graduation
59%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1125/23
University of Idaho’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
55%
Student body
18K
Median SAT/ACT
1130/23
Boise State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
69%
Student body
<1K
New Saint Andrews College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
36%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
990/19
Lewis–Clark State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
48%
Graduation
66%
Student body
1K
College of Idaho’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
96%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/34
University of Chicago’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
95%
Student body
19K
Median SAT/ACT
1495/34
Northwestern University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
63%
Graduation
86%
Student body
54K
Median SAT/ACT
1340/29
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$48K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
76%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1225/27
Loyola University Chicago’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
73%
Graduation
63%
Student body
28K
Median SAT/ACT
1145/24
University of Illinois Chicago’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
97%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1475/33
University of Notre Dame’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
80%
Student body
41K
Median SAT/ACT
1255/27
Indiana University Bloomington’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
67%
Graduation
83%
Student body
43K
Median SAT/ACT
1315/28
Purdue University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
56%
Student body
1K
Manchester University ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
41%
Student body
10K
Indiana State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
72%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1235/25
University of Iowa’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
87%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1450/32
Grinnell College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
75%
Student body
30K
Median SAT/ACT
1220/25
Iowa State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$46K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
78%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1235/27
Drake University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
58%
Graduation
70%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1055/22
Loras College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
63%
Student body
23K
University of Kansas’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
48%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1150/23
Wichita State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
68%
Student body
18K
Kansas State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$31K
Acceptance
58%
Graduation
42%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1050/22
Friends University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$33K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
65%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1185/24
Benedictine College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
66%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1195/25
University of Kentucky’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
32%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1139/22
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
65%
Graduation
60%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1180/25
University of Louisville’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$44K
Acceptance
33%
Graduation
67%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1194/25
Berea College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
98%
Graduation
52%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1105/23
Western Kentucky University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
86%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1440/32
Tulane University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
67%
Graduation
51%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1144/23
University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
73%
Graduation
70%
Student body
28K
Median SAT/ACT
1195/26
Louisiana State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
41%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1127/22
University of New Orleans’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
61%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1162/25
Louisiana Tech University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
95%
Student body
2K
Bowdoin College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
92%
Student body
<1K
Bates College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
10%
Graduation
90%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1450/32
Colby College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
56%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/24
University of Maine’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
36%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1055/22
University of Southern Maine’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
94%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1510/34
Johns Hopkins University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
51%
Graduation
87%
Student body
37K
Median SAT/ACT
1375/31
University of Maryland, College Park’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$54K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
81%
Student body
5K
Loyola University Maryland’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$48K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
66%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1145/25
Goucher College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
5%
Graduation
98%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1515/34
Harvard University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
96%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1540/35
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$63K
Acceptance
16%
Graduation
94%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1465/33
Tufts University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
20%
Graduation
89%
Student body
32K
Median SAT/ACT
1425/32
Boston University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
12%
Graduation
95%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1415/32
Amherst College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
26%
Graduation
93%
Student body
45K
Median SAT/ACT
1435/32
University of Michigan’s faculty and alumni have been influential in: