Top Universities in the US by State 2016/17

Updated January 16, 2020 Updated January 16

Top Universities in the US by State main image

Discover the top universities in the US in 2018 here.

There are 154 top universities in the US featured in the QS World University Rankings® 2016-2017, far more than any other country in the world. Of these, 32 are in the global top 100, and five in the top 10. Read on to discover the top universities in the US by state this year, separated into tables for your viewing pleasure…

Top universities in Alabama

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Alabama	601-650 in the world	Joint 113^th
University of Auburn	701+ in the world	Joint 129^th

Top universities in Arizona

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Arizona	222^nd	53^rd
Arizona State University	223^rd	54^th

Top universities in Arkansas

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Arkansas	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in California

Interested in studying in California? Check out our state guide.

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Stanford University	2^nd	2^nd
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	5^th	4^th
University of California, Berkeley	28^th	15^th
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	31^st	16^th
University of California, San Diego (UCSD)	40^th	17^th
University of California, Davis (UCD)	Joint 85^th	27^th
University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)	118^th	34^th
University of Southern California	136^th	36^th
University of California, Irvine (UCI)	156^th	40^th
University of California, Riverside (UCR)	271^st	58^th
University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC)	296^th	61^st
San Diego State University	701+	Joint 129^th
University of San Diego	701+	Joint 129^th
University of San Francisco	701+	Joint 129^th
University of the Pacific	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in Colorado

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Colorado at Boulder	170^th	44^th
Colorado State University	Joint 386^th	75^th
University of Colorado, Denver	Joint 374^th	72^nd
University of Denver	651-700	Joint 120^th

Top universities in Connecticut

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Yale University	15^th	7^th
University of Connecticut	421-430	Joint 84^th

Top universities in Delaware

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Delaware	411-420	Joint 82^nd

Top universities in Florida

Thinking of studying in the sunshine state? Read our state guide.

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Florida	Joint 185^th .	46^th
University of Miami	Joint 252^nd	57^th
Florida State University	431-440	Joint 86^th
University of South Florida	491-500	Joint 96^th
University of Central Florida	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in Georgia

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)	71^st	25^th
Emory University	Joint 149^th	39^th
University of Georgia	431-440	Joint 86^th
Georgia State University	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in Hawaii

Aloha! Want to study in Hawaii? Check out our state guide.

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Hawaii at Mā Noa	Joint 343^rd	67^th

Top universities in Illinois

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Chicago	10^th	5^th
Northwestern University	26^th	14^th
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	66^th	23^rd
University of Illinois, Chicago	Joint 187^th	47^th
Illinois Institute of Technology	401-410	79^th
Loyola University Chicago	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in Indiana

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Purdue University	92^nd	31^st
University of Notre Dame	Joint 203^rd	Joint 50^th
Indiana University Bloomington	Joint 291^st	60^th

Top universities in Iowa

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Iowa	Joint 393^rd	77^th
Iowa State University	421-430	Joint 84^th

Top universities in Kansas

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Kansas	Joint 373^rd	71^st
Kansas State University	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in Kentucky

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Kentucky	501-550	Joint 98^th

Top universities in Louisiana

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Tulane University	501-550	Joint 98^th
Louisiana State University	651-700	Joint 120^th

Top universities in Maryland

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Johns Hopkins University	17^th	9^th
University of Maryland, College Park	Joint 131^st	35^th
University of Maryland, Baltimore County	441-450	88^th

Top universities in Massachusetts

Find out more about studying in Massachusetts here.

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	1^st	1^st
Harvard University	3^rd	3^rd
Boston University	89^th	29^th
Tufts University	238^th	55^th
University of Massachusetts, Amherst	251^st	56^th
Boston College	Joint 299^th	62^nd
Northeastern University	Joint 361^st	Joint 68^th
Brandeis University	401-410	Joint 79^th
Clark University	471-480	94^th
University of Massachusetts, Boston	551-600	Joint 104^th
Worcester Polytechnic Institute	601-650	Joint 113^th
Smith College	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in Michigan

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Michigan	23^rd	12^th
Michigan State University	Joint 160^th	Joint 42^nd
Wayne State University	461-470	Joint 90^th
Michigan Technological University	501-550	Joint 98^th

Top universities in Minnesota

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Minnesota	137^th	37^th

Top universities in Mississippi

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Mississippi	601-650	Joint 113^th

Top universities in Missouri

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Washington University in St. Louis	Joint 106^th	33^rd
Missouri University of Science and Technology	501-550	Joint 98^th
University of Missouri, Columbia (Mizzou)	551-600	Joint 104^th

Top universities in Montana

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Montana, Missoula	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in Nebraska

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Nebraska, Lincoln	491-500	Joint 96^th

Top universities in New Hampshire

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Dartmouth College	158^th	41^st
University of New Hampshire	601-650	Joint 113^th

Top universities in New Jersey

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Princeton University	11^th	6^th
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick	301^st	63^rd
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark	651-700	Joint 120^th
Stevens Institute of Technology	651-700	Joint 120^th
New Jersey Institute of Technology	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in New Mexico

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of New Mexico	461-470	Joint 90^th

Top universities in New York

Want to study in the US state of New York? Read our state guide.

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Cornell University	16^th	8^th
Columbia University	20^th	11^th
New York University (NYU)	Joint 46^th	18^th
University of Rochester	194^th	48^th
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Joint 310^th	64^th
Yeshiva University	Joint 330^th	65^th
University at Buffalo SUNY	342^nd	66^th
Stony Brook University	Joint 390^th	76^th
City University of New York	501-550	Joint 98^th
Syracuse University	551-600	Joint 104^th
New School University	601-650	Joint 113^th
Clarkson University	601-650	Joint 113^th
University at Albany SUNY	651-700	Joint 120^th
Binghamton University SUNY	701+	Joint 129^th
Fordham University	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in North Carolina

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Duke University	Joint 24^th	13^th
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill	78^th	26^th
North Carolina State University	277^th	59^th
Wake Forest University	401-410	Joint 79^th

Top universities in Ohio

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Ohio State University	88^th	28^th
Case Western Reserve University	202^nd	49^th
University of Cincinnati	551-600	Joint 104^th
Kent State University	701+	Joint 129^th
Miami University	701+	Joint 129^th
Ohio University	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in Oklahoma

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Oklahoma	461-470	Joint 90^th
Oklahoma State University	701+	Joint 129^th
University of Tulsa	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in Oregon

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Oregon State University	451-460	89^th
University of Oregon	551-600	Joint 104^th

Top universities in Pennsylvania

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Pennsylvania	18^th	10^th
Carnegie Mellon University	58^th	21^st
Pennsylvania State University	Joint 95^th	32^nd
University of Pittsburgh	145^th	38^th
Lehigh University	481-490	95^th
Drexel University	501-550	Joint 98^th
Temple University	651-700	Joint 120^th

Top universities in Rhode Island

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Brown University	Joint 49^th	19^th

Top universities in South Carolina

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of South Carolina	551-600	Joint 104^th
Clemson University	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in Tennessee

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Vanderbilt University	Joint 203^rd	Joint 50^th
University of Tennessee	461-470	Joint 90^th

Top universities in Texas

Find out more about studying in Texas with our state guide.

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Texas at Austin	67^th	24^th
Rice University	90^th .	30^th
Texas A&M University	Joint 160^th	73^rd
University of Texas at Dallas	Joint 380^th	Joint 129^th
University of Houston	601-650	Joint 113^th
Baylor University	701+	Joint 129^th
Southern Methodist University	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in Utah

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Utah	411-420	Joint 82^nd
Brigham Young University	651-700	Joint 120^th
Utah State University	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in Vermont

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Vermont	551-600	Joint 104^th

Top universities in Virginia

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Virginia	172^nd	45^th
Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech)	Joint 361^st	Joint 68^th
College of William & Mary	551-600	Joint 104^th
George Mason University	651-700	Joint 120^th
Virginia Commonwealth University	651-700	Joint 120^th

Top universities in Washington

Not to be confused with Washington DC, below!

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Washington	59^th	22^nd
Washington State University	Joint 395^th	78^th

Top universities in Washington DC

Although a federal district rather than a state, Washington DC is home to a number of the top universities in the US. Click here for more information.

University	International rank	Rank within the US
Georgetown University	Joint 214^th	52^nd
George Washington University	Joint 363^rd	70^th
American University	384^th	74^th
Howard University	551-600	Joint 104^th

Top universities in Wisconsin

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Wisconsin-Madison	Joint 53^rd	20^th
Marquette University	701+	Joint 129^th

Top universities in Wyoming

University	International rank	Rank within the US
University of Wyoming	701+	Joint 129^th

For more detailed comparisons of the top US universities, explore the full interactive ranking table. You can sort the results by the six indicators assessed, and registered site members (join for free!) can access direct comparisons of up to four universities, covering criteria such as size, fees and ranking history.

To stay up to date with ranking releases throughout the year, sign up for email updates, follow us on Twitter, or download the free rankings app – available for iPhone and Android.

This article was originally published in September 2016 . It was last updated in January 2020

Compare top US universities with the QS World University Rankings® 2016-2017

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Written by

Sabrina Collier

The former Assistant Editor of TopUniversities.com, Sabrina wrote and edited articles to guide students from around the world on a wide range of topics. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Aberystwyth University and grew up in Staffordshire, UK.

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