Top 10 best universities in USA
Are you looking to enrol in one of the best universities in the United States of America? For your convenience, we have compiled a list of the top 10 best universities in the United States in 2023.
Written By
Ernest SundayFreelance football and education writer
Are you looking for the best school to acquire a quality education for yourself or your children in the United States? We have put together an answer to your search with our list of the top 10 best universities in the USA in 2022.
Universities such as Harvard and Stanford University are regarded as the most prestigious educational institutions in the world.
On this page, we have compiled a list of the top 10 best universities in the United States, including everything you need to know about these schools, including the courses they offer.
To help you make an informed decision about pursuing quality education, below is our list of the top 10 best universities in the USA:
- Princeton University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Harvard University
- Stanford University
- Yale University
- University of Chicago
- Johns Hopkins University
- University of Pennsylvania
- California Institute of Technology
- Duke University
1. Princeton University
Princeton University is ranked first among USA's top ten best universities. This prestigious institution was founded in 1746 in Princeton, New Jersey, as a private research university.
The prestigious university is the fourth-oldest higher education institution in the United States. It is ranked seventh by Times Higher Education among the best universities in the world in 2022 and sixteenth by US News and World Report.
Before gaining university status as Princeton University in 1896, the university was known as the College of New Jersey.
Princeton University has over 8,705 students (5,548 undergraduates and 3,157 postgraduates) enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
It has one of the world's largest libraries, which has helped it become one of the world's top research universities.
Princeton University's schools/faculties
There are four established faculties at Princeton University, namely:
- Humanities
- Natural Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Engineering and Applied Sciences
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, established over a century ago, is the second-best in our list of best universities in the USA. The private research school, popularly known as MIT, is located outside of Boston.
It is one of the world's most prestigious universities, having contributed solely to the advancement of technology and several scientific breakthroughs.
MIT building complex spans a wide expanse of land, with an urban campus of 1.6 km on the north side of the Charles River basin and some off-campus facilities, including MIT Lincoln Laboratory, the Bates Center, and the Haystack Observatory.
Owing to its high standards, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has affiliated with most award-winning schools as an alumnus, including 98 Nobel laureates, 26 Turing Award winners, 8 Fields Medalists, and many others as of December 2021.
MIT runs research programmes in over 30 different departments across five faculties, including MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, etc., which have earned them recognition worldwide, having received more Sloan Research Fellowships than any other university in North America.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers undergraduate and graduate programs in several departments.
University of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's schools/faculties
The University of Massachusetts Institute of Technology has six distinguished faculties. They are as follows:
- School of Architecture and Planning
- School of Engineering
- School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
- Sloan School of Management
- School of Science
- MIT Schwarzman College of Computing
3. Harvard University
Harvard University is the third-best university in the USA. The university, established in 1636, is the oldest higher institution in the United States.
Harvard University is many people's dream school, owing to its reputation as one of the world's most prestigious higher education institutions.
Harvard is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with over 19,218 students and over 2400 staff members who ensure that students receive a high-quality education.
Harvard University has produced several dignitaries, including eight United States presidents and 188 notable living billionaires, including Facebook CEO Mark Elliot Zuckerberg, showing that it's one of the best universities in the United States.
Many notable companies have been founded by alumni of the university, including Microsoft, Quora, 3G Capital, BlackRock, Bloomberg L.P., and many others.
Harvard University is also one of many colleges that offer online study programs, such as Harvard Business School Online, and Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Its medical school is ranked first in research among other medical schools, with a high level of credibility in biometric research, giving it an advantage as one of the best universities in the United States. According to 2019 statistics, over 11,000 faculty and 1600 graduate students conduct research at Harvard Medical School.
Harvard University's schools/faculties
The list of faculties at Harvard University includes:
- Arts and Sciences
- Business School
- School of Education
- Kenedy School
- Law School
- Medical School
- T. H Chan School of Public Health
- Engineering and Applied Sciences
4. Stanford University
Stanford University, which is ranked among the world's top universities, is the third-best university on our list of top universities in USA in 2022.
Stanford University is a private research university in Stanford, California with a research budget of over $1.69 billion and over 20 libraries, including SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford Bio-X, Biomedical Informatics Research, and others.
It is widely regarded as one of the best research universities not just in the US, but in the world, having been ranked fourth in the world by Times Higher Education World University Rankings and third by US News and World Report in 2022.
The private university was founded in 1885 by the former governor of California, USA, with his wife, Leland and Jane Stanford, in memory of their late child, Leland Stanford Jr., but was not officially opened until 1891.
It has seven schools, each with several departments, and over 16,937 students enrolled in its degree and undergraduate programmes.
Stanford University's schools/faculties
Stanford University has seven prominent schools, namely:
- Business
- Earth
- Education
- Engineering
- Humanities and Sciences
- Law
- Medicine
5. Yale University
Yale University, the third oldest higher education institution in the United States, is ranked fifth in the USA. Yale University, like the majority of the universities on our list of the top 10 best universities in the United States, is a private research university.
Yale University is ranked among the most prestigious universities globally, 9th by the Times High Education World University Ranking and 11th by the Academic Ranking of World Universities in 2022.
The private university in New Haven, Connecticut, was established in 1701. The school was only opened to teach theology and sacred languages. In 1862, it was the first college or university in the United States to give out a PhD.
Yale University has over 14 libraries, including the Bass Library, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Centre of British Art Library, Classics Library, and many more. It is ranked as one of the most prestigious research universities in the world and the university with the third largest library in the United States.
Yale University has over 14,567 students and 500 professional staff members who solely impact students' knowledge in a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, according to the most recent count in 2021.
Yale University's faculties/schools
At the time of this writing, Yale University has six distinguished faculties, namely:
- Biological Science
- Engineering
- Health and Medicine
- Humanities
- Physical Sciences
- Social Sciences
6. University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is ranked sixth on our list of the top 10 best universities in the United States in 2022. It is ranked among the best universities in the world.
The University of Chicago is an Illinois-based private research university. It has campuses across the world, including Hong Kong and London. Times Higher Education World University Rankings and US News and World Report ranked it 10th among the best universities in the world in 2022.
The private university was established 132 years ago by former American entrepreneur John D. Rockefeller. It has over 18,452 students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programs (7,559 undergraduate and 10,893 postgraduate).
University of Chicago's schools/faculties
At the time of this writing, there are 12 schools at University of Chicago. They include:
- Biological Sciences
- School of Business
- School of social work, policy, and practice
- Humanities
- Law school
- Physical Sciences
- School of Medicine
- School of Molecular Engineering
- Social Sciences
7. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University makes it as number 7 on our list of the best universities in the USA. The private-owned university is the oldest research university in the United States.
Johns Hopkins University was founded in 1876 by an American investor and philanthropist, Johns Hopkins, in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The university was a gift from Hopkins, who donated $7 million to fund a hospital and the university in Baltimore.
Johns Hopkins University received the largest philanthropic donation in US history at the time of this donation. It has grown to be one of the world's top universities, ranking 13th in the Times Higher Education World University rating.
Many of Johns Hopkins University's discoveries have had a positive impact on the world today, such as making water purification possible, establishing the field of genetic engineering, developing surgical rubber gloves, among others.
Johns Hopkins University has over 26,402 students, of which 6,256 are undergraduates and 20,000 plus are postgraduates.
Johns Hopkins University's schools/faculties
At the time of this writing, Johns Hopkins University has 10 standard faculties, namely:
- Advanced International Studies
- Applied Physics Laboratory
- Arts and Sciences
- Business
- Education
- Engineering
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Peabody Conservatory
- Public Health
8. University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is ranked number 8 on our list of the top 10 best universities in the USA in 2023. Benjamin Franklin, a former American scientist, founded the privately owned research university in 1740.
The University of Pennsylvania is the fourth-oldest higher education institution in the United States and has earned a spot as one of the best universities in the world.
In 2022, it is ranked 13 among the best universities in the world by various organizations, including the U.S. News and World Report, Q.S. World University Rankings, and Times Higher Education World University Rankings
Pennsylvania University also provides online learning programs that allow people all over the world to develop high-level professional skills and earn a genuine certificate.
The University of Pennsylvania has over 28,038 students, 10,106 of whom are full-time students, and 5,008 of whom are part-time students pursuing both graduate and undergraduate degrees.
University of Pennsylvania's schools/faculties
At the time of this writing, the University of Pennsylvania has 12 undergraduate and graduate schools. They are as follows:
- School of Arts and Sciences
- The Wharton School
- Graduate School of Education
- School of Dental Medicine
- Stuart Weitzman School of Design
- Annenberg School for Communication
- Penn Carey Law
- School of Engineering and Applied Science
- School of Social Policy and Practice
- Perelman School of Medicine
- School of Nursing
- School of Veterinary Medicine
9. California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology, popularly known for its high capability in engineering and sciences, is the number 9 best university in the USA in 2022.
It is a private research university in Pasadena, California, founded in 1891 by Amos G. Throop, an American businessman. Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed the California Institute of Technology second among universities worldwide.
California Institute of Technology also offers online learning programs through Coursera and edX, which provide an online high-education learning platform with a diverse range of courses.
The prestigious university has over 300 faculties organized into six schools.
California Institute of Technology's schools
The California Institute of Technology has six schools, namely:
- Engineering and Applied Science
- Biology and Biological Engineering
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy
- Geological and Planetary Science
10. Duke University
Duke University is the 10th best university in the United States in 2023. The private institution, which is located in Durham, North Carolina, was established in 1838.
It is one of the top ten largest research universities in the United States, with an annual research budget of more than $1 billion.
Duke University has 12 major libraries, including the Perkins and Bostock Libraries, the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, the Duke University Archives, and many others.
Several organizations rank Duke University as the 23rd best university in the world, and it has produced several billionaires since its inception. Duke University is also the fourth largest private employer in North Carolina, with over 43,000 employees.
The university has over 6,542 undergraduates and 9,991 postgraduates enrolled in its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Duke University's schools/faculties
At the time of this writing, Duke University has seven schools, namely:
- School of Business
- Law School
- School of Engineering
- School of Medicine
- School of Nursing
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Nicholas School of the Environment