50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024

Badge for BEST IN THE US RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES

Key Takeaways

  • A great research university will expand your academic networking opportunities with some of the most influential professors in the world.
  • Because of the huge research budgets at large research universities, students will be on the cutting edge of the latest technology and discoveries.
  • A research university is the perfect choice for those students interested in pursuing a STEM degree.

10 Best Research Universities for Undergrads

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  1. California Institute of Technology
  2. Harvard University
  3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  4. Stanford University
  5. Princeton University
  6. University of Chicago
  7. Yale University
  8. Columbia University
  9. Carnegie Mellon University
  10. Johns Hopkins University
  1. Harvard University
  2. University of California, Berkeley
  3. Columbia University
  4. University of Chicago
  5. Stanford University
  6. Yale University
  7. Princeton University
  8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  9. University of Michigan
  10. Cornell University
  1. The Catholic University of America 86%
  2. University of Pittsburgh 67%
  3. The New School 66%
  4. Illinois Institute of Technology 66%
  5. American University 64%
  6. City College of New York 64%
  7. Yeshiva University 63%
  8. University of Washington 53%
  9. George Washington University 50%
  10. Clark University 48%
  1. University of Washington 20 to 1
  2. University of California, Berkeley 19 to 1
  3. University of California, Los Angeles 18 to 1
  4. University of Virginia 15 to 1
  5. City College of New York 15 to 1
  6. Boston College 14 to 1
  7. University of Pittsburgh 14 to 1
  8. George Washington University 13 to 1
  9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 13 to 1
  10. Howard University 12 to 1
  1. Columbia University $63,530
  2. Tufts University $63,000
  3. Brown University $62,304
  4. University of Chicago $62,241
  5. University of Pennsylvania $61,710
  6. Boston College $61,706
  7. University of Southern California $61,503
  8. Cornell University $61,015
  9. Dartmouth College $60,870
  10. Tulane University $60,814
  1. University of Chicago $62,640
  2. Brown University $60,944
  3. University of Southern California $60,446
  4. Tulane University $59,000
  5. Dartmouth College $58,953
  6. Johns Hopkins University $58,720
  7. Boston University $58,560
  8. University of Notre Dame $58,190
  9. Duke University $57,900
  10. Washington University in St. Louis $57,750
  1. City College of New York
  2. The New School
  3. Tulane University
  4. California Institute of Integral Studies
  5. Boston College
  6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  7. Howard University
  8. University of Miami
  9. Boston University
  10. University of Pittsburgh
  1. California Institute of Integral Studies
  2. CUNY Graduate Center
  3. The Catholic University of America
  4. Illinois Institute of Technology
  5. Clark University
  6. Yeshiva University
  7. American University
  8. Boston College
  9. Tulane University
  10. Rice University
  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4%
  2. Stanford University 4%
  3. Harvard University 4%
  4. Columbia University 4%
  5. California Institute of Technology 4%
  6. Princeton University 4%
  7. Yale University 5%
  8. University of Pennsylvania 6%
  9. Dartmouth College 6%
  10. University of Chicago 6%
  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3 to 1
  2. California Institute of Technology 3 to 1
  3. Stanford University 4 to 1
  4. Yale University 4 to 1
  5. Princeton University 4 to 1
  6. Harvard University 5 to 1
  7. Carnegie Mellon University 5 to 1
  8. University of Chicago 5 to 1
  9. Columbia University 6 to 1
  10. Duke University 6 to 1
  1. CUNY Graduate Center $6,930
  2. City College of New York $6,930
  3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $7,019
  4. University of Washington $10,927
  5. University of California, Los Angeles $11,442
  6. University of California, Berkeley $11,442
  7. University of Virginia $16,547
  8. University of Michigan $16,865
  9. University of Pittsburgh $19,092
  10. California Institute of Integral Studies $20,500
  1. CUNY Graduate Center $9,930
  2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $10,552
  3. City College of New York $11,090
  4. University of California, Los Angeles $11,442
  5. University of California, Berkeley $11,442
  6. University of Washington $16,605
  7. University of Virginia $17,674
  8. California Institute of Integral Studies $21,708
  9. University of Pittsburgh $24,118
  10. University of Michigan $24,902

A research university is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees. Such students benefit from engaging in experimental inquiry, exploring cutting-edge technologies, and pursuing innovation in a rich and dynamic campus atmosphere. The top research universities give students a chance to work closely with influential professors and choose from a wide range of well-funded degree programs and research opportunities.

Featured Programs

What is a research university?

A research university is any university that invests heavily in research, and which consequently provides meaningful and extensive opportunities for its students and faculty to participate in research.

The best research universities are classified based on their quantifiable commitment to research activities. This tiered ranking is called the Carnegie Classification. This is where terms like R1 university and tier one university come from.

Are you interested in attending a school where cutting-edge innovation converges with academic excellence? Check out our look at the most technologically advanced colleges in the United States. These schools also typically offer degrees that can lead to some of the highest starting salaries, even for undergrads.

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Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines.

Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

  • Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
  • Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges

If you would like to see this ranking without school size considered, visit our best universities in the US ranking.

The following list of research universities is composed of both private and public schools. We’ve identified 399 research universities in the US. Of those, there are 190 private research universities in the US. In order to be included in this list of best research universities, a school must be a fully accredited university, offer doctoral degrees across the range of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), and it must report high levels of research activity based upon the number of research and/or practice doctorates awarded each year.

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The Best Research Universities for Undergrads in the US

  1. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1555/35

    Career Outlook for degree at California Institute of Technology

    Cost of Degree: $60,864
    Expenses: $22,734
    Starting Salary: $106,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Research at CalTech

    CalTech is classified as an “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity” institution. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is managed by CalTech through a partnership with NASA. The school also manages a number of observatories, a marine laboratory, an institute for space studies, and a Joint Center for Translational Medicine with UCLA (UCLA-Caltech JCTM).

    Undergraduate students are encouraged to participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program. Approximately 80% of the student body participates in the program at least one time during their studies.

  2. #2

    Harvard University

    Cambridge , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    97%

    Student body

    40K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Harvard University

    Cost of Degree: $57,261
    Expenses: $26,277
    Starting Salary: $139,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Research at Harvard

    Harvard is home to more Nobel Prize winners than any other university, and is second in Fields Medal award winners, right behind Princeton University.

    The school has cutting-edge research facilities and world-renowned faculty. Undergraduate students have a wide range of research opportunities in areas such as cosmology, particle physics, and condensed matter physics.

  3. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    12K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1545/35

    Career Outlook for degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Cost of Degree: $57,986
    Expenses: $21,864
    Starting Salary: $153,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Research at MIT

    MIT is a private research university. According to their website, there have been 101 Nobel laureates, 61 National Medal of Science recipients, 33 National Medals of Technology and Innovation, 83 MacArthur Fellows, and 17 A. M. Turing Awards have been affiliated with MIT.

    The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) gives students the opportunity to collaborate with renowned MIT faculty on real-world research happening across the school. Many students who participate in the program go on to become published, file patent applications, or even launch start-ups.

  4. #4

    Stanford University

    Stanford , CA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    19K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1495/33

    Career Outlook for degree at Stanford University

    Cost of Degree: $58,416
    Expenses: $23,746
    Starting Salary: $141,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Research at Stanford

    Stanford’s total sponsored research support revenue is a whopping $1.98 billion, which supports more than 7,500 projects throughout the school across a range of disciplines.

    Stanford supports 15 independent interdisciplinary labs, centers, and institutes in areas that range from economic studies, the environment, energy, and health. The school also supports 9 STEM-based labs.

    Stanford operates the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy. Research at the SLAC spans chemistry, materials and energy sciences, bioscience, fusion energy science, high-energy physics, cosmology, advanced accelerator and technology development, and advanced computer science.

  5. #5

    Princeton University

    Princeton , NJ
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    98%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1510/33

    Career Outlook for degree at Princeton University

    Cost of Degree: $57,410
    Expenses: $23,005
    Starting Salary: $116,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Research at Princeton

    Princeton University is considered one of the best research universities in the world because of its distinguished faculty, commitment to interdisciplinary research, and small student-to-faculty ratio.

    As of October 2022, 79 Nobel laureates and 13 Fields Medal award winners have been affiliated with Princeton University. The majority of the school’s research falls into four disciplines: engineering and applied sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.

  6. #6

    University of Chicago

    Chicago , IL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    20K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1535/34

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Chicago

    Cost of Degree: $62,940
    Expenses: $22,596
    Starting Salary: $103,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Research at the University of Chicago

    Ninety-nine scholars associated with the University of Chicago have been named Nobel laureates. The school has two U.S. Department of Energy laboratories—Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab—and the world-renowned Marine Biological Laboratory. A majority of undergraduate students choose to engage in research.

  7. #7

    Yale University

    New Haven , CT
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    5%

    Graduation

    97%

    Student body

    14K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Yale University

    Cost of Degree: $62,250
    Expenses: $22,870
    Starting Salary: $124,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Research at Yale

    Yale university has over one million square feet of lab space that includes more than 800 laboratories, and numerous research centers and institutes. The school’s main areas of research include biotechnology, environmental science, oncology, pharmaceuticals, and quantum computing.

  8. #8

    Columbia University

    New York , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $64K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    97%

    Student body

    34K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1515/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Columbia University

    Cost of Degree: $65,508
    Expenses: $19,958
    Starting Salary: $115,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Research at Columbia

    Columbia University operates over 200 research centers and institutes and has a world-renowned medical center. The school boasts a research budget of over $1+ billion, 400 new inventions each year, and 87 Nobel laureates associated with the university.

  9. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    14%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    15K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1510/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Carnegie Mellon University

    Cost of Degree: $60,854
    Expenses: $18,886
    Starting Salary: $103,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  10. #10

    Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore , MD
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    8%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    37K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1515/35

    Career Outlook for degree at Johns Hopkins University

    Cost of Degree: $60,480
    Expenses: $20,320
    Starting Salary: $89,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  11. #11

    Georgetown University

    Washington , DC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    12%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    23K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1465/33

    Career Outlook for degree at Georgetown University

    Cost of Degree: $62,051
    Expenses: $22,644
    Starting Salary: $125,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  12. #12

    University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia , PA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    31K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1515/34

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Pennsylvania

    Cost of Degree: $63,452
    Expenses: $22,286
    Starting Salary: $131,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  13. #13

    Duke University

    Durham , NC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    18K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Duke University

    Cost of Degree: $62,688
    Expenses: $20,061
    Starting Salary: $114,500
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  14. #14

    Northwestern University

    Evanston , IL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    27K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1490/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Northwestern University

    Cost of Degree: $63,468
    Expenses: $25,926
    Starting Salary: $93,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  15. #15

    Cornell University

    Ithaca , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    9%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    24K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1470/33

    Career Outlook for degree at Cornell University

    Cost of Degree: $63,200
    Expenses: $19,996
    Starting Salary: $101,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  16. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $14K

    Acceptance

    14%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    46K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1420/32

    Career Outlook for degree at University of California, Berkeley

    Cost of Degree: $14,395
    Expenses: $28,648
    Starting Salary: $79,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  17. #17

    Brown University

    Providence , RI
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    10K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1500/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Brown University

    Cost of Degree: $65,046
    Expenses: $18,540
    Starting Salary: $89,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  18. #18

    Rice University

    Houston , TX
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $53K

    Acceptance

    9%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1515/35

    Career Outlook for degree at Rice University

    Cost of Degree: $54,960
    Expenses: $19,150
    Starting Salary: $91,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  19. #19

    Dartmouth College

    Hanover , NH
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1500/33

    Career Outlook for degree at Dartmouth College

    Cost of Degree: $62,430
    Expenses: $21,144
    Starting Salary: $110,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  20. #22

    University of Michigan

    Ann Arbor , MI
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $17K

    Acceptance

    20%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    50K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1430/32

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Michigan

    Cost of Degree: $17,786
    Expenses: $16,820
    Starting Salary: $79,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  21. #23

    New York University

    New York , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    13%

    Graduation

    87%

    Student body

    60K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1455/32

    Career Outlook for degree at New York University

    Cost of Degree: $58,168
    Expenses: $23,927
    Starting Salary: $78,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  22. #25

    University of Rochester

    Rochester , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    41%

    Graduation

    86%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1420/32

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Rochester

    Cost of Degree: $61,678
    Expenses: $20,922
    Starting Salary: $74,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    University of Rochester’s Online Degrees

    BSN in RN to BSN
    • Required Credits: 128
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  23. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    13%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    18K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Washington University in St. Louis

    Cost of Degree: $60,590
    Expenses: $22,886
    Starting Salary: $87,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Washington University in St. Louis’s Online Degrees

    BS in Integrated Studies
    Degree Concentrations
    • Humanities
    • Social Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  24. #27

    Vanderbilt University

    Nashville , TN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    14K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Vanderbilt University

    Cost of Degree: $60,348
    Expenses: $24,064
    Starting Salary: $86,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  25. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $55K

    Acceptance

    30%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    12K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1430/32

    Career Outlook for degree at Case Western Reserve University

    Cost of Degree: $61,584
    Expenses: $20,420
    Starting Salary: $89,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  26. #29

    University of Notre Dame

    Notre Dame , IN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    15%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1475/33

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Notre Dame

    Cost of Degree: $60,301
    Expenses: $19,910
    Starting Salary: $98,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  27. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    13%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    52K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1435/32

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Southern California

    Cost of Degree: $64,726
    Expenses: $20,338
    Starting Salary: $88,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  28. #31

    CUNY Graduate Center

    New York , NY

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Student body

    11K

    Career Outlook for degree at CUNY Graduate Center

    Cost of Degree: $7,410
    Expenses: $28,160
    Starting Salary: $61,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    CUNY Graduate Center’s Online Degrees

    BS in Business
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Information Systems
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Disability Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Communication and Media
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Liberal Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Sociology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Health Information Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Health Services Administration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    MSN in RN to BSN and MSN
    Degree Concentrations
    • Accelerated Nursing Education
    • Accelerated Nursing Informatics
    • Accelerated Nursing Organizational Leadership
    • Accelerated Nursing Education
    • AcceleratedNursing Informatics
    • Accelerated Nursing Organizational Leadership
    • Required Credits: 150
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BSN in Nursing
    Degree Concentrations
    • Queensborough Community College Fast Track
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Nursing
    Degree Concentrations
    • Dual Program with Queensbourough College
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  29. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $50K

    Acceptance

    66%

    Graduation

    71%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1295/29

    Career Outlook for degree at Illinois Institute of Technology

    Cost of Degree: $50,279
    Expenses: $21,270
    Starting Salary: $78,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  30. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    11%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    47K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of California, Los Angeles

    Cost of Degree: $13,401
    Expenses: $23,579
    Starting Salary: $73,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  31. #34

    University of Virginia

    Charlottesville , VA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $20K

    Acceptance

    21%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    28K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1415/32

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Virginia

    Cost of Degree: $21,425
    Expenses: $17,790
    Starting Salary: $79,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  32. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    53%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    57K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1326/30

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Washington

    Cost of Degree: $12,242
    Expenses: $19,848
    Starting Salary: $69,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  33. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    50%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    30K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1360/31

    Career Outlook for degree at George Washington University

    Cost of Degree: $60,946
    Expenses: $18,745
    Starting Salary: $82,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  34. #39

    Clark University

    Worcester , MA

    Tuition + fees

    $50K

    Acceptance

    48%

    Graduation

    79%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1250/29

    Career Outlook for degree at Clark University

    Cost of Degree: $52,352
    Expenses: $12,914
    Starting Salary: $54,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  35. #40

    American University

    Washington , DC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $53K

    Acceptance

    64%

    Graduation

    79%

    Student body

    16K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1305/29

    Career Outlook for degree at American University

    Cost of Degree: $53,889
    Expenses: $17,814
    Starting Salary: $67,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  36. #42

    Boston University

    Boston , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    19%

    Graduation

    89%

    Student body

    40K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1405/32

    Career Outlook for degree at Boston University

    Cost of Degree: $62,360
    Expenses: $20,400
    Starting Salary: $75,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Boston University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Undergrad Completion Program
    • Required Credits: 64
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  37. #43

    University of Miami

    Coral Gables , FL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $55K

    Acceptance

    28%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    20K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1335/30

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Miami

    Cost of Degree: $57,194
    Expenses: $21,826
    Starting Salary: $72,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  38. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    20%

    Graduation

    90%

    Student body

    33K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1385/30

    Career Outlook for degree at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Cost of Degree: $8,989
    Expenses: $16,260
    Starting Salary: $68,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill known for?

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  39. #46

    Boston College

    Chestnut Hill , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    19%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    16K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1415/32

    Career Outlook for degree at Boston College

    Cost of Degree: $64,176
    Expenses: $19,570
    Starting Salary: $92,500
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  40. Tuition + fees

    $21K

    Student body

    2K

    What is California Institute of Integral Studies known for?

    California Institute of Integral Studies’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    California Institute of Integral Studies’s Online Degrees

    BS in Psychology
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: None Reported
  41. #49

    The New School

    New York , NY

    Tuition + fees

    $52K

    Acceptance

    66%

    Graduation

    70%

    Student body

    10K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1250/28

    Career Outlook for degree at The New School

    Cost of Degree: $54,371
    Expenses: $30,750
    Starting Salary: $55,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 21 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    The New School’s Online Degrees

    BA in Degree Completion
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Degree Completion
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
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Find the Best Research Universities in Your Area of Interest

The best research universities by discipline

Earn a Degree from a Research University Close to Home

A research university is a great choice for students who are interested in a STEM degree.

And as important as a great research university is, if attending a school near home is also important to you, check out our Complete List of Colleges and Universities by State.

Check out the College Admissions Process Guide for additional tips on finding, applying to, and getting into the college of your choice.

See our Resources Guide for much more on studying, starting your job search, and more.

Photo Credit: California Institute of Technology, Beckman Institute. By Canon.vs.nikon, via CC BY-SA 3.0.

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