**Click here to read about the top universities in the US by state in 2016/17.

A total of 144 top universities in the US are featured in the QS World University Rankings® 2014/15, more than any other country in the world. Of this number, 28 are ranked within the top 100 universities worldwide, and six are placed within the top 10.

Over the last academic year (2013-14) 28.3 million students were enrolled at universities across the US, of which approximately 24.5 million were undergraduates and 3.8 million graduate students. While the US has long been a dream study destination for prospective international students across the globe, over the previous academic year (2012-13), US universities saw an increase of 7.2% in the numbers of international students enrolled. This shows that, even more than ever, the US is a vast and popular international study choice.

Below is the full list of the top universities in the US featured in this year’s QS World University Rankings, grouped by their respective states. Adjacent to each school in brackets you’ll find the institution’s overall world rank, as well as their national rank within the US. Ranks with ‘=’ beside them indicate that the position is shared by another university.

Top universities in Alabama

Bordered by Mississippi in the west and Georgia in the east, Alabama is home to two internationally ranked US universities, both located within an hour’s drive of state capital Montgomery, as well as Birmingham, the largest city.

• University of Alabama (501-550 in the world; 98=* in the US)
• Auburn University (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Alabama, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Arizona

Hunkered down in the south-west region, adjacent to California in the west and Mexico in the south, Arizona hosts two of the top universities in the US. Arizona State University is located in downtown Phoenix, the capital and largest city, while the University of Arizona can be found just over 100 miles to the south.

• University of Arizona (215= in the world; 53^rd in the US)
• Arizona State University (294= in the world; 63^rd in the US)​

To find out more about studying in Arizona, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Arkansas

Situated between Oklahoma and Mississippi in the south, Arkansas is known as the birthplace of former president Bill Clinton as well as for its mountains, forests and natural diversity. The capital and largest city in Arkansas is Little Rock.

• University of Arkansas (701+ in the world; 140^th in the US)

To find out more about studying in Arkansas, visit our state guide >

Top universities in California

One of the top five US states for international students, California is the most populous state in the nation, due in large part to its attractive west coast location and leading industries within technology (Silicon Valley), agriculture (grapes) and education (see below)! Of the top US universities in California, Caltech is the ranking’s highest-placed ‘small’ university, while the University of California, Santa Cruz climbed the highest number of ranks this year, from 307= in the world to 265=. The state capital is Sacramento and its largest city is Los Angeles.

• Stanford University (ranked 7^th in the world; 3^rd in the US)
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech, 8^th in the world; 4^th in the US)
• University of California, Berkeley (UCB, 27^th in the world; 14^th in the US)
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA, 37= in the world; 16^th in the US)
• University of California, San Diego (UCSD, 59^th in the world; 20^th in the US)
• University of California, Davis (UCD, 95^th in the world; 27^th in the US)
• University of Southern California (131^st in the world; 37^th in the US)
• University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB, 132= in the world; 38^th in the US)
• University of California, Irvine (UCI, 153^rd in the world; 41^st in the US)
• University of California, Riverside (UCR, 261^st in the world; 56^th in the US)
• University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC, 265= in the world; 57^th in the US)
• University of San Diego (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)
• University of San Francisco (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)
• University of the Pacific (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)

To find out more about studying in California, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Colorado

Colorado, known as one of the Mountain States, is home to large parts of the Southern Rocky Mountains and, in its central location, is bordered by a total of seven other states, including New Mexico in the south. The capital and most populous city is Denver.

• University of Colorado at Boulder (182= in the world; 45= in the US)
• Colorado State University (441-450 in the world; 89^th in the US)
• University of Denver (651-700 in the world; 121^st in the US)

To find out more about studying in Colorado, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Connecticut

Located in the New England region, to the north-east of New York State, Connecticut is one of the three smallest states and also one of the most densely populated. The capital city is Hartford and the largest city is Bridgeport.

• Yale University (10^th in the world; 6^th in the US)
• University of Connecticut (401-410 in the world; 82^nd in the US)

To find out more about studying in Connecticut, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Delaware

Located on the exotic-sounding Delmarva Peninsula on the east coast, Delaware is the second smallest state in the US, with Dover as its capital city. This year the state’s sole representative in the QS ranking climbed two classes, from 451-460 to 431-440 – good going!

• University of Delaware (431-440 in the world; 84= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Delaware, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Florida

Florida, home of oranges, leisure parks and the Kennedy Space Center, is relatively isolated on its south-eastern peninsula, stretching out almost halfway to Cuba via the Straits of Florida. Tallahassee is the capital city, but Miami remains Florida’s largest metropolis.

• University of Florida (192= in the world; 49^th in the US)
• University of Miami (239^th in the world; 55^th in the US)
• Florida State University (451-460 in the world; 90= in the US)
• University of South Florida (481-490 in the world; 96= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Florida, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Georgia

To the north of Florida is the US state of Georgia. With a southeastern subtropical climate, Georgia, known as The Peach State, has the city of Atlanta as its capital and most populous city.

• Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech, 107^th in the world; 30^th in the US)
• Emory University (156= in the world; 42^nd in the US)
• The University of Georgia (431-440 in the world; 84^th in the US)
• Georgia State University (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)+

To find out more about studying in Georgia, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Hawaii

An island state known for its beautiful weather and strong North American and Asian cultural influences, Hawaii boasts much natural scenery, an abundance of beaches and awesome sunsets. The state’s sole representative in the global ranking moved up three places this year. The state capital is Honolulu.

• University of Hawaii at Mā Noa (324= in the world; 68^th in the US)

To find out more about studying in Hawaii, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Illinois

The resting place of Abraham Lincoln, Illinois has a strong history of being central to social, cultural and political change. With three universities ranked within the global top 100, it’s also one of the five leading US states for numbers of international students. The capital of Illinois is Springfield and the largest city is Chicago.

• University of Chicago (11^th in the world; 7^th in the US)
• Northwestern University (34^th in the world; 15^th in the US)
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (63^rd in the world; 22^nd in the US)
• University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC, 186^th in the world; 47^th in the US)
• Illinois Institute of Technology (431-440 in the world; 84= in the US)
• Loyola University Chicago (601-650 in the world; 111= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Illinois, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Indiana

Indiana, meaning ‘Land of the Indians’ is a Midwestern state in the Great Lakes region, which was home to large settlements of Native Americans for thousands of years. Indianapolis is its capital and largest city, and both Purdue University and Indiana University Bloomington have campuses located close to here. The University of Notre Dame can be found less than 150 miles north, with a view of Lake Michigan.

• Purdue University (102^nd in the world; 29^th in the US)
• University of Notre Dame (237^th in the world; 54^th in the US)
• Indiana University Bloomington (272= in the world; 59^th in the US)

To find out more about studying in Indiana, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Iowa

Bordered by both the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, Iowa is another Midwestern state, which was once part of a French colony. Boasting a diverse economy rooted in agriculture, Iowa has been listed as one of the safest states to live in. Its capital and largest city is Des Moines, where the University of Iowa is located. Iowa State University is based in Ames, about 30 miles north of Des Moines.

• University of Iowa (269= in the world; 58^th in the US)
• Iowa State University (348= in the world; 71^st in the US)

To find out more about studying in Iowa, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Kansas

Bordered by Missouri in the east and Oklahoma in the south, the US state of Kansas offers a rich, sometimes bloody, history and a high yield of sunflowers, wheat and corn. The largest city in Kansas is Wichita, but the capital city is Topeka; both of the state’s internationally ranked universities are located within an hour of the latter.

• University of Kansas (371= in the world; 75^th in the US)
• Kansas State University (501-550 in the world; 98= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Kansas, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Kentucky

Home to the largest system of caves in the US, Kentucky also hosts the largest numbers of deer and turkey. Found in the eastern south-central region, the state is also favorably reputed for its Bourbon distilleries and Bluegrass music.

• University of Kentucky (501-550 in the world; 98= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Kentucky, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Louisiana

Located at the base of the Mississippi River in the south, Louisiana holds large areas of marsh and swamp lands, giving the state a thriving natural world bursting with birds, tree frogs and fish. Its capital city is Baton Rouge, where Louisiana State University is located, while its largest city New Orleans is home to Tulane University.

• Tulane University (421-430 in the world; 83^rd in the US)
• Louisiana State University (LSU, 501-550 in the world; 98= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Louisiana, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Maryland

A small and densely populated state, largely located on the Delmarva Peninsula to the west of Delaware, Maryland boasts the US’s highest average household income levels, making it (on this measure) the wealthiest state. Its capital is Annapolis, but its largest city is Baltimore.

• Johns Hopkins University (14= in the world; 9= in the US)
• University of Maryland, College Park (122^nd in the world; 35^th in the US)

To find out more about studying in Maryland, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Massachusetts

Another of the most popular US states for international students, Massachusetts hogs 11 of the top universities in the US, three of which are ranked within the world’s top 100. Located in the northeastern region of New England, known for its stunning autumnal (fall) colors, Massachusetts is the third most densely populated state. Two thirds of the population lives in the metropolitan area of Greater Boston – Boston being the capital and largest city.

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, 1^st in the world; 1^st in the US)
• Harvard University (4^th in the world; 2^nd in the US)
• Boston University (78^th in the world; 25^th in the US)
• Tufts University (214^th in the world; 52^nd in the US)
• University of Massachusetts, Amherst (282^nd in the world; 62^nd in the US)
• Brandeis University (316= in the world; 67^th in the US)
• Boston College (341= in the world; 70^th in the US)
• Northeastern University (399= in the world; 81^st in the US)
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute (651-700 in the world; 121= in the US)
• Clark University (651-700 in the world; 121= in the US)
• Smith College (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Massachusetts, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Michigan

Located in the Great Lakes region and sited on two peninsulas, Michigan is known as a state in which you are never more than six miles from a natural water source. Its capital is Lansing and its largest city is Detroit. The University of Michigan is the highest ranked public university in the US.

• University of Michigan (23^rd in the world; 12^th in the US)
• Michigan State University (195= in the world; 50^th in the US)
• Michigan Technological University (551-600 in the world; 103= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Michigan, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Minnesota

Minnesota, the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes’, is known as one of the healthiest US states, as well as the most literate. Many of the residents are of Scandinavian and German descent, with over 60% of the population living in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area, which is home to an internationally recognized arts community. The University of Minnesota is located in Minnesota’s largest city, Minneapolis.

• University of Minnesota (119^th in the world; 34^th in the US)

To find out more about studying in Minnesota, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Mississippi

Named after the river that winds along the entirety of its western border, Mississippi is a southern state known for catfish farming. Its capital and largest city is Jackson, but the University of Mississippi is found in Oxford, to the north and close to a national forest.

• University of Mississippi (375^th in the world; 76^th in the US)

To find out more about studying in Mississippi, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Missouri

Largely made up of plains, mountain ranges and rivers, Missouri is the state where both the Missouri and Mississippi rivers merge (near the city of St. Louis). As well as an official state dinosaur named the Hypsibema missouriensis, Missouri is home to three of the top US universities. Its capital city is Jefferson and its largest is Kansas City.

• Washington University in St. Louis (99^th in the world; 28^th in the US)
• University of Missouri, Columbia (Mizzou, 451-460 in the world; 90= in the US)
• Missouri University of Science and Technology (651-700 in the world; 121= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Missouri, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Nebraska

Found within the Great Plains region of the Midwest, Nebraska is characterized by often unpredictable weather, and the treeless prairies which are used for farming. The capital city is Lincoln and the largest city is Omaha.

• University of Nebraska – Lincoln (551-600 in the world; 103= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Nebraska, visit our state guide >

Top universities in New Hampshire

Located in New England and offering a number of the largest ski mountains on the east coast, New Hampshire is a major destination for fans of winter sports and mountaineering. The state is also home to the White Mountain National Forest Lake and the road which takes drivers up 6,288 feet to the top of Mount Washington. Its capital city is Concord and its largest city is Manchester.

• Dartmouth College (136^th in the world; 39^th in the US)
• University of New Hampshire (601-650 in the world; 111^th in the US)

To find out more about studying in New Hampshire, visit our state guide >

Top universities in New Jersey

Located just south of New York, New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the US and the second wealthiest in terms of median household income. A leading employer of scientists and engineers, New Jersey is home to the only Ivy League university to climb in the world rankings this year (Princeton University, which climbed from joint 10th to 9th). Trenton is the capital city, but Newark is the largest.

• Princeton University (9^th in the world; 5^th in the US)
• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick (279^th in the world; 60^th in the US)
• New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT, 551-600 in the world; 103= in the US)
• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark (601-650 in the world; 111= in the US)
• Stevens Institute of Technology (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)

To find out more about studying in New Jersey, visit our state guide >

Top universities in New Mexico

With a unique culture characterized by strong Hispanic and Native American influences, New Mexico is the fifth largest US state by area. A mountain state located in the south, New Mexico’s largest city is Albuquerque and its capital is Santa Fe. This year, the University of New Mexico shot up 33 places in the rankings!

• University of New Mexico (397= in the world; 80^th in the US)

To find out more about studying in New Mexico, visit our state guide >

Top universities in New York

New York State is located just above New Jersey in the north-east, sharing borders with Canada. The state capital is Albany, but its most populous is the world-famous “New York, New York”, home to 8.3 million people and huge numbers of international students. Top US universities in New York include Columbia and Cornell, making it the only state to hold more than one Ivy League member.

• Columbia University (14= in the world; 9= in the US)
• Cornell University (19^th in the world; 11^th in the US)
• New York University (NYU, 41= in the world; 17= in the US)
• University of Rochester (164^th in the world; 43^rd in the US)
• Yeshiva University (280= in the world; 61^st in the US)
• University at Buffalo SUNY (300= in the world; 64= in the US)
• Stony Brook University (352= in the world; 72^nd in the US)
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (359^th in the world; 74^th in the US)
• City University of New York (471-480 in the world; 94^th in the US)
• New School University (601-650 in the world; 111= in the US)
• Syracuse University (601-650 in the world; 111= in the US)
• University at Albany SUNY (601-650 in the world; 111= in the US)
• Clarkson University (651-700 in the world; 121= in the US)
• Binghamton University SUNY (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)
• Fordham University (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)

To find out more about studying in New York, visit our state guide >

Top universities in North Carolina

Bordering Tennessee to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, North Carolina is a southeastern state which offers a highly diverse economy with influence in the engineering, finance, energy and biotechnology sectors. Offering both coast and mountains, North Carolina’s capital city is Raleigh and its largest city is Charlotte.

• Duke University (25= in the world; 13^th in the US)
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (62^nd in the world; 21^st in the US)
• Wake Forest University (338= in the world; 69^th in the US)
• North Carolina State University (388= in the world; 79^th in the US)

To find out more about studying in North Carolina, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Ohio

Located in the Midwest with Indiana to the west and Pennsylvania in the east, Ohio is the seventh most populous state in the US. Ohio’s capital and largest city is Columbus, where Ohio State University is located. Other top universities in Ohio can be found in Cincinnati and Cleveland.

• Ohio State University (109^th in the world; 31^st in the US)
• Case Western Reserve University (189^th in the world; 48^th in the US)
• University of Cincinnati (471-480 in the world; 94= in the US)
• Miami University (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)
• Ohio University (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Ohio, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Oklahoma

A southern state, Oklahoma is rich in Native American ancestry, with over 25 Native American languages are spoken – a number second only to California. Comprised of small mountain ranges, prairies, mesas and forests, and inclined to unpredictable weather, Oklahoma’s capital and largest city is Oklahoma City.

• University of Oklahoma (451-460 in the world; 90= in the US)
• Oklahoma State University (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)
• University of Tulsa (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Oklahoma, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Oregon

Situated on the Pacific Coast in the north west of the US, Oregon provides a diverse landscape of coastline, volcanic mountain ranges, waterfalls and a large number of national forests. Salem is the capital city and Portland is the largest.

• Oregon State University (451-460 in the world; 90= in the US)
• University of Oregon (551-600 in the world; 103= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Oregon, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Pennsylvania

With the Appalachian Mountains running straight through its center and surrounded by many ‘Great Lakes’, Pennsylvania is a beautiful and diverse study destination. Located in the northeast to the south of New York State, Pennsylvania’s capital is Harrisburg and its largest city is Philadelphia.

• University of Pennsylvania (13^th in the world; 8^th in the US)
• Carnegie Mellon University (65= in the world; 23= in the US)
• University of Pittsburgh (111^th in the world; 32^nd in the US)
• Pennsylvania State University (112^th in the world; 33^rd in the US)
• Drexel University (551-600 in the world; 103= in the US)
• Lehigh University (601-650 in the world; 111= in the US)
• Temple University (601-650 in the world; 111= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Pennsylvania, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Rhode Island

Another in the New England region, Rhode Island claims the title of the smallest US state and is the second most densely populated. Rhode Island’s capital and largest city is Providence, where Ivy League member Brown University is located.

• Brown University (52= in the world; 19^th in the US)

To find out more about studying in Rhode Island, visit our state guide >

Top universities in South Carolina

Boasting a myriad of lakes and rivers which pave their way through the state down to the Atlantic coast, South Carolina is popular among nature lovers and extreme water sports fans. The Chattooga River on the western border is particularly good for white-water rafting. The state’s largest city is Columbia.

• University of South Carolina (501-550 in the world; 98= in the US)
• Clemson University (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)

To find out more about studying in South Carolina, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Tennessee

Within reach of the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River, Tennessee has a diverse natural landscape as well as a rich cultural setting, perhaps most notable for its huge influence on American popular music including blues, rock and roll and country genres. The capital city of Tennessee is Nashville and the largest city is Memphis.

• Vanderbilt University (182= in the world; 45= in the US)
• University of Tennessee (431-440 in the world; 84= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Tennessee, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Texas

Texas, the “super-sized state”, is the second most populous and second largest state in the US, sharing an international border with four Mexican states. Industry within energy, technology, biomedical science and aerospace continues to thrive here, and, with seven top US universities, Texas boasts one of the highest communities of international students. Austin is the capital and Houston is the largest city.

• University of Texas at Austin (79^th in the world; 26^th in the US)
• Rice University (129= in the world; 36^th in the US)
• Texas A&M University (165^th in the world; 44^th in the US)
• University of Texas at Dallas (377= in the world; 77^th in the US)
• University of Houston (551-600 in the world; 103= in the US)
• Southern Methodist University (651-700 in the world; 121= in the US)
• Baylor University (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Texas, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Utah

Located towards the western part of the US, Utah is famously home to large Mormon communities. Although this is one of the vaster US states, the majority of the population (some 80%) is clustered along the Wasatch Front – a chain of cities and towns along the Wasatch Range of mountains. In 2012 Utah was voted the best state to live in based on health, lifestyle and economy.

• University of Utah (313^th in the world; 66^th in the US)
• Brigham Young University (651-700 in the world; 121= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Utah, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Vermont

Small and sparsely populated compared to many other US states, Vermont is situated in New England and is the leading producer of maple syrup in the US. The capital of Vermont is Montpelier and its largest city is Burlington, where its one internationally ranked university is located.

• University of Vermont (481-490 in the world; 96= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Vermont, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Virginia

Nicknamed the ‘Mother of Presidents’ and located in the South Atlantic region, Virginia has a diverse landscape shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and Chesapeake Bay, as well as big industry in technology and media. The capital city is Richmond, and Virginia Beach is its largest.

• University of Virginia (141= in the world; 40^th in the US)
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech, 355= in the world; 73^rd in the US)
• College of William & Mary (551-600 in the world; 103= in the US)
• Virginia Commonwealth University (551-600 in the world; 103= in the US)
• George Mason University (601-650 in the world; 111= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Virginia, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Washington

Founded in the northwest upon the pacific coast and bordering the Canadian province of British Columbia, is the US state of Washington. Nicknamed ‘The Evergreen State’, Washington is home to the Olympic Mountains, an area covered in temperate rainforest. Washington’s biggest city is Seattle and its capital is Olympia.

• University of Washington (65= in the world; 23= in the US)
• Washington State University (379= in the world; 78^th in the US)

To find out more about studying in Washington, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Washington DC

Not actually a state, Washington DC is the capital district of the United States (DC = ‘District of Columbia’), located in the east below the state of Maryland. All thirteen branches of the federal government are located in Washington DC, as well as 176 foreign embassies and most famously the White House. Many students within the district are politically active.

• Georgetown University (200= in the world; 51^st in the US)
• George Washington University (300= in the world; 64= in the US)
• American University (431-440 in the world; 84= in the US)
• Howard University (601-650 in the world; 111= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Washington DC, visit our state guide >

Top universities in Wisconsin

Bordered by Lake Michigan to the east and Lake Superior to the south, Wisconsin is a Great Lakes state in the Midwest. Nicknamed ‘America’s Dairyland’, Wisconsin also has major economies in tourism and manufacturing. Its capital is Madison and its largest city is Milwaukee.

• University of Wisconsin-Madison (41= in the world; 17= in the US)
• Marquette University (701+ in the world; 128= in the US)

To find out more about studying in Wisconsin, visit our state guide >

Click here to read the 2017 version of this article.

Considering studying within the field of arts and humanities at degree level? Discover the top universities in the world for arts and humanities, based on the latest edition of the QS World University Rankings by Faculty. These rankings use international data on research citations, as well as drawing on two major global surveys of academics and employers, to provide insights into the top universities in the world for arts and humanities subjects this year.

Below are the 10 top universities in the world for arts and humanities, in video and list format… 

Top 10 universities for arts and humanities 2014

1. Harvard University

Last year’s rank (in the arts and humanities faculty rankings): 3^rd

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, US

School: Private research (Ivy League)

Fact: One of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the US, Harvard University boasts the largest academic library in the world.

2. University of Oxford

Last year’s rank: 1^st

Location: Oxford, UK

Type: Public research (collegiate)

Fact: The University of Oxford offers a number of notable scholarships for students, including the Clarendon and Rhodes scholarship schemes.

3. University of Cambridge

Last year’s rank: 2^nd

Location: Cambridge, UK

Type: Public research (with private colleges)

Fact: The historic rival of Oxford University, the University of Cambridge claims the largest endowment of any higher education institution outside of the US, at around UK£4.9 billion (approx. US$7.9 billion).

4. University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

Last year’s rank: 5^th

Location: Berkeley, California, US

Type: Public research

Fact: The highest-ranked public university in the US, the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) boasts a combined campus area of 1,232 acres in the city of Berkeley, on the eastern side of San Francisco Bay.

5. Stanford University

Last year’s rank: 6^th

Location: Stanford, California, US

Type: Private research

Fact: Situated in the northern part of “Silicon Valley”, Stanford University sits upon a huge 8,180 acre campus.

6. New York University (NYU)

Last year’s rank: 10^th

Location: Lower Manhattan, New York, US

Type: Private research (nonsectarian)

Fact: Situated in the heart of Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, where the likes of Mark Twain, Allen Ginsburg and Bob Dylan could once be found, New York University (NYU) is often seen as a cultural hub of creativity and talent.

7. Princeton University

Last year’s rank: 7^th

Location: Princeton, New Jersey, US

Type: Private research (Ivy League)

Fact: Princeton University has a relatively small yearly intake, and offers programs in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering only. Professional degrees can also be taken with affiliated schools and institutes.

8. Yale University

Last year’s rank: 4^th

Location: New Haven, Connecticut, US

Type: Private research (Ivy League)

Fact: Another Ivy League member, Yale University is the third-oldest university in the US and its notable alumni include five former US presidents.

9. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Last year’s rank: 11^th

Location: Los Angeles, California, US

Type: Public research

Fact: The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) not only has the largest student enrolment in the entire state of California, it is also the most applied-to university in the world, with over 105,000 applications for 2014.

10=. Australian National University (ANU)

Last year’s rank: 16^th

Location: Canberra, Australia

Type: Public

Fact: Australian National University (ANU) is located in a suburb called Acton, just outside of the Australian capital Canberra, and is home to seven colleges and various national institutes.

10=. University of Chicago

Last year’s rank: 12^th

Location: Chicago, Illinois, US

Type: Private research

Fact: The highest-ranked university in the state of Illinois, the University of Chicago is also home to the largest university press in the whole of the US.

About the QS World University Rankings by Faculty

The QS World University Rankings by Faculty aims to highlight the world’s leading universities within five major subject areas. These five fields cover arts & humanities, engineering & technology, life sciences & medicine, natural sciences, and social sciences & management. These rankings are compiled using data on research citations, as well as data collected from the results of QS’s global surveys of academics and employers.

Abi Meats，设计品牌Rude的联合创始人，分享了她对于当前或潜在学生进入设计行业的建议。

你看到人们在设计职业中来自哪些学术背景？

我认识的大多数从事创意行业的人都上过大学。如果你能从学校毕业后找到一个好的实习机会，那么我认为没有必要有那样的背景，但是在毕业生级别，这样的机会可能不容易得到。

进一步的教育给你试验想法、找到自己的风格和沉浸于创意艺术的时间。如果大学不是一个选择，那么就找到你附近最好的设计公司，用你对知识的渴望和对创意行业的学习欲望给他们留下深刻印象。

对于那些希望从事设计职业的人来说，完成相关的实习、实训或兼职角色有多重要？

我认为获得设计行业的经验非常重要，因为通常你需要找到适合自己的设计领域。

我在大学毕业后花了几年时间才找到适合我的创意之路。我选择了为期四年的带有一年实习的课程；这让我真正认识到如何将理论应用到实践中，并理解到一个伟大创意的构思只是一个开始。将它经过客户的批准完成成品则是完全不同的挑战。

对于想要在设计行业获得实践经验的学生，你会给予什么建议？

我建议你去联系各类设计公司，尝试参加实习或就业安置计划。了解一下哪些设计工作室在这方面做得好并经常招人；这些公司更有可能为你提供最好的经验，因为他们有相关的准备。

这听起来可能有些傻，但要记住，从主管的角度来看，潜在的实习生需要展现出自己能够提供帮助、建设性和激励性。

在面试之前，对你即将面试的公司进行调查研究；我肯定会研究一下即将来见我的人！

做好准备，可能需要从基础做起。你可能不会立即进行设计工作，所以要多问问题，让自己有用武之地，帮忙泡茶。如果你能够全面提供帮助，就更有可能在工作室中产生积极影响，加速你的设计职业发展。

在毕业之前，学生还能做些什么来提升自己的竞争力？

我总是更看重创造力而不是漂亮的呈现方式；大学是培养创造力的最佳场所，因为你拥有时间和自由。一旦你身处创意产业环境中，你将面临截止日期和指导方针，所以在学习期间尽可能突破界限。

对我来说，设计是关于如何以视觉方式呈现一个想法，因此以有趣的方式展示自己并理解如何与他人合作和互动是很重要的。例如，有一位学生在她的毕业年度项目中邀请她喜欢的设计师提交作品或创意参加她策划的展览。她给我们发送了一个简要介绍，我们作出了回应（恭维总是奏效的），并被邀请参加开幕式，我们在那里结识了很多我们认识的人，也结识了很多我们不认识的人。

这是一个相当大的挑战，但她设法通过将志同道合的人聚集在一起，融入了设计社区。因此，她通过交往使自己成为一个内部人。

您认为大学设计课程中哪些方面对帮助学生为设计职业做好准备最有价值？

从实习生身上我看到的是他们对不同媒介的广泛知识。我认为有必要尝试并利用所有设施进行实验，看看这个过程会带领你去何处；一开始你可能认为乏味的东西可能会成为你的新迷恋。

此外，考虑一下如果你要自己执行所有这些部分，你会需要哪些技能来从头到尾创造一件东西。一个例子就是我们刚刚完成的与Urban Outfitters的合作；最终成为货架上的产品经历了一个深入的设计过程才能到达那里。

从项目简介、概念、插图/图像制作、客户修改、多轮可视化、艺术品、产品选择、工厂采购、工厂准备规格表、样品制作、生产、摄影、营销... 最后推出一个令人兴奋且符合项目初衷的系列产品。

设计行业中有哪些方面将会有增长？

我认为设计领域的所有方面都将会有需求，因为设计在我们的社会中非常重要。它比人们想象的更重要。

你认为对于那些热衷于从事设计职业的人来说，最重要的特质是什么？

如今，周围有很多才华横溢的人，你必须是最优秀的才能取得成功。你无法伪装，你必须真正优秀！

Abi Meats 是设计品牌 Rude 的联合创始人。Abi 和她的丈夫 Rupert Meats 已经花费了过去的 15 年时间发展这个企业，最初是作为一个 T 恤品牌起步的。如今，该品牌已经积累了为像 The Tate、Doctor Who 和 Urban Outfitters 等客户绘制、设计和制造设计的外部委托。Abi 负责设计、系列规划和生产。

Click here to discover the top universities for medicine and life sciences in 2017.

Interested in medicine or another life science such as biology, zoology or genetics? Then take a look at the 2014 results of the QS World University Rankings by Faculty to discover the world’s best universities for medicine and life sciences. These rankings use data on research citations, along with the opinions of academics and employers around the world, to create a list of the 400 best universities for medicine and life sciences each year (see the full 2014 list here).

Featured below are the top 10 universities for medicine and life sciences, in video and list format.

Top 10 universities for medicine & life sciences 2014

1. Harvard University

Last year’s rank (in the medicine and life sciences faculty rankings): 1^st

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, US

School: Private research (Ivy League)

Fact: An Ivy League institution, Harvard University is one of just six US institutions to offer need-blind admission to both domestic and international students. Not only does Harvard top the rankings of the best universities for medicine and life science, it is also top in social sciences and management.

2. University of Oxford

Last year’s rank: 2^nd

Location: Oxford, UK

Type: Collegiate research

Fact: Dating as far back as 1096, the University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-longest surviving university in the world.

3. University of Cambridge

Last year’s rank: 3^rd

Location: Cambridge, UK

Type: Public research (with private colleges)

Fact: The founder of Harvard University in the US, John Harvard, was a graduate of the University of Cambridge.

4. Johns Hopkins University

Last year’s rank: 4^th

Location: Baltimore, Maryland, US

Type: Private research

Fact: Johns Hopkins University was the first research university to be sited in the western hemisphere. It has campuses in Maryland and Washington DC, as well as international centers in China, Singapore and Italy.

5. University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Last year’s rank: 7^th

Location: San Francisco, California, US

Type: Public research

Fact: The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a health sciences research center and the only university in the University of California system to focus solely on graduate education.

6. Stanford University

Last year’s rank: 5^th

Location: Stanford, California, US

Type: Private research

Fact: Located in northern Silicon Valley, Stanford University boasts a long legacy of entrepreneurship and innovation.

7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Last year’s rank: 6^th

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, US

Type: Private research, land grant

Fact: Founded in 1861, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has held a close relationship with industry since its beginning, helping to develop world-class laboratory instruction and give students strong applied skills in scientific fields.

8. Karolinska Institute

Last year’s rank: 10^th

Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Type: Public research

Fact: The first university in this list outside of the UK or US, the Karolinska Institute is Sweden’s third oldest medical school and conducts 40% of all academic medical research in the nation.

9. Imperial College London

Last year’s rank: 14=

Location: London, UK

Type: Public research

Fact: Imperial College London, having merged with a number of medical schools, institutes and business schools over the years, now offers campuses and research facilities throughout central London.

10=. UCL (University College London)

Last year’s rank: 16^th

Location: London, UK

Type: Public research

Fact: UCL (University College London) was the first university to be established in London, and the first in England to hold entirely secular values. To see how UCL and Imperial compare overall, check out this article.

10=. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Last year’s rank: 8^th

Location: Los Angeles, California, US

Type: Public research

Fact: Another of the University of California system’s flagship universities, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a multidisciplinary institution, boasting the largest student enrollment in the state.

About the QS World University Rankings by Faculty

The QS World University Rankings by Faculty aims to highlight the world’s leading universities within five major subject areas. As well as highlighting the world’s best universities for medicine and life sciences, the rankings also cover arts & humanities, engineering & technology, natural sciences, and social sciences & management. These rankings are compiled using data on research citations, as well as data collected from the results of QS’s global surveys of academics and employers.

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Today sees the launch of the new edition of the QS Top 50 Under 50, a ranking of the world’s top universities under 50 years old, based on the QS World University Rankings® 2014/15. There’s hot competition at the top this year, between two of Asia’s most ambitious and successful young institutions: Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Hong Kong’s Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

Having narrowly overtaken HKUST in the overall QS World University Rankings this year, NTU now heads the Top 50 Under 50 for the first time, with HKUST slipping into second position. However, Hong Kong continues to boast an impressive selection of the world’s most prominent young institutions; the city boasts a further three entries among the 50 top universities under 50 years old: City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU).

Strong showing for young Australian universities

The single largest contingent of youthful top universities comes from Australia, which occupies an entire fifth of the top 50 spots. Its highest ranked young institutions are the University of Newcastle, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) and the University of Wollongong. Next comes Spain, with five universities featured, followed by Hong Kong and the UK with four apiece, and Germany with three. A total of 25 countries claim at least one representative.

The top 10 (listed below) includes three universities in Hong Kong, two in South Korea, and one each in Singapore, the Netherlands, the US, Canada and Spain.

The QS Top 50 Under 50 is compiled based on the annual QS World University Rankings, which assesses universities worldwide using six performance indicators. The aim is to highlight young institutions which have rapidly made a mark on the world stage, establishing strong global reputations and research clout within a relatively short space of time.

+An institution of higher education, although typically not one with university status, existed at the site where this university now stands; the university can "trace its roots" back further than 50 years but cannot claim to have been a university prior to that period.

Those who spend time studying abroad enjoy enhanced graduate employment prospects and gain important transversal skills that are particularly highly valued by employers, according to the European Commission’s new Eramus Impact Study, compiled by independent experts.

Published this week and featuring feedback from almost 80,000 respondents, including students, employers and higher education institutions across the 34 European countries involved in the Erasmus student exchange program, the Erasmus Impact Study is the largest study of its kind. It looks at the internationalization of higher education and the relationships between international student mobility, graduate employment and skills development.

Importance of employability for today’s university students

When it comes to decisions about whether and where to study abroad, leading motivations remain the desire to live in a foreign country and meet new people, improve proficiency in a foreign language and develop global skills. But the study also found that some 85% of the students surveyed were also motivated by the hope that studying abroad would enhance their graduate employment prospects.

The study suggests this hope is reasonably well founded, as it also reports that Erasmus students end up with superior employability skills compared to 70% of all students after having studied abroad. Even before travelling, Erasmus students were found to ‘have a better predisposition for employability’ than other students. The study found that on returning from studying abroad, Erasmus students had increased their graduate employment advantage by an average of 42%.

Image source: European Commission

92% of employers value transversal skills

Data gathered from employers suggests that 92% are looking for “transversal skills” when hiring graduates, alongside other key requirements such as field knowledge and relevant work experience. According to the study, transversal skills refer to qualities such as being open to and curious about new challenges; confidence; the ability to problem solve and make decisions; and tolerance towards the values and behaviors of others. According to the report, based on tests conducted before and after study abroad periods, Erasmus students were found to show higher values of these personality traits and were consequently found to be half as likely to face long-term unemployment as graduates who hadn’t studied or trained abroad, boasting an unemployment rate 23% lower than the European average, five years after graduation.

Image source: European Commission

Erasmus students more internationally minded

Not only were Erasmus students found to more employable, they were also found to be in a better position for graduate employment on completion of their time abroad. Over one third of Erasmus trainees who completed a work placement abroad had been offered a position with their host company, and one in ten had been involved in launching their own companies, with three out of four envisioning doing so in the future.

With this international and entrepreneurial mind-set, Erasmus students were also found to have a tendency towards further international travel, with 40% of Erasmus alumni shown to have moved to another country after graduation, compared to just 23% of home students. This international experience also seems to impress employers, with 64% saying that they gave greater professional responsibility to candidates with an international background.

In their personal lives, Erasmus students were also found to be more internationally minded, with 33% of Erasmus alumni said to have a life partner of a different nationality to their own, compared to just 13% of non-mobile students. From this, the European Commission calculates that since 1987, one million babies have been born to Erasmus couples.

Image source: European Commission

Why study with Erasmus+?

The Erasmus Impact Study not only does well to highlight the success of the Erasmus program, it also works to market the newly reformed version of the program. As of last year, what was originally called Erasmus Mundus is now known as Erasmus+, and the program continues to help students across Europe to gain international experience. Between now and 2020, Erasmus+ aims to offer EU grants to four million people, including students, trainees, teachers and volunteers.

“The findings of the Erasmus Impact Study are extremely significant, given the context of unacceptably high levels of youth unemployment in the EU,” Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said in a press release. “The message is clear: if you study or train abroad, you are more likely to increase your job prospects.”