Is a research university right for me?–

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.

Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whehter you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find, well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024

By James Barham

Published: Apr 11, 2022
Updated: Nov 9, 2023

Our ranking of the best US universities is based on the academic impact of the schools’ faculty and alumni. We believe that schools with histories of hiring and developing influential faculty, and schools that produce students who become influential in their fields of study, are schools that demonstrate key indicators of academic excellence.

University of Utah 95%
University of Arizona 87%
Indiana University Bloomington 85%
Michigan State University 83%
University of Minnesota 73%
Purdue University 69%
University of Pittsburgh 67%
Texas A&M University 64%
University of Wisconsin–Madison 60%
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 60%

University of Washington 20 to 1
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 20 to 1
Texas A&M University 19 to 1
Ohio State University 19 to 1
University of California, Berkeley 19 to 1
University of California, San Diego 19 to 1
University of California, Los Angeles 18 to 1
University of California, Irvine 18 to 1
University of California, Santa Barbara 18 to 1
University of Texas at Austin 17 to 1

Columbia University $63,530
Tufts University $63,000
Brown University $62,304
University of Chicago $62,241
University of Pennsylvania $61,710
University of Southern California $61,503
Cornell University $61,015
Dartmouth College $60,870
Northwestern University $60,768
Duke University $60,244

University of Chicago $62,640
Brown University $60,944
University of Southern California $60,446
Dartmouth College $58,953
Johns Hopkins University $58,720
Boston University $58,560
University of Notre Dame $58,190
Duke University $57,900
Washington University in St. Louis $57,750
California Institute of Technology $56,364

Texas A&M University
Rice University
University of Utah
Michigan State University
George Washington University
University of California, Irvine
University of Florida
Syracuse University
Tufts University
University of Arizona

Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4%
Stanford University 4%
Harvard University 4%
Columbia University 4%
California Institute of Technology 4%
Princeton University 4%
Yale University 5%
University of Pennsylvania 6%
Dartmouth College 6%
University of Chicago 6%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3 to 1
California Institute of Technology 3 to 1
Stanford University 4 to 1
Yale University 4 to 1
Princeton University 4 to 1
Harvard University 5 to 1
Carnegie Mellon University 5 to 1
University of Chicago 5 to 1
Columbia University 6 to 1
Duke University 6 to 1

University of Florida $4,477
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $7,019
University of Utah $7,749
Texas A&M University $8,578
University of Maryland, College Park $9,000
University of Wisconsin–Madison $9,273
Purdue University $9,718
Indiana University Bloomington $9,913
University of Washington $10,927
University of Arizona $10,990

Texas A&M University $6,885
University of Utah $6,970
Purdue University $9,718
Indiana University Bloomington $9,909
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $10,552
University of Wisconsin–Madison $10,728
University of Florida $10,770
University of California, Los Angeles $11,442
University of California, Berkeley $11,442
University of California, Irvine $11,442

Key Takeaways

Students enrolled in one of the best universities benefit from top research instructors and can expect to gain networking from known people in various industries.
Liberal arts colleges emphasize a student’s overall education while also assisting them in excelling in their chosen majors. On the other hand, research universities concentrate on more specialized fields of study and provide students with access to leading authorities and the most recent developments in their area or programs.
States that have the majority of the best universities in college rankings are California, Massachusetts, and New York.

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Every fall, more than 2 million high-school graduates will enroll in colleges and universities across the United States. With nearly 3,000 4-year schools to choose from, finding the best college for your educational, personal, and professional goals may be challenging. The purpose of this ranking is to help you manage this challenge. We offer a new perspective of the best universities in the US.

Ranking the Nation’s Best Universities

Intense competition for admission at the best universities in the US puts pressure on students. They think obtaining a degree from renowned national universities will enable them to enjoy a more lucrative future.

And while elite colleges undoubtedly draw the best students, whether these institutions directly impact professional outcomes is still up for discussion.

Regardless, there are several reasons why attending a more elite university can be advantageous for your future. Remember that we’re concentrating on the potential financial and professional advantages of attending a top-ranking college or university.

Aside from that, selective universities might push you intellectually further and let you hang out with similarly driven and accomplished people.

Benefits of the Best Universities in the US

High Standards in Education

Students enrolled in the best universities in America will receive a higher quality of education than non-ranked institutions. But this is not to say that institutions not included on this list are not good. It’s just that top universities have award-winning higher education experts as part of their faculty.

These universities also have higher-caliber research than others, so prospective students will learn from the best and have the chance to cooperate and advance their profession by working with the best.

World-class facilities and resources

Top universities are first in line for funding opportunities in addition to high education standards. Hence, these universities can always finance necessary upkeep for student learning.

The best universities often own a copy of an original research paper, the most expensive laboratory equipment, and other research and faculty resources you most likely cannot find in less-known institutions.

Additionally, top universities have abundant financial aid opportunities to help reduce tuition and fees. Students are required to complete the FAFSA after choosing their undergraduate majors.

If you need more guidance on the process of applying for financial aid, refer to our Focus on the FAFSA.

Vast Networking Opportunities

Since the best universities have award-winning alumni and faculty, you will indeed be given a chance to create a vast network during your studies. You’ll not only have the opportunity to be taught by an excellent faculty, but you’ll also get to attend seminars hosted by industry-specific leaders.

Remember, the best universities hold the best seminars for college students, which gives them the chance to listen and build networks that can help them land jobs immediately after graduation.

Employment opportunities

Graduates from top universities in the US, such as Harvard University, Stanford University, Princeton University, Johns Hopkins University, and Yale University, have higher chances of getting employed at big companies. Additionally, graduates from top-tier universities often receive higher wages since they’re expected to provide better outcomes due to their extensive higher education training. Top universities also top the highest graduation rates.

Be in a Community That Understands You

You are surrounded by like-minded individuals who will challenge you. These are the people who, like you, made it through the difficult admissions process of top US universities. These people will often offer you the challenge you need to succeed in your chosen career.

Typical Admission Requirements of Top Universities in the USA

Aside from the usual high GPAs, essays, and more, top universities are also strict regarding requirements such as SATs, APs, and extracurriculars.

Standardized Test Scores

SAT scores are reliable predictors of academic and professional success. Standardized examinations can provide evidence of and encourage academic rigor, which is crucial for students’ success in college and throughout their careers.

You should aim for scores between 1300 and 1400 if you are serious about attending a prestigious college or university.

AP Scores

Taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes in high school show mastery of a subject. The scores for these courses have been standardized so that students can be assessed throughout the nation.

It is now mandatory for applicants to colleges like Stanford, MIT, and other Ivies to have completed at least six AP classes, achieving a score of at least 4 or 5.

Extracurricular Activities

Candidates must list extracurricular endeavors demonstrating leadership, zeal, and dedication. Participation in 8-10 of these activities is strongly recommended.

Our ranking of universities has the very best colleges and universities in the country based on the number of influential faculty and alumni affiliated with the schools over the past ten years. Larger schools have a huge advantage simply because they have more people. We also offer rankings that control for the size advatages of largers universities. Doing that reveals smaller colleges and universities that compete proportionally with largers universities. The rankings below use the method that controls for size advantages:

Our Methodology

Using our proprietary InfluenceRanking™ Engine—innovative machine-learning technology that objectively measures a school’s influence through its students, faculty, staff, and alumni—we rank academic persons, institutions, and disciplinary programs. We use publicly available data and objective measures of influence to determine which schools give students the best academic experience and outcome.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence, the metric we use, provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

For higher education rankings, “best” may mean having the most knowledgeable departmental faculty, the most accomplished professors, or the most noteworthy alumni. For students passionately interested in a specific discipline, the best school is likely to be one widely recognized for excellence in that discipline. Our experience with and research into academic rankings suggests that influence gets at the heart of what is truly best in education.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

We’ve identified a total of 1,392 colleges and universities in the US that meet our criteria. Of those, 637 are public institutions and 755 are private institutions. This list focuses on schools that offer bachelor’s degrees, and includes both public and private colleges and universities. In order to be included in this list of best colleges, a school needs to a regionally accredited nonprofit college or university.

50 Best US Universities 2024

#1
Harvard University
Cambridge , MA
#1 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024 #1 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #1 Best Universities in the World 2024 #1 Online Colleges with the Most Generous Financial Aid in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
97%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/34
What is Harvard University known for?

Harvard University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Philosophy
Law
Biology
Political Science
Literature
Business
Economics
Psychology
Medical
Education

Most Influential Alumni

Jacques Derrida
William James
Noam Chomsky
Charles Sanders Peirce
Norbert Wiener
Norbert Wiener
Daniel Dennett
Marvin Minsky
T. S. Eliot
Hilary Putnam
Paul Samuelson
Paul Samuelson
Compare school
#2
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley , CA
#1 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #1 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #1 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #1 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
93%
Student body
43K
Median SAT/ACT
1420/32
What is University of California, Berkeley known for?

University of California, Berkeley’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Chemistry
Earth Sciences
Mathematics
Biology
Physics
Computer Science
Psychology
Communications
Anthropology
Engineering

Most Influential Alumni

Daniel Kahneman
John Kenneth Galbraith
Timothy Leary
Shing-Tung Yau
Ken Thompson
Niklaus Wirth
Theodosius Dobzhansky
Douglas Engelbart
Betty Friedan
George Dantzig
Octavio Paz
David Bohm
Compare school
#3
Columbia University
New York , NY
#5 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024 #5 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #5 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #6 Best Universities in the World 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$64K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
97%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1515/34
What is Columbia University known for?

Columbia University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Social Work
Nursing
Literature
Political Science
Business
Education
History
Medical
Communications
Law

Most Influential Alumni

Milton Friedman
Murray Rothbard
Herbert Marcuse
Stephen Jay Gould
Kenneth Arrow
Carl Rogers
B. R. Ambedkar
Isaac Asimov
Robert Nozick
Margaret Mead
Thomas Sowell
Jerry Fodor
Compare school
#4
University of Chicago
Chicago , IL
#6 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024 #6 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #6 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #7 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
6%
Graduation
96%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/34
What is University of Chicago known for?

University of Chicago’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Sociology
Anthropology
Economics
Philosophy
Religious Studies
Criminal Justice
Social Work
Mathematics
Political Science
Psychology

Most Influential Alumni

Milton Friedman
Herbert A. Simon
Paul Samuelson
Richard Rorty
Joseph Stiglitz
James Watson
Martin Gardner
George Lakoff
Thomas Sowell
Gary Becker
John B. Watson
James M. Buchanan
Compare school
#5
Stanford University
Stanford , CA
#2 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024 #2 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #3 Best Universities in the World 2024 #4 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
96%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1495/33
What is Stanford University known for?

Stanford University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Computer Science
Engineering
Psychology
Biology
Business
Chemistry
Law
Education
Medical
Mathematics

Most Influential Alumni

Allen Newell
Vint Cerf
Douglas Hofstadter
Hans Moravec
Sandra Day O'Connor
Rodney Brooks
John Harsanyi
Gérard Debreu
Anthony Kennedy
Garrett Hardin
Ron Rivest
Stuart J. Russell
Compare school
#6
Yale University
New Haven , CT
#4 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #6 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024 #7 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024 #7 Best Universities in the World 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
5%
Graduation
97%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/34
What is Yale University known for?

Yale University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Law
Religious Studies
Nursing
Political Science
Literature
History
Medical
Biology
Anthropology
Philosophy

Most Influential Alumni

Richard Rorty
Judith Butler
Harold Bloom
Murray Gell-Mann
Josiah Willard Gibbs
Alvin Plantinga
Thorstein Veblen
Fredric Jameson
Alan Dershowitz
Lawrence Lessig
Grace Hopper
Grace Hopper
Compare school
#7
Princeton University
Princeton , NJ
#5 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024 #5 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #5 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #6 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
98%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1510/33
What is Princeton University known for?

Princeton University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Mathematics
Philosophy
Physics
Religious Studies
Computer Science
Political Science
Economics
History
Literature
Engineering

Most Influential Alumni

Richard Feynman
Marvin Minsky
John Rawls
Alonzo Church
Edward Witten
Robert Mueller
Allen Newell
John McCarthy
Robert Nozick
John Bardeen
Gary Becker
Jerry Fodor
Compare school
#8
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge , MA
#3 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024 #3 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024 #3 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #3 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
96%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1545/35
What is Massachusetts Institute of Technology known for?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Computer Science
Engineering
Economics
Physics
Chemistry
Mathematics
Earth Sciences
Business
Communications
Biology

Most Influential Alumni

Noam Chomsky
Richard Feynman
Claude Shannon
Paul Krugman
Joseph Stiglitz
Richard Stallman
Ben Bernanke
William Shockley
George Lakoff
Vannevar Bush
Murray Gell-Mann
Lawrence Summers
Compare school
#9
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor , MI
#2 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #2 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #2 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #2 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$17K
Acceptance
20%
Graduation
94%
Student body
44K
Median SAT/ACT
1430/32
What is University of Michigan known for?

University of Michigan’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Sociology
Psychology
Engineering
Medical
Anthropology
Computer Science
Education
Mathematics
Law
History

Most Influential Alumni

Claude Shannon
Alvin Plantinga
Arthur Miller
George Dantzig
Edgar F. Codd
Hans-Hermann Hoppe
Stephen Smale
Jonas Salk
John Henry Holland
Amos Tversky
Urie Bronfenbrenner
Marshall Sahlins
Compare school
#10
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia , PA
#3 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #9 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #12 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024 #12 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
6%
Graduation
96%
Student body
28K
Median SAT/ACT
1515/34
What is University of Pennsylvania known for?

University of Pennsylvania’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Business
Social Work
Nursing
Communications
Engineering
Medical
Anthropology
Psychology
Sociology
Education

Most Influential Alumni

Noam Chomsky
Hilary Putnam
Ezra Pound
Martin Seligman
John Backus
James McKeen Cattell
Lawrence Lessig
Eric S. Raymond
Paul R. Ehrlich
I. M. Pei
J. Presper Eckert
Asa Gray
Compare school
#11
Cornell University
Ithaca , NY
#10 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024 #10 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #15 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2024 #15 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
94%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1470/33
What is Cornell University known for?

Cornell University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Biology
Literature
Physics
Engineering
Psychology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Philosophy
History
Anthropology

Most Influential Alumni

Norbert Wiener
Harold Bloom
Abraham Maslow
Thomas Nagel
Thomas Pynchon
Sheldon Glashow
Francis Fukuyama
Anthony Fauci
Leonard Susskind
Steven Weinberg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Frank Knight
Compare school
#12
New York University
New York , NY
#8 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #9 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024 #13 Best Universities in the World 2024 #23 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
13%
Graduation
87%
Student body
49K
Median SAT/ACT
1455/32
What is New York University known for?

New York University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Literature
Law
Nursing
Social Work
Philosophy
Communications
Mathematics
Business
Economics
Political Science

Most Influential Alumni

Erich Fromm
Robert Mueller
Martha Nussbaum
John Archibald Wheeler
Glenn Greenwald
Howard Zinn
Eric Kandel
Jonas Salk
Peter Lax
Louis Nirenberg
Paul Ekman
Alvin Toffler
Compare school
#13
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore , MD
#10 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #11 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024 #11 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #14 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
8%
Graduation
95%
Student body
27K
Median SAT/ACT
1515/35
What is Johns Hopkins University known for?

Johns Hopkins University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Medical
Nursing
Biology
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Education
History
Anthropology
Economics

Most Influential Alumni

John Dewey
G. Stanley Hall
Thorstein Veblen
John Archibald Wheeler
John Mauchly
Thomas Hunt Morgan
Rachel Carson
Joseph Jastrow
Robert Fogel
Gertrude Stein
Richard E. Bellman
John R. Commons
Compare school
#14
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles , CA
#3 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #3 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #3 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #3 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
92%
Student body
46K
What is University of California, Los Angeles known for?

University of California, Los Angeles’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Nursing
Social Work
Medical
History
Chemistry
Sociology
Anthropology
Earth Sciences
Mathematics
Philosophy

Most Influential Alumni

Hilary Putnam
Vint Cerf
Vint Cerf
Elinor Ostrom
Judea Pearl
Glenn T. Seaborg
Barry Boehm
Stanley Cavell
William F. Sharpe
Edward O. Thorp
John Ehrlichman
Stephen Krashen
Compare school
#15
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena , CA
#1 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024 #1 50 Best Small Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #1 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #1 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
93%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1555/35
What is California Institute of Technology known for?

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

Physics
Chemistry
Computer Science
Earth Sciences
Biology
Mathematics
Engineering
Economics
History
Business

Most Influential Alumni

Donald Knuth
Linus Pauling
John McCarthy
William Shockley
Kip Thorne
Benoit Mandelbrot
Ivan Sutherland
Vernon L. Smith
David Bohm
L. Sprague de Camp
Robert C. Merton
Serge Lang
Compare school
#16
University of Washington
Seattle , WA
#4 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #5 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #5 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #7 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
53%
Graduation
84%
Student body
44K
Median SAT/ACT
1326/30
What is University of Washington known for?

University of Washington’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Earth Sciences
Social Work
Computer Science
Anthropology
Biology
Medical
Criminal Justice
Physics
Engineering
Political Science

Most Influential Alumni

George Stigler
Frank Herbert
Jerry Pournelle
Ed Diener
Ted Bundy
Robert Mundell
Michael Hardt
Harold Hotelling
Dave Cutler
Minoru Yamasaki
Lyle Campbell
Steven Holl
Compare school
#17
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Madison , WI
#7 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #7 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #9 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #12 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
60%
Graduation
89%
Student body
38K
Median SAT/ACT
1360/29
What is University of Wisconsin–Madison known for?

University of Wisconsin–Madison’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Sociology
History
Mathematics
Physics
Earth Sciences
Chemistry
Biology
Anthropology
Psychology
Computer Science

Most Influential Alumni

Frank Lloyd Wright
Carl Rogers
Edward Witten
John Bardeen
Abraham Maslow
Charles Lindbergh
Jack Kilby
Jim Lovell
Joshua Lederberg
Warren Weaver
C. Wright Mills
Jayaprakash Narayan
Compare school
#18
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis , MN
#6 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #8 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #12 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #1 Best Colleges in Minnesota 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
73%
Graduation
84%
Student body
42K
Median SAT/ACT
1350/28
What is University of Minnesota known for?

University of Minnesota’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Nursing
Medical
Psychology
Engineering
Chemistry
Economics
Anthropology
Social Work
Biology
Mathematics

Most Influential Alumni

Deke Slayton
Arthur Compton
Norman Borlaug
Ernest Lawrence
Melvin Calvin
Thomas Friedman
John L. Holland
Christiaan Barnard
Edward B. Lewis
Roy Wilkins
Lars Peter Hansen
Alexander Wendt
Compare school
#19
University of Southern California
Los Angeles , CA
#13 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #18 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024 #2 Best Private Colleges in California 2024 #4 Best Research Universities in California 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
13%
Graduation
92%
Student body
38K
Median SAT/ACT
1435/32
What is University of Southern California known for?

University of Southern California’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Social Work
Engineering
Business
Communications
Criminal Justice
Medical
Education
Computer Science
Law
Political Science

Most Influential Alumni

Frank Gehry
Neil Armstrong
Jim Lovell
Jack L. Warner
John Mearsheimer
Boris Podolsky
Michael D. Griffin
O. J. Simpson
Thom Mayne
Richard Perle
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Christine Blasey Ford
Compare school
#20
Duke University
Durham , NC
#1 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #1 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees #1 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #11 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
6%
Graduation
96%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/34
What is Duke University known for?

Duke University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Religious Studies
Nursing
Literature
Psychology
Philosophy
Political Science
Education
Law
Sociology
Anthropology

Most Influential Alumni

Jerome Bruner
Fred Brooks
Ken Wilber
Charlie Rose
John W. Campbell
Dan Ariely
Paul Farmer
David G. Bromley
Russell Kirk
Michael Tomasello
Peter J. Denning
Charles H. Townes
Compare school
#21
Northwestern University
Evanston , IL
#14 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #15 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024 #15 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #16 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
95%
Student body
20K
Median SAT/ACT
1490/34
What is Northwestern University known for?

Northwestern University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Business
Communications
Sociology
Law
Economics
Anthropology
Chemistry
Philosophy
Education
Political Science

Most Influential Alumni

Stephen Colbert
George Stigler
John Paul Stevens
Saul Bellow
Aaron Director
Robert Hanssen
J. Gordon Melton
Charles W. Morris
Alston Scott Householder
Walter Dill Scott
Rudolph Rummel
Virginia Satir
Compare school
#22
University of Texas at Austin
Austin , TX
#4 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #5 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #6 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #10 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
29%
Graduation
88%
Student body
45K
Median SAT/ACT
1340/29
What is University of Texas at Austin known for?

University of Texas at Austin’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Communications
Social Work
Physics
Literature
Law
History
Earth Sciences
Business
Computer Science
Philosophy

Most Influential Alumni

Walter Cronkite
Bill Moyers
Edsger W. Dijkstra
C. Wright Mills
Bruce Sterling
Robert Rauschenberg
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Steven Best
Robert Taylor
J. M. Coetzee
Alan Lomax
James P. Allison
Compare school
#23
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh , PA
#9 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024 #9 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #9 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #12 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
93%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1510/34
What is Carnegie Mellon University known for?

Carnegie Mellon University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Computer Science
Engineering
Economics
Business
Chemistry
Mathematics
Psychology
Education
Physics
Political Science

Most Influential Alumni

Allen Newell
Ivan Sutherland
James Gosling
Oliver E. Williamson
Raoul Bott
Henry Giroux
Edward Feigenbaum
Edward C. Prescott
John Forbes Nash Jr.
Shafi Goldwasser
Kurt Vonnegut
Robert H. Dennard
Compare school
#24
Brown University
Providence , RI
#17 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #18 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024 #18 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #19 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
6%
Graduation
96%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1500/34
What is Brown University known for?

Brown University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Literature
Mathematics
History
Education
Computer Science
Economics
Political Science
Philosophy
Engineering
Sociology

Most Influential Alumni

Peter Norvig
Janet Yellen
John Tukey
Aaron Beck
Andy Hertzfeld
Richard Holbrooke
Jacob M. Appel
S. T. Joshi
Randy Pausch
Lester Frank Ward
Jeffrey Eugenides
David Kelley
Compare school
#25
University of Virginia
Charlottesville , VA
#4 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #5 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #9 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #10 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
21%
Graduation
94%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1415/32
What is University of Virginia known for?

University of Virginia’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Law
Political Science
History
Philosophy
Education
Literature
Psychology
Anthropology
Economics
Communications

Most Influential Alumni

Ronald Coase
Edgar Allan Poe
Robert Mueller
John Backus
Tom Regan
William Faulkner
Georgia O'Keeffe
Francis Collins
Katie Couric
Anselm Strauss
Ferid Murad
Allen Tate
Compare school
#26
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla , CA
#4 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #9 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #10 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #14 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
34%
Graduation
89%
Student body
41K
Median SAT/ACT
1375/31
What is University of California, San Diego known for?

University of California, San Diego’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Chemistry
Biology
Physics
Psychology
Anthropology
Earth Sciences
Computer Science
Mathematics
Communications
Engineering

Most Influential Alumni

Angela Davis
Michael I. Jordan
Robert Todd Carroll
John Grinder
Susumu Tonegawa
Gregory Benford
Jerome Lettvin
B. Alan Wallace
Mike Judge
Suisheng Zhao
Vernor Vinge
David E. Shaw
Compare school
#27
Boston University
Boston , MA
#19 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #21 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024 #3 Best Colleges in Massachusetts 2024 #3 Best Grad Schools in Massachusetts 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
89%
Student body
32K
Median SAT/ACT
1405/32
What is Boston University known for?

Boston University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Literature
Social Work
Religious Studies
Communications
Education
Business
Political Science
History
Philosophy
Medical

Most Influential Alumni

Martin Luther King Jr.
Sheldon Glashow
Neal Stephenson
Ray Hyman
Norman Vincent Peale
Tipper Gore
David Ellerman
Albert-László Barabási
Steven M. Wise
Daniel C. Tsui
William Sims Bainbridge
Kim Stanley Robinson
Boston University’s Online Degrees
BS in Undergrad Completion Program

Required Credits: 64
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#28
Georgetown University
Washington , DC
#2 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #11 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #12 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024 #12 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
12%
Graduation
95%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1465/33
What is Georgetown University known for?

Georgetown University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Law
Nursing
Political Science
Criminal Justice
Religious Studies
Education
Business
Communications
Economics
Medical

Most Influential Alumni

J. Edgar Hoover
Antonin Scalia
Paul Manafort
George Tenet
Abdullah II of Jordan
Allen Tate
Steven Novella
Wang Yi
Jan Karski
Susan Hockfield
Solomon H. Snyder
Jerome Powell
Compare school
#29
Indiana University Bloomington
Bloomington , IN
#14 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #23 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #2 Best Public Colleges in Indiana 2024 #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
81%
Student body
41K
Median SAT/ACT
1235/27
What is Indiana University Bloomington known for?

Indiana University Bloomington’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Communications
Social Work
Anthropology
Psychology
Biology
Sociology
Computer Science
Political Science
Education
History

Most Influential Alumni

James Watson
David Chalmers
René Girard
David Starr Jordan
Larry Bird
Alice Dreger
Stephen F. Cohen
Robert M. French
Joe Buck
Marcia Baron
Isiah Thomas
Charles Peters
Compare school
#30
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh , PA
#6 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #11 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #18 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #1 Best Public Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
67%
Graduation
84%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1331/30
What is University of Pittsburgh known for?

University of Pittsburgh’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Philosophy
Medical
Criminal Justice
Biology
Anthropology
Social Work
History
Education
Psychology
Chemistry

Most Influential Alumni

Stuart Hameroff
Patricia Churchland
Paul Churchland
Paul Lauterbur
John Taylor Gatto
Richard Lazarus
Ernest Sosa
Bas van Fraassen
Michael Chabon
August Wilson
Jaak Panksepp
Noël Carroll
Compare school
#31
Dartmouth College
Hanover , NH
#19 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #21 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024 #22 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #23 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
6%
Graduation
94%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1500/33
What is Dartmouth College known for?

Dartmouth College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Business
Literature
Computer Science
Political Science
Medical
History
Earth Sciences
Economics
Religious Studies
Mathematics

Most Influential Alumni

Joseph Campbell
Robert Frost
Dr. Seuss
Stuart Kauffman
Daniel Webster
Robert Reich
C. Everett Koop
Jaegwon Kim
Vincent Canby
Michael Gazzaniga
Robert Christgau
Edward Norton Lorenz
Compare school
#32
Ohio State University
Columbus , OH
#9 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #11 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #15 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #1 Best Grad Schools in Ohio 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
57%
Graduation
88%
Student body
56K
Median SAT/ACT
1320/29
What is Ohio State University known for?

Ohio State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Earth Sciences
Engineering
Psychology
Literature
Mathematics
Education
Chemistry
Communications
Business
History

Most Influential Alumni

Harlan Ellison
Jayaprakash Narayan
Kenneth Burke
William Alfred Fowler
Dawon Kahng
Roy Lichtenstein
Paul Flory
Walter Mischel
James Thurber
Gene Sharp
Gene Sharp
Karl E. Weick
Compare school
#33
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame , IN
#3 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #20 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Indiana 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
15%
Graduation
96%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1475/33
What is University of Notre Dame known for?

University of Notre Dame’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Religious Studies
Philosophy
Law
History
Business
Political Science
Education
Mathematics
Engineering
Literature

Most Influential Alumni

Jacques Maritain
Orson Scott Card
E. Jerome McCarthy
Saskia Sassen
Brian McHale
Condoleezza Rice
Jon Barwise
Peter Suber
Eric F. Wieschaus
Joe Montana
Matthew Fox
Robert Seamans
Compare school
#34
Purdue University
West Lafayette , IN
#10 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2024 #11 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #13 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #24 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
83%
Student body
44K
Median SAT/ACT
1295/29
What is Purdue University known for?

Purdue University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Engineering
Chemistry
Computer Science
Mathematics
Physics
Nursing
Business
Biology
Education
Social Work

Most Influential Alumni

Neil Armstrong
James Samuel Coleman
Ward Cunningham
Gus Grissom
Edward Mills Purcell
Mohamed M. Atalla
C. N. R. Rao
John C. Reynolds
Douglas Comer
Yitang Zhang
Seymour Benzer
Ben Roy Mottelson
Compare school
#35
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign , IL
#8 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #9 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #13 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #16 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
60%
Graduation
85%
Student body
55K
Median SAT/ACT
1330/30
What is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign known for?

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Computer Science
Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Engineering
Psychology
Economics
Communications
Biology
Philosophy

Most Influential Alumni

Paul Halmos
Jack Kilby
Eugenio Calabi
Richard Hamming
James Tobin
Steven Best
Jerome Lettvin
Irving Azoff
Roger Ebert
Brendan Eich
Hamilton O. Smith
Temple Grandin
Compare school
#36
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill , NC
#6 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #7 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #7 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #16 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
20%
Graduation
90%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1385/30
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:

Law
History
Education
Business
Computer Science
Psychology
Communications
Sociology
Mathematics
Religious Studies

Most Influential Alumni

Francis Collins
James E. Webb
Dan Ariely
Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Howard T. Odum
Jeffrey Beall
Charles Tart
Robert F. Furchgott
Christine Blasey Ford
Robert Cialdini
James Rachels
Allen Buchanan
Compare school
#37
University of Maryland, College Park
College Park , MD
#12 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #12 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #15 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #19 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
52%
Graduation
88%
Student body
36K
Median SAT/ACT
1375/32
What is University of Maryland, College Park known for?

University of Maryland, College Park’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Physics
Criminal Justice
Mathematics
Computer Science
Economics
Communications
Sociology
Engineering
Psychology
Earth Sciences

Most Influential Alumni

George Dantzig
James Clapper
Jim Henson
Michael D. Griffin
Frank J. Tipler
Robin Hahnel
Charles Fefferman
Jean E. Sammet
Daniel Snyder
Philip J. Davis
James A. Yorke
Connie Chung
Compare school
#38
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara , CA
#15 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #15 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #18 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #4 Best Public Colleges California 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
29%
Graduation
85%
Student body
27K
Median SAT/ACT
1345/31
What is University of California, Santa Barbara known for?

University of California, Santa Barbara’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Physics
Sociology
Earth Sciences
Anthropology
Religious Studies
Psychology
Mathematics
Chemistry
Computer Science
Communications

Most Influential Alumni

Garrett Hardin
Grady Booch
Richard Serra
Carol W. Greider
Reza Aslan
Robert Ballard
Tibor Machan
Edward Feser
Richard E. Mayer
Joseph Tainter
Susan Bordo
Roderick Nash
Compare school
#39
University of Rochester
Rochester , NY
#21 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #25 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #4 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #4 Best Colleges in New York 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
41%
Graduation
86%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1420/32
What is University of Rochester known for?

University of Rochester’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Physics
Economics
Biology
Computer Science
Chemistry
Medical
Nursing
Anthropology
Mathematics
Psychology

Most Influential Alumni

Richard Thaler
Richard Thaler
Bob Ludwig
J. C. R. Licklider
Janet Maslin
Bruce Schneier
Steven Chu
Arthur Kornberg
Masatoshi Koshiba
John C. Slater
David Sloan Wilson
Donna Strickland
University of Rochester’s Online Degrees
BSN in RN to BSN

Required Credits: 128
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#40
University of Arizona
Tucson , AZ
#4 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers #13 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #19 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #1 Best Colleges in Arizona 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
64%
Student body
40K
Median SAT/ACT
1220/25
What is University of Arizona known for?

University of Arizona’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Anthropology
Physics
Communications
Earth Sciences
Psychology
Sociology
Criminal Justice
Business
Chemistry
Philosophy

Most Influential Alumni

Geraldo Rivera
Clifford Stoll
Temple Grandin
Brian Schmidt
Clyde Snow
Henry Eyring
Garry Shandling
Allen Buchanan
Michael McClure
Frank Press
Barbara Kingsolver
Van Jacobson
University of Arizona’s Online Degrees
BA in Africana Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BAS in Administration of Justice

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Care, Health and Society

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Emergency Medical Services

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BAS in Cyber Operations

Degree Concentrations
Engineering
Defense & Forensics
and Cyber Law & Policy

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Communication

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BAS in Early Childhood

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Bachelor of General Studies in Economy and Industry

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Environmental Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Bachelor of General Studies, in Arts, Media and Entertainment

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Bachelor of General Studies in Global and Intercultural Understanding

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Global Media

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Government and Public Service

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Human Rights Practice

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BAS in Human Services

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Required Credits: 128
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Business Administration

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Geographic Information Systems Technology (GIST)

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Literacy, Learning and Leadership

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Information Science and ESociety

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BAS in Organizational Leadership

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Psychology

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Law

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Political Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BAS in Regional Commerce

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BAS in Intelligence and Information Operations

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in History

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Philosophy: Ethics

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Biology

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Nutritional Sciences

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Spanish

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Bachelor of General Studies in Sports and Society

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Public Health

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Sustainable Built Environments

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Bachelor of General Studies in Social Behavior and Human Understanding

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#41
Tufts University
Medford , MA
#24 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #4 Best Colleges in Massachusetts 2024 #4 Best Grad Schools in Massachusetts 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$63K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
94%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1455/33
What is Tufts University known for?

Tufts University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Medical
Political Science
Economics
Business
Law
Education
Biology
Philosophy
Physics
Engineering

Most Influential Alumni

Norbert Wiener
Vannevar Bush
Eugene Fama
Ram Dass
Jamie Dimon
Gordon S. Wood
Roderick MacKinnon
Paul Offit
Peter Navarro
David Autor
Richard N. Goodwin
John Ciardi
Compare school
#42
Syracuse University
Syracuse , NY
#1 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2024 #7 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers #25 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #5 Best Colleges in New York 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
59%
Graduation
82%
Student body
22K
What is Syracuse University known for?

Syracuse University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Communications
Political Science
Business
Literature
Social Work
Earth Sciences
Education
Mathematics
Sociology
Physics

Most Influential Alumni

Clement Greenberg
Joyce Carol Oates
Bob Costas
Ted Koppel
Ernest Becker
Megyn Kelly
George Saunders
Sol LeWitt
Marv Albert
William Safire
Story Musgrave
Pierre Ramond
Syracuse University’s Online Degrees
BPS in Creative Leadership

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BPS in Knowledge Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BPS in Cybersecurity Administration

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
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#43
University of Florida
Gainesville , FL
#1 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2024 #2 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers #8 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024 #9 Online Colleges with the Most Generous Financial Aid in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
30%
Graduation
91%
Student body
48K
Median SAT/ACT
1375/31
What is University of Florida known for?

University of Florida’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Biology
History
Medical
Engineering
Criminal Justice
Chemistry
Nursing
Education
Business
Anthropology

Most Influential Alumni

J. Barkley Rosser
Marshall Warren Nirenberg
John Vincent Atanasoff
Paul Tibbets
Robert Costanza
Robert H. Grubbs
Michael Connelly
Aseem Shukla
Carl Hiaasen
Gilbert Stork
Janet Todd
K. R. Rao
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#44
University of California, Irvine
Irvine , CA
#23 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #25 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #5 Best Public Colleges California 2024 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in California 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
29%
Graduation
84%
Student body
37K
Median SAT/ACT
1330/29
What is University of California, Irvine known for?

University of California, Irvine’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Philosophy
Computer Science
Anthropology
Sociology
Mathematics
Chemistry
Biology
Psychology
Literature
Medical

Most Influential Alumni

Pedro Domingos
David Benioff
Robin Hanson
Michael Chabon
Jane Gallop
Paul Mockapetris
Bart Kosko
William K. Black
Chris Burden
Yusef Komunyakaa
Roy Fielding
Richard Ford
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#45
George Washington University
Washington , DC
#2 Best Research Universities in DC 2024 #2 Best Grad Schools in DC 2024 #2 Best Private Colleges in DC 2024 #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
50%
Graduation
84%
Student body
20K
Median SAT/ACT
1360/31
What is George Washington University known for?

George Washington University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Political Science
Law
Criminal Justice
Communications
Business
Physics
Anthropology
Medical
Education
Earth Sciences

Most Influential Alumni

J. Edgar Hoover
L. Ron Hubbard
Glenn Greenwald
Bob Woodward
George Armitage Miller
Allen Dulles
Juan Guaidó
James E. Webb
Roger Stone
Michael D. Griffin
Lester Frank Ward
Julius Axelrod
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#46
Michigan State University
East Lansing , MI
#20 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #21 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #2 Best Colleges in Michigan 2024 #2 Best Research Universities in Michigan 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
82%
Student body
43K
Median SAT/ACT
1200/26
What is Michigan State University known for?

Michigan State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Criminal Justice
Business
Biology
Education
Nursing
Sociology
Economics
Psychology
Medical
History

Most Influential Alumni

Rollo May
Alfred Hershey
Russell Kirk
Charles Bachman
Eli Broad
David Sloan Wilson
Vernor Vinge
Theda Skocpol
Eugene Parker
Daniel Wegner
Robert Ressler
Michael Levin
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#47
Washington University in St. Louis
Saint Louis , MO
#22 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024 #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #1 Best Research Universities in Missouri 2024 #1 Best Grad Schools in Missouri 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
13%
Graduation
93%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/34
What is Washington University in St. Louis known for?

Washington University in St. Louis’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Biology
Medical
Chemistry
Engineering
Business
Law
Anthropology
Political Science
Economics
Social Work

Most Influential Alumni

Tennessee Williams
J. C. R. Licklider
Phyllis Schlafly
Daniel Nathans
Charles Eames
Marilyn vos Savant
Edwin G. Krebs
Michael Isikoff
İhsan Doğramacı
William E. Moerner
William E. Moerner
Clyde Cowan
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
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#48
University of Utah
Salt Lake City , UT
#6 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers #19 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024 #21 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #22 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
67%
Student body
28K
Median SAT/ACT
1240/25
What is University of Utah known for?

University of Utah’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Computer Science
Chemistry
Biology
Physics
Medical
Anthropology
Earth Sciences
Mathematics
History
Engineering

Most Influential Alumni

Alan Kay
Orson Scott Card
Ted Bundy
Stanley Smith Stevens
Edwin Catmull
Lars Peter Hansen
Jim Blinn
Gordon B. Hinckley
Ralph Hartley
Bui Tuong Phong
David C. Evans
Wallace Stegner
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#49
Rice University
Houston , TX
#18 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #19 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024 #20 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #24 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$53K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
92%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
1515/35
What is Rice University known for?

Rice University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Chemistry
Engineering
Mathematics
Physics
Computer Science
Economics
Philosophy
Business
History
Education

Most Influential Alumni

Herman Daly
Robert Woodrow Wilson
Joyce Carol Oates
Dennis Sullivan
Robert Curl
George Mackey
William Sims Bainbridge
Matthew Sands
Thomas W. Malone
John Morgan
David Eagleman
Henry M. Morris
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#50
Texas A&M University
College Station , TX
#23 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024 #2 Best Grad Schools In Texas 2024 #2 Best Research Universities in Texas 2024 #2 Best Public Colleges in Texas 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
83%
Student body
61K
Median SAT/ACT
1270/29
What is Texas A&M University known for?

Texas A&M University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Chemistry
Engineering
Business
Earth Sciences
Computer Science
Physics
Biology
Criminal Justice
Mathematics
Education

Most Influential Alumni

C. Wright Mills
Gene Wolfe
Frank Malina
Henry Cisneros
Gilbert Shelton
Elaine Ingham
Kenneth Womack
Richard Steadman
Forrest Mims
H. W. Brands
Adrian Smith
Rick Perry
Texas A&M University’s Online Degrees
BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN

Required Credits: 32
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
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Best US Universities Ranked 51-100

University of Virginia
University of Iowa
The New School
University of Maryland, College Park
Brandeis University
Emory University
University of California, Santa Cruz
Vanderbilt University
Case Western Reserve University
University of Miami
Howard University
University of Kansas
University of Missouri
University of Oregon
Wayne State University
Fordham University
Tulane University
Stony Brook University
American University
Clark University
Yeshiva University
Illinois Institute of Technology
William & Mary
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
University of New Mexico
University of Vermont
The Catholic University of America
Southern Methodist University
University of Denver
Saint Louis University
Wake Forest University
Lehigh University
Santa Clara University
Pepperdine University
University of San Francisco
Stevens Institute of Technology
Clark Atlanta University
Seattle University
Thomas Jefferson University
University of the Pacific
University of Tulsa
Hampton University
Gallaudet University
Roosevelt University
Alliant International University
University of Detroit Mercy
California Institute of Integral Studies
Andrews University
Chatham University
Baker University
American University of Armenia
Saint Louis University
Universidade São Francisco
University of the Pacific

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Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

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.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).
Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whehter you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.
Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.
The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Photo Credit: Harvard University’s Harvard Yard, By Mancala English Wikipedia, Public Domain.

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