208 best universities in the United States in 2026
Ranking based on the average of the three main global rankings: Shanghai (ARWU), Times Higher Education and QS.
Harvard University
Average rank: #2
No. 121University of Mississippi
Public university, renowned for law, medicine, and humanities.
No. 122University of New Mexico
Public New Mexico university, strong in medicine, engineering, and arts.
No. 123Virginia Commonwealth University
Public Virginia university, strong in medicine, arts, and business.
No. 124Brigham Young University
Private Mormon university excelling in science, engineering, and business.
No. 125Baylor University
Private Texas university strong in medicine, law, and business.
No. 126Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Private New York medical school specializing in medicine and medical research.
No. 127Stevens Institute of Technology
Private New Jersey university specializing in engineering, technology, and management.
No. 128Marquette University
Private Jesuit university strong in law, medicine, and engineering.
No. 129Amherst College
Private Massachusetts college leading in liberal arts and humanities.
No. 130University of Denver
Private Colorado university renowned for law, business, and social sciences.
No. 131University of Oklahoma
Public research university, leader in energy and engineering.
No. 132Loyola University Chicago
Private Jesuit university excelling in law, medicine, and social sciences.
No. 133The New School
Private New York university leading in arts, design, and social sciences.
No. 134Southern Methodist University
Private Texas university renowned for law, business, and liberal arts.
No. 135American University
Private Washington D.C. university specializing in international relations and law.
No. 136Medical College of Wisconsin
Private Wisconsin medical college specializing in medicine and biomedical research.
No. 137Medical University of South Carolina
Public university, leader in medicine, nursing, and biomedical research.
No. 138Northern Arizona University
Public research university, specialized in environmental sciences.
No. 139University of Vermont
Public university, leader in environmental sciences and agriculture.
No. 140Rush University
Private Chicago university specialized in medicine and health sciences.
No. 141Binghamton University
Public New York university, renowned for humanities and social sciences.
No. 142University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Public Texas medical center, specialized in medicine and biomedical research.
No. 143University of Colorado Denver
Public Colorado university, strong in medicine, engineering, and business.
No. 144University of California, Merced
Public California university, leader in environmental sciences and engineering.