big 12 research universities

2023 Best National Research Uni­ver­si­ties Top 50 Consensus Ranked National Research Uni­ver­si­ties for 2023

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Students who want a place at one of the best research universities are in the right place with College Consensus. With the Top Consensus Ranked National Research Universities for 2023, College Consensus brings prospective college students all they need to know about the best research universities nationwide. For future professionals, researchers, scientists, and scholars, College Consensus gathers data from national and international ranking agencies and verified student reviews for a complete view of their educational options.

How Did We Rank the Best Research Universities?

College Consensus rankings combine the results of the most respected college ranking systems with the averaged ratings of thousands of real student reviews from around the web to create a unique college meta-ranking. This approach offers a comprehensive and holistic perspective missing from other college rankings. Visit our about page for information on which rankings and review sites were included in this year’s consensus rankings.

The National Research Universities category is limited to schools with a national or international reach offering a broad range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral-level programs and a demonstrated commitment to research. These are schools designated Doctoral Universities by the Carnegie Classification.

The top research universities include some of the most prestigious and world-renowned names in higher education. We define national research universities as institutions that draw a student body from across the US and world, rather than a primarily regional population. These are universities that are classified by the Carnegie Foundation as research universities: R1 (Highest Research Activity), R2 (Higher Research Activity), or R3 (Moderate Research Activity). These designations include well over 300 universities nationwide. National research universities are dedicated not only to teaching, but on creating new knowledge through scientific, social scientific, and humanities research.

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What’s Different About the College Consensus Ranking?

The difference between College Consensus and other ranking sites is the difference between Rotten Tomatoes and your favorite movie reviewer. College Consensus is comprehensive. It’s not just one voice stating an opinion – it’s many, many voices, computed objectively and equally. Students who are actually there day to day have as much say about their college as experts who have never visited. And all of those perspectives mean an even playing field for every college and university, from the richest and best-known university to the smallest and hardest-working regional college.

This ranking focuses on the best nationally-recognized, major research universities. For students who are interested in the more traditional atmosphere of a small college, College Consensus has also ranked the Best National Liberal Arts Colleges . For the full, comprehensive ranking of all American colleges and universities, regardless of size or class, see the Best Colleges and Universities . For online schools, see the Best Online Colleges & Universities .

The Top Consensus Ranked National Research Universities are listed in descending order by their Consensus score. In the event of ties, schools are ranked in alphabetical order with the same rank number.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA

Stanford university stanford, ca, yale university new haven, ct, princeton university princeton, nj, harvard university cambridge, ma, vanderbilt university nashville, tn, cornell university ithaca, ny, dartmouth college hanover, nh, brown university providence, ri, university of notre dame notre dame, in, recommended online colleges & universities.

Visit sites to learn more about enrollment, tuition, and aid

Duke University Durham, NC

Rice university houston, tx, university of pennsylvania philadelphia, pa, university of california-los angeles los angeles, ca, california institute of technology pasadena, ca, columbia university in the city of new york new york, ny, washington university in st louis saint louis, mo, university of california-berkeley berkeley, ca, university of chicago chicago, il, university of michigan-ann arbor ann arbor, mi, northwestern university evanston, il, university of north carolina at chapel hill chapel hill, nc, university of southern california los angeles, ca, university of california-davis davis, ca, georgetown university washington, dc, university of virginia-main campus charlottesville, va, university of florida gainesville, fl, johns hopkins university baltimore, md, carnegie mellon university pittsburgh, pa, emory university atlanta, ga, university of wisconsin-madison madison, wi, university of illinois urbana-champaign champaign, il, georgia institute of technology-main campus atlanta, ga, university of california-san diego la jolla, ca, wake forest university winston-salem, nc, university of california-irvine irvine, ca, university of washington-seattle campus seattle, wa, university of california-santa barbara santa barbara, ca, boston college chestnut hill, ma, the university of texas at austin austin, tx, tufts university medford, ma, virginia polytechnic institute and state university blacksburg, va, lehigh university bethlehem, pa, new york university new york, ny, purdue university-main campus west lafayette, in, brigham young university provo, ut, william & mary williamsburg, va, texas a & m university-college station college station, tx, tulane university of louisiana new orleans, la, university of maryland-college park college park, md.

Why choose a research university? The best research universities offer opportunities for students to engage with faculty who are expanding their fields. Because professors are making new breakthroughs all the time, the learning environment is charged with excitement and students are able to learn about the latest studies before the results make it into their textbooks.

In addition, attending a research university often affords students opportunities they would not have at other schools. For example, they may have access to internships and have opportunities to do research with experts in their fields. They may even be invited to networking events with well-known professors, which could introduce them to valuable contacts and mentors.

What Makes a University a Research University?

So what is the difference between a research university vs. a teaching university? A focus on research is what makes a university a research university. The definition of a research university is a university that is committed to furthering our collective body of knowledge through research. 

Unlike teaching universities, which put teaching above everything else, research universities place a higher importance on research. This does not mean that the teaching at a research university is sub-par, however. At the best research universities, professors who are excited about their research often carry their enthusiasm into the classroom. They ignite passion in their students by sharing the results of their research with their classes.

If you’re looking for the best research universities, look through our research university rankings. We have carefully considered each school’s strengths and weaknesses and compiled a list of the top research universities in the country. Our research university rankings will help you choose the right university for you.

What is the Relationship Between Government Funding and Research Universities?

Government funding to universities is currently around 60% of the total R&D budget. This is down from a high of 73% in the late 1960s. However, in inflation-adjusted dollars, the amount has actually increased from around $8 billion per year to over $30 billion in spite of the lower percentage. This indicates that, adjusted for inflation, R&D budgets at research universities have grown over the past few decades.

Still, federal research grants to universities account for over half of the R&D funding for these schools. However, since federal funding covers less of the costs than it has in the past, schools have had to cover a larger share of their R&D budgets themselves. The percentage paid by the schools was less than 10% in the late 60s, but has risen to more than 20% today.

Since government funding to universities now covers a smaller percentage of research costs, many universities have responded by charging higher tuition and fees to make up the difference. However, public outcry against the burgeoning student debt crisis is forcing research universities to come up with an alternative way to make up for the reduced federal research grants to universities.

Many research universities have come up with new ways to gain additional funding or reduce expenses. These include partnerships with corporations and cooperative agreements with other schools that allow for expanded research efforts at all of the partner schools. Some schools are also engaging in their own development projects in order to raise additional funding.

Top Research Universities by Funding

Looking at the top research universities by funding, Johns Hopkins University receives more than twice as much federal funding as the #2 school. Around $2 billion of Johns Hopkins’s $2.3 billion R&D budget comes from the federal government. The school is followed by the University of Washington in 2nd place ($960.6 million), the University of Michigan in 3rd ($756.1 million), Stanford University in 4th ($679.6 million), and the University of California, San Diego in 5th ($643.0 million).

Are Research Universities Only for STEM Majors?

Although the best undergraduate research universities include the best science colleges in the world, research universities are not just for STEM majors . In fact, a recent study by Drexel University found that non-STEM students are just as likely to benefit from undergrad research experiences as STEM students.

The results were based on a survey of students who participated in the STAR (Students Tackling Advanced Research) program at Drexel University, one of the best science colleges in the world. Students indicated that they felt that the research benefited them in all areas of study, not just in STEM subject areas.

Some of the benefits students reported included improvements in their ability to work independently, feeling more comfortable discussing concepts or explaining projects to people outside of their fields, and gaining hands-on experience that they feel will help enhance their resumes.

At the best research universities, students have plenty of opportunities to participate in research. Regardless of major, being involved in a research project increases the chances that the student will remain in the program and eventually graduate. This effect is stronger when the research is conducted earlier in the program.

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The top 100 colleges and universities that spent on R&D in 2020

Though total research and development spending at higher education institutions grew more slowly than in any period since 2015 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, spending still increased by $2.7 billion in fiscal year 2020.

Of the $86.4 billion total noted in the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey , nearly half went toward health sciences and biomedical sciences, far outpacing most other initiatives. The total was triple what was spent on engineering, for example.

Far and away the biggest recipient and spender of R&D funds was Johns Hopkins University, which had more than $3.1 billion in expenditures, including its Applied Physics Lab ($1.9 billion). Twenty other institutions spent more than $1 billion, including these others in the top five: the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($1.67B), the University of California at San Francisco ($1.65B), the University of Pennsylvania ($1.58B) and the University of Washington at Seattle ($1.46B).

One institution that saw a big boost to its R&D bottom line was the University of Arizona, which spent $27 million more in FY 2020 than in 2019 to move into No. 35 overall. It also maintained its hold on the top spot in expenditures related to astronomy and astrophysics and cracked the top 50 in engineering.

“The latest HERD data demonstrate the robustness and continual growth of our research enterprise, despite challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic that took hold in early 2020,” said Elizabeth Cantwell, senior vice president for research and innovation. “At the heart of this success are our faculty and researchers, whose creativity and determination drive discovery and innovation, creating positive real-world impacts and knowledge for a more resilient future.”

The University of Wisconsin-Madison came in at No. 8, increasing its overall total by more than $65 million from the previous fiscal year. Like many other research institutions, its team approach in addressing COVID-19-related needs has been a top priority, with 80 research grants going toward helping in the global crisis. “I’m especially proud that our campus research community provides a backbone to the Wisconsin Idea in areas such as timely and critical public health response,” said Steve Ackerman, vice chancellor for research and graduate education at UW. “We see this in the university’s research response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in our efforts to ensure significant continuing advances in STEM, the arts, education and the social sciences.”

Most dollars enjoyed by colleges and universities and their researchers in FY 2020 came from the federal government, though institutional funding accounted for around one-quarter of the total. Businesses ($5.8B), nonprofits ($5.8B) and state government also were key contributors to the overall pool in helping back academic studies and surveys in higher ed.

Other areas that ranged among the highest expenditures included agricultural sciences ($3.4B), geosciences ($3.19B), electrical engineering ($2.9B), social sciences ($2.8B), computer and information sciences ($2.64B), and physics ($2.3B).

Here is the rest of the top 100 from the 915 colleges and universities that spent more than $150,000 in research and development in FY 2020:

• University of California, San Diego, $1,403,735
• University of California, Los Angeles, $1,392,941
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, $1,363,931
• Harvard University, $1,239,983
• Stanford University, $1,203,950
• Duke University, $1,196,638
• Cornell University, $1,190,063
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, $1,159,725
• Texas A&M University, College Station, $1,130,803
• University of Pittsburgh, $1,105,532
• University of Maryland, $1,103,062
• Yale University, $1,094,135
• University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, $1,051,297
• Georgia Institute of Technology, $1,048,988
• University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, $1,042,382
• Columbia University, $1,032,909
• Pennsylvania State University, $991,923
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, $987,968
• Ohio State University, $968,260
• New York University, $947,293
• University of Florida, $942,223
• University of Southern California, $941,198
• Washington University, Saint Louis, $920,215
• Northwestern University, $874,671
• University of California, Berkeley, $840,000
• Vanderbilt University, $824,803
• University of California, Davis, $816,693
• Emory University, $808,792
• University of Texas, Austin, $797,199
• University of Arizona, $760,975
• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, $747,014
• Indiana University, Bloomington, $728,554
• Michigan State University, $713,197
• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, $689,176
• Rutgers University, $688,077
• Purdue University, West Lafayette, $687,144
• Baylor College of Medicine, $685,641
• Arizona State University, $673,357
• University of Virginia, Charlottesville, $652,002
• University of Alabama, Birmingham, $618,226
• University of Utah, $607,061
• University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, $595,939
• Boston University, $583,267
• Virginia Tech University, $556,341
• University of Colorado, Denver, $554,643
• North Carolina State University, $546,290
• University of Iowa, $538,583
• University of Cincinnati, $530,138
• University of Colorado, Boulder, $525,674
• University of California, Irvine, $490,597
• University of Georgia, $482,786
• University of Chicago, $458,891
• California Institute of Technology, $449,651
• Oregon Health and Science University, $446,890
• Scripps Research Institute, $444,964
• Case Western Reserve University, $439,778
• SUNY-Buffalo, $422,038
• University of Kentucky, 417,674
• University of Illinois, Chicago, $412,147
• Colorado State University, Fort Collins, $407,302
• University of Rochester, $397,211
• Princeton University, $396,502
• Carnegie Mellon University, $386,996
• University of Miami, $381,410
• University of Kansas, $368,811
• Iowa State University, $363,107
• University of Oklahoma, Norman, $362,209
• Rockefeller University, $356,217
• SUNY Polytechnic Institute, $355,651
• Florida State University, $350,430
• Washington State University, $335,201
• University of South Florida, $333,344
• University of Missouri, Columbia, $332,180
• Dartmouth College, $326,349
• Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences , $324,510
• University of Nebraska, Lincoln $320,463
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville $320,407
• Utah State University $304,256
• Temple University $299,707
• Albert Einstein College of Medicine $288,654
• Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge $286,733
• Virginia Commonwealth University, $283,874
• Mississippi State University, $280,485
• University of Connecticut, $280,131
• University of Massachusetts, Medical School, $279,096
• University of Hawaii, Manoa, $275,929
• University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, $273,862
• Medical University of South Carolina, $272,590
• George Washington University, $270,369
• Oregon State University, 268,385
• Brown University, $266,127
• Medical College of Wisconsin, $264,325
• SUNY-Stony Brook, $263,470
• Georgetown University, $258,659
• Auburn University, $255,281

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Big 12 Conference Schools

From Iowa to Texas, the Big 12 Conference Dominates the Central U.S.

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• Ph.D., English, University of Pennsylvania
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For students who want the experience of a big research university with NCAA Division I athletics, the Big 12 is worth a close look. Each of these universities offers a wide range of academic and athletic opportunities. Admissions criteria vary widely, so you may want to dig deeper into the profile for each school for average ACT and SAT scores, acceptance rates and financial aid information. For direct comparisons of the students they admit, see the Big 12  SAT chart  and the Big 12  ACT chart .

The Big 12 Conference is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision of the NCAA's Division I. You may also want to explore the schools in the other top conferences:  ACC | Big East | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac 10 | SEC

Baylor University

Baylor is the most selective university in the Big 12 with an acceptance rate of 44 percent. Its preprofessional programs, especially business, are among the most popular with undergraduates.

• Location: Waco, Texas
• School type: Private, Baptist affiliation
• Enrollment:  16,959 (14,348 undergraduates)
• Team: Bears
• For ACT and SAT scores, acceptance rate, costs, financial aid, and other information, visit the Baylor University admissions profile .

Iowa State (Iowa State University at Ames)

Like the University of Colorado at Boulder, Iowa State University at Ames is a member of the Association of American Universities. The university has particular strengths in the sciences, engineering, and agriculture.

• Location: Ames, Iowa
• School type: Public
• Enrollment:  36,350 (30,671 undergraduates)
• Team: Cyclones
• For ACT and SAT scores, acceptance rate, costs, financial aid, and other information, visit the Iowa State University admissions profile .

Kansas (University of Kansas at Lawrence)

Along with its excellent athletic programs, the University of Kansas at Lawrence wins high marks for both its high-level research and the quality of student life.

• Location: Lawrence, Kansas
• Enrollment: 27,565 (19,262 undergraduates)
• Team: Jayhawks
• Explore the Campus: KU Photo Tour
• For ACT and SAT scores, acceptance rate, costs, financial aid, and other information, visit the University of Kansas admissions profile .

Kansas State (Kansas State University at Manhattan)

Kansas State University takes pride in its high number of Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater, and Udall scholars. For programs in technology and aviation, students can attend the branch campus in Salina, Kansas.

• Location: Manhattan, Kansas
• Enrollment: ​23,779 (19,472 undergraduates)
• Team: Wildcats
• For ACT and SAT scores, acceptance rate, costs, financial aid, and other information, visit the Kansas State University admissions profile .

Oklahoma (University of Oklahoma at Norman)

The University of Oklahoma at Norman enrolls an impressive number of National Merit Scholars, and it graduates a significant number of Rhodes Scholars. The university's quality of life and strong academics have earned it high marks for value.

• Location: Norman, Oklahoma
• Enrollment: ​27,918 (21,609 undergraduates)
• Team: Sooners
• For ACT and SAT scores, acceptance rate, costs, financial aid, and other information, visit the University of Oklahoma admissions profile .

Oklahoma State (Oklahoma State University at Stillwater)

Oklahoma State University's School of Business draws more students than any of the other schools at the university. Students with good grades and a strong work ethic should check out OSU's Honors College.

• Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma
• Enrollment: 25,622 (21,101 undergraduates)
• Team: Cowboys
• For ACT and SAT scores, acceptance rate, costs, financial aid, and other information, visit the Oklahoma State University admissions profile .

Texas (University of Texas at Austin)

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the top public universities in the country, and with over 50,000 students, it is also one of the largest. The McCombs School of Business is particularly strong.

• Location: Austin, Texas
• Enrollment:  51,331 (40,168 undergraduates)
• Team: Longhorns
• For ACT and SAT scores, acceptance rate, costs, financial aid, and other information, visit the University of Texas at Austin admissions profile .

Texas Christian University

Texas Christian is strong academically -- the university has a 14 to 1 student/faculty ratio , and the student-teacher interaction is valued highly. For its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, TCU was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa . Recent years have seen lots of campus construction, renovations and upgrades.

• Location: Fort Worth, Texas
• School type: Private, Christian Church
• Enrollment:  10,394 (8,891 undergraduates)
• Team: Horned Frogs
• For admissions and financial data, see the Texas Christian admissions profile .

Texas Tech (Texas Tech University at Lubbock)

With its attractive Spanish architecture, Texas Tech's 1,839-acre campus is one of the largest in the country. The university is far more than a tech school; in fact, of all of Texas Tech's Colleges, Arts and Sciences has the highest undergraduate enrollments.

• Location: Lubbock, Texas
• Enrollment:  36,551 (29,963 undergraduates)
• Team: Red Raiders
• For ACT and SAT scores, acceptance rate, costs, financial aid, and other information, visit the Texas Tech admissions profile .

West Virginia University

West Virginia University, the flagship campus of the state university system, offers 185 degree programs, and the school was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences. Highly motivated students who are looking for smaller and more challenging classes should check out the WVU Honors College.

• Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
• Enrollment:  28,488 (22,350 undergraduates)
• Team: Mountaineers
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs, and other information see the West Virginia University admissions profile
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What Are the Big 12 Schools? Should You Attend One?

Founded in 1994, the Big 12 describes an NCAA Division I athletic conference. Big 12 is a bit of a misnomer as the conference currently stands; right now, it consists of 10 large universities, down from the original 12: 

• Baylor University
• Iowa State University
• University of Kansas
• Kansas State University
• University of Oklahoma
• Oklahoma State University
• Texas Christian University
• University of Texas at Austin
• Texas Tech University
• West Virginia University

In this post, we’ll take a look at the Big 12 schools, and what makes each one stand out.

Admissions Stats of the Big 12 Schools

Learn More About the Big 12 Schools

1. baylor university.

Location: Waco, TX

Acceptance rate: 45%

U.S. News Ranking: 79

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1210-1370 SAT, 26-32 ACT

Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,188

A faith-based, Baptist institution, Baylor University was chartered in 1845. It is the oldest continually-operating university in Texas. The school draws diverse students from all over the world and has a tight-knit community, along with a deep commitment to community service. Baylor has plenty of excellent programs and is especially noted for science, engineering, and business.

2. Iowa State University

Location: Ames, IA

Acceptance rate: 92%

U.S. News Ranking: 121

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 110-1240 SAT, 22-28 ACT

Undergraduate Enrollment: 29,621

Consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful campuses in the U.S., Iowa State is also one of the largest universities in the Big 12. It is particularly known for its STEM programs and research; in fact, its official name is Iowa State University of Science and Technology. Offering more than 100 majors and more than 850 student organizations, students can explore any number of interests. It draws students from more than 100 countries around the world.

3. University of Kansas

Location: Lawrence, KS

Acceptance rate: 93%

U.S. News Ranking: 130

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1110-1320 SAT, 22-29 ACT

Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,596

KU, as the University of Kansas is known, is Kansas’ large flagship university. The school offers a wide range of esteemed programs in unique areas like speech, language, and hearing; social health; and music therapy, along with more traditional programs. KU’s debate team is especially strong — it has sent more teams to the National Debate Tournament than any other university in the country, and has won six times. 

4. Kansas State University

Location: Manhattan, KS

Acceptance rate: 17,869

U.S. News Ranking: 162

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 22-28 ACT

Undergraduate Enrollment: 96%

The oldest public college or university in Kansas, K-State was founded in 1863. Today, the school offers more than 250 undergraduate programs. One particular strength is agricultural sciences — in fact, the school was founded as an agricultural institution. This university is also home to the Landon Lecture Series, which brings many prominent speakers to campus. 

5. University of Oklahoma

Location: Norman, OK

Acceptance rate: 80%

U.S. News Ranking: 132

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1130-1310 SAT, 23-29 ACT

Undergraduate Enrollment: 22,152

Fifteen colleges make up the University of Oklahoma. The university offers top programs in areas like Native American studies — including language classes — psychology, journalism, kinesiology, and zoology. OU’s Honors College has its own dorms, instructors, and other features and welcomes applications from any student at the university. Despite the large student body, students describe it as having a close, tight-knit community.

6. Oklahoma State University

Location: Stillwater, OK

Acceptance rate: 70%

U.S. News Ranking: 192

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1040-1255 SAT, 21-28 ACT

Undergraduate Enrollment: 20,574

With top programs in agricultural sciences, fashion merchandising, and information technology, OSU has plenty to offer students. Along with academics, it has an abundance of networking, internship, and employment opportunities. There are more than 500 student organizations, including Greek life. It also prides itself on its commitment to health, calling itself “America’s Healthiest Campus.”

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7. Texas Christian University

Location: Fort Worth, TX

Acceptance rate: 47%

U.S. News Ranking: 96

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1150-1343 SAT, 26-30 ACT

Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,445

The largest Christian-affiliated university, TCU welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds. The university offers plenty of extracurricular opportunities, including numerous religious, service, and Greek life organizations. Popular majors include business, journalism, and psychology.

8. University of Texas at Austin

Location: Austin, TX 

Acceptance rate: 38.5%

U.S. News Ranking: 48

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1170-1410 SAT, 27-33 ACT

Undergraduate Enrollment: 40,804

The flagship university of the UT system UT Austin is one of the biggest universities in the country, as well as one of the most prestigious public institutions. Business and engineering are just two of the top programs the university offers. Along with academics, UT Austin offers plenty of extracurricular activities, with over 1,000 student organizations to choose from. The Daily Texan , for example, is one of the country’s most prestigious student-run newspapers.

9. Texas Tech University

Location: Lubbock, TX

Acceptance rate: 69%

U.S. News Ranking: 218

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1080-1250 SAT, 22-27 ACT

Undergraduate Enrollment: 31,957

Texas Tech has a number of strong programs, including a creative writing program taught by award-winning faculty and more than 150 additional programs across its 13 colleges. The university was named a Diversity Champion by Insight Into Diversity four years in a row. Texas Tech has more than 450 student organizations, including a prominent Greek life scene. Its Service Learning Program is particularly noteworthy and emphasizes connections between coursework and service.

10. West Virginia University

Location: Morgantown, WV

Acceptance rate: 72%

U.S. News Ranking: 228

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1020-1210 SAT, 21-27 ACT

Undergraduate Enrollment: 21,155

Originally chartered as the Agricultural College of West Virginia in 1867, WVU was renamed the following year to reflect a broader range of disciplines. Its Forensics and Investigative Science program is recognized as on the top programs of its kind. But students can choose from a wide range of majors, from journalism to animal sciences. 

Hoping to attend a Big 12 school? Find out your chances of admission with CollegeVine’s free Admissions Calculator . We’ll calculate your real odds of acceptance to these and thousands of other top schools, plus give you tips on how to improve your profile for success. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!

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25 Top Research Universities

Reviewed by David Krug David Krug is a seasoned expert with 20 years in educational technology (EdTech). His career spans the pivotal years of technology integration in education, where he has played a key role in advancing student-centric learning solutions. David's expertise lies in marrying technological innovation with pedagogical effectiveness, making him a valuable asset in transforming educational experiences. As an advisor for enrollment startups, David provides strategic guidance, helping these companies navigate the complexities of the education sector. His insights are crucial in developing impactful and sustainable enrollment strategies.

Updated: August 27, 2024 , Reading time: 61 minutes

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Data Points:

• In every state, there is at least one public research university * that delivers “geographically accessible educational opportunities” to all Americans across the US.
• In fiscal year 2022, US colleges spent $97.8 billion on R&D ** .
• Federally funded R&D reached $54 billion, accounting for 55% of the total expenditures.

Universities in the United States conduct 31% of the basic and applied research in the nation, and thus, these institutions are vital in national development. Furthermore, at 56% of the national total, their contributions to basic research emphasize their importance in the nation’s knowledge buildup. 

University-led research is important because the federal government provides financial and technical support for about 60% of it! In the COVID-19 pandemic, federal government support for research universities has remained the one constant that can be relied on, too.

While federal support may have decreased since its peak in the 1960s – when it reached as much as 73% – many research universities still get the bulk of their funding from the federal government. 

Are research universities worth the money? Yes, they are! In a study , universities contributed 74% of the groundbreaking inventions in the world!

Their researchers were considered as either “most important or very important” actors in four out of 10 cases, too. These discoveries included MRI scans and polio vaccinations, both of which have revolutionized the medical industry. 

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Indeed, research universities play vital roles in society by addressing urgent challenges with research and development in particular and science in general. Academic researchers are confronting the challenges and finding solutions to world issues like climate change, freshwater, safe food, and diseases!

Here are the biggest research university breakthroughs: 

• The University of Delaware invented touch screens through funding from the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Science Foundation in the early 1990s. 
• Indiana University developed the FDA-approved fluoridated toothpaste that we use today. Procter & Gamble, the licensee for the patented product, made Crest from the formula. 
• Cornell University researchers proposed and developed the modern seat belt . 
• Harvard Business School, particularly Dan Bricklin, invented the spreadsheet students, businesses, and organizations use.
• Boston University developed a quick diagnostic system to identify malaria, Ebola, and other fevers with similar symptoms. 

In the pandemic, many research universities are also hard at work in the development of solutions. These include antiviral treatments at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, coronavirus screening tests at Johns Hopkins University, and vaccines for older adults at Harvard University Medical School. 

Despite their crucial importance in national development in diverse fields, research universities belong to a small club.

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education reveals that only 266 universities can be considered research universities. Of this number, 131 universities are in the “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity” category, and 135 belong to the “R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity” class. 

History of Research Universities in the U.S.

In the 19th century, Wilhelm von Humboldt advocated for the union of teaching and research (Einheit von Lehre und Forschung in German). This was the precursor of the modern research university, where education focused on accumulating knowledge in social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. 

In the United States, Johns Hopkins is considered the first research university . For over 140 years, the university has maintained its standing as a world leader in research and education. Today, it has nine academic divisions dedicated to research and education and a non-academic division, the Applied Physics Laboratory, for civilian R&D. 

Roger L. Geiger has also proposed that the model for research universities in the U.S. was established by: 

• Five colonial colleges (Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, and Pennsylvania) 
• Five state universities (Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, California, and Minnesota) 
• Five private institutions were established as research universities (Cornell, MIT, Stanford, Chicago, and Johns Hopkins) 

Each of these universities played vital roles in different fields in the 20th century. Hollywood, for example, was strengthened through the works of Harvard and Columbia. Silicon Valley owes its existence partly to Stanford and Berkeley research, while Stanford and MIT were instrumental in creating the American military-industrial complex. 

Nowadays, most of the best research universities belong to the Association of American Universities (AAU), which has a 64-strong membership in the U.S. These are a select group of research universities dedicated to advancing robust academic education and research. Membership is in itself a badge of distinction among research universities. 

Characteristics of Research Universities

In a Hefei statement issued by the AAU, the ten characteristics of modern research universities were defined. These included the pursuit of excellence, major research efforts, and a commitment to teaching and research training.

In a National Academies report, research universities are defined as possessing values of excellence, initiative and creativity, and intellectual freedom. The conduct of research, faculty engagement in research and education, and the emphasis on the undergraduate residency experience are also emphasized. 

From these definitions, we can also surmise the following characteristics of the quintessential American research university. 

• The university has state-of-the-art facilities from which researchers produce new and exciting research. Keep in mind that basic and applied research is the main goal of research universities. Undergraduate and graduate education are also a priority, but research comes first, although it must also be said that both work hand in hand. 
• The faculty members possess professional credentials that make them experts in their field. Most, if not all, of them have made significant contributions to their fields, too, including published research. The professorial positions are also highly coveted because of the opportunities for career advancement and research funding. Many professors are also Nobel Prize winners in chemistry, physics, and medicine, among other internationally renowned achievements. 
• The students can choose from a wide range of areas of study, including the arts and sciences, STEM, and business and accounting, to name a few. The research areas are then just as diverse as the degree programs offered by the university, which means higher productivity levels. 
• The undergraduate students have more opportunities for professional interactions with graduate students, a symbiotic relationship in knowledge sharing, and research collaborations. The graduate students also have viable opportunities to participate in and contribute to possibly breakthrough research. Take note, too, that graduate students may teach the undergraduates resulting in the professors having more time for research activities. 

Research universities are also recognized worldwide for their academic excellence and breakthrough discoveries in science and technology, the social sciences, and the arts and humanities. Indeed, the best of them are considered the elites of the academic world with names that are as familiar as brands like Coca-Cola and Nestle! 

Where does the funding for research go in these universities?

The research expenditures cover costs related to the salaries of the researchers, the operations and maintenance of the facilities, and the supplies and equipment.

The funding may also be used in securing and maintaining patents, copyrights, and trademarks in line with intellectual property laws. There are also expenses for scholarships and grants, and incentives to attract and retain exceptional talent. 

While there are issues about research universities favoring research over education, it may not seem as big a deal considering their symbiotic relationship. With faculty members engaged in research, their works expand and enhance the foundations of knowledge taught at their institutions. Their work enriches the breadth and depth of teaching and learning in all institutions outside of their universities, too. 

Graduate students who participate in research projects become more knowledgeable and skilled in their areas of study, thanks partly to working alongside field experts. Graduate education is also enriched through basic and applied research.

In turn, research becomes more invigorated because graduate students bring their energy, enthusiasm, and creativity. 

These benefits are true, albeit to a more limited extent for undergraduate students. Many research universities provide undergraduate students with opportunities to contribute to the research process. As a result, their education becomes enriched through a first-hand understanding of the rewards and demands of a research career. 

Aside from their roles in breakthrough research in diverse fields, research universities also perform other equally crucial roles in society. First, researchers in social sciences, sociology, and political sciences, among other fields, provide new insights and analyses into issues and their possible solutions.

With a greater understanding of our society and its ills comes the opportunity to undertake new endeavors, move in new directions, and hope for new peace. 

Many of our current issues and solutions result from research conducted by social scientists, economists, and psychologists. Climate change, for example, may not seem like the realm of social scientists, but it will affect human migrations. This, in turn, can profoundly impact the political, social, and economic spheres of human life worldwide. 

Social scientists research so that humanity will have a deeper understanding of these issues and develop viable solutions to current and emerging issues. 

Second, research universities enrich human existence and experience through their contributions to the arts and humanities. Indeed, research isn’t just about science and technology because man cannot live by STEM alone.

Humanists work towards better interpretation and preservation of the world’s cultures, and their research enhances our appreciation of disparate cultures. Their work is a valuable tool in countering the religious and national extremism that hinders worldwide cooperation. 

Research in the humanities also enriches the American experience! We have a greater understanding of the origins and experiences that influenced our own American identity. We can then act in appropriate ways toward using our nation’s prominence in world affairs. 

Third, research universities have made and continue to make profound contributions to civic life, including economics and politics. By protruding well-educated graduates in diverse fields, these institutions are instrumental in creating new industries and maintaining existing ones.

While a college education isn’t a precursor to success, studies have proven the most successful individuals in current standards have a college degree. 

And with the U.S. being a bastion of freedom and democracy in the modern world, research universities are also doing their part in this aspect! These institutions are considered agents of a free society through their academic independence, particularly from government control, despite receiving federal funding.

Their self-governance was just a manifestation of their broad autonomy gained partly from the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Dartmouth College case. 

With that being said, however, not every undergraduate and graduate student will benefit from being in a research university, not even if it’s among the best. While individual circumstances will vary, you may be a good fit in a research university if you have these characteristics: 

• You plan to pursue graduate and post-graduate studies, which have a substantial focus on research (i.e., dissertations). 
• You have a keen interest in pursuing research in STEM, arts, and humanities, and the social sciences, whether basic or applied. You will find exceptional resources and support in research universities for this purpose. 
• You want to gain insights from the experts in the field, perhaps even work alongside them starting in your undergraduate years. 
• You have the academic ability and willingness to undertake a rigorous curriculum and undergo extensive training in your field. 

Keep in mind that the best research universities are among the world’s top universities for a reason! These are highly selective institutions that only accept the cream of the crop – and then boot out the ones who can’t keep up. 

METHODOLOGY

The research universities featured on this list are classified as doctorate-granting universities in the R1 category of the Carnegie Classification. These institutions are characterized by their: 

• Gives research the highest priority
• Full range of undergraduate programs 
• Proven commitment to excellence in graduate education
• Awards 50 or more doctorate degrees every year 
• Receives at least $40 million in federal funding every year  

These universities were also chosen based on these aspects: 

• The institution has at least one research institute or center with broad autonomy from the university but still under its general jurisdiction. 
• The undergraduates and graduates have the opportunity to observe, participate in and contribute to research projects done by the university and its attached institute. 

The overall prestige and the number and quality of breakthrough research were also considered in the listing. 

Top 25 Research Universities

Massachusetts institute of technology.

Cambridge, Massachusetts 

No other name is as resounding as MIT when it comes to research in universities! For 160 years, MIT has adopted a research-heavy approach with equal importance to basic and applied science. Furthermore, academic excellence is of crucial importance with an emphasis on learning by doing. 

While tenured professors, professional researchers, and graduate students engage the most in research, undergraduates are also provided with opportunities to participate. Through its Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), most undergraduates enjoy an enriched education through frontline research. 

MIT’s long list of distinguished individuals is only rivaled by its equally long list of notable innovations and inventions in diverse fields.

With 97 Nobel laureates and the Turing Award, National Medals of Technology and Innovation, and National Medal of Science and recipients, the AAU member’s record is astounding! MIT’s alumni have founded trailblazing companies like Koch Industries, Raytheon, and Intel, even in the business world. 

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Department of Defense (DOD), and NASA grant federal funds for MIT-led research. In 2019, MIT spent $773.9 million in research costs from various sponsors.

Cash income and royalties also beef up its research funds, and MIT faculty and researchers can use their research for profitable means. 

MIT has 30 departments that conduct their research projects, along with dozens of laboratories, centers, and programs dedicated to research. The interdisciplinary approach magnifies their research projects’ intellectual and practical applications, many of which address urgent societal issues. 

Aside from the on-campus research resources, MIT has allied organizations, like the MIT Lincoln Library, Center for Computational Engineering, and Clinical Research Center. MIT researchers are also known for their successful collaborations with leading organizations like the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, and Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. 

As an institution and in partnership with numerous organizations, MIT’s list of accomplishments makes it the best research university globally, hands down! A few of the most notable due to their profound impact on modern society are: 

• Sonar 
• High-speed photography 
• Genetic bases for Huntington’s disease, ALS, and cancer 
• Thermal death time used in canning food, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices 
• Content delivery network, an invention responsible for at least 15% of modern web traffic 
• Flight recorder with applications in NASA’s guidance computer systems 

STEM may be MIT’s strength, but its contributions to the arts and humanities cannot be undermined either! Morris Halle and Noam Chomsky are known for their work on phonology and generative grammar. 

Harvard University

As an AAU founding member, Harvard is known worldwide for its comprehensive programs in STEM, arts and humanities, and health sciences. The basic and applied research conducted here ranges from archival research to laboratory studies in basic and applied research.

Funding sources come from the federal government, industry organizations, and even private endowments that enable researchers to pursue their specific interests. 

Harvard Medical School (HMS) conducts groundbreaking biomedical research that results in the advancement of human life and stimulates the regional economy. The federal government is funding a majority of the research conducted here.

In 2019, about 70% of the $800 million-plus research funding came from the federal government. In the same year, the NIH or National Institutes of Health) awarded $1.65 billion in grants to HMS and its 15 affiliate hospitals and research centers. 

Undergraduates can participate in research projects by inquiring about opportunities at three main offices: 

• The Harvard College Research Program (HCRP) provides the professors and departments with ongoing or planned projects. Summer grants and term-time are available for students collaborating with faculty mentors on independent research. 
• The MMUF or The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program provides about 20 juniors and seniors with a term-time stipend in the spring term. Summer research funds are also available. 
• The Faculty Aide Program connects undergraduates who want to work as research assistants and professors looking for them (The Student Employment Office runs the program). 

Students may also research credit, but the policies are different between programs. Summer research can encompass diverse subjects from science and engineering to humanities and arts. 

Harvard has over two dozen buildings within its sprawling campus exclusively dedicated to scientific research. Their interconnected design allows several laboratories and offices to engage in collaborations across disciplines.

Research projects are characterized by multidisciplinary approaches in chemical, physical, and biological engineering, even computational sciences. Researchers may even be working on the same topic but with different perspectives, such as neuroscience research. 

The university’s research centers include the Harvard Mind/Brain/Behavior Initiative, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology. Harvard also has affiliated hospitals in and out of the country, such as Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Boston Children’s Hospital.

Harvard’s list of research-borne accomplishments is impressive, too, and contributes to its rightful reputation as among the world’s top research universities. These include the first transgenic mouse in cancer research, the decoding of gene structure now used in medical diagnoses, and the pacemaker development. 

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland 

With its reputation as America’s first research university, Johns Hopkins continues to exceed expectations! Since 1876, JHU has remained true to its mission of sharing what it has learned through research and, thus, making the world better. With more than 1,300 research sites worldwide, the JHU name is a leader in global research across disciplines.  

The list of innovations brought about by JHU-led research is awe-inspiring, considering their profound impact on the betterment of humanity. These include creating a modern water purification process, the launch of genetic engineering, and the invention of CPR, rubber surgical gloves, and saccharine. 

Such is JHU’s commitment to research that it spent a record $2.917 billion on research and development in 2019, the highest spending for 41 consecutive years! This amount was an increase of 9.6% from 2018. More than $2.48 billion was funded by federal government agencies like NIH and National Science Foundation (NSF). 

JHU has nine academic divisions that conduct research programs, both as independent entities and as collaborators. These include the School of Medicine, the School of Engineering, and the School of Advanced International Studies. The Applied Physics Laboratory is noteworthy for its accomplishments, too. The interdisciplinary approach ensures that research studies are worth every cent poured into them. 

Researchers also work in collaboration with JHU-affiliated organizations resulting in a diverse range of projects. These organizations are well-recognized on their own, too, such as the Berman Institute of Bioethics, Space Telescope Science Institute, and Center for a Livable Future. 

JHU considers its faculty members to be its greatest asset for good reasons! Many of its past and present faculty members have made significant contributions to the betterment of humanity through their research projects. Their roster includes winners of the Nobel Prize, the National Medal of Science, and the Berlin Prize, a testament to JHU’s leadership across disciplines. 

Undergraduates have ample opportunities to engage in independent research, and about 80% of them take the opportunity multiple times during their stay. The early training has resulted in JHU boasting several faculty and alumni with memberships in the Howard National Academy of Engineering, Hughes Medical Institute Investigators, and National Academy of Sciences. 

JHU is also among the world’s most-cited institutions in the global research industry, aside from publishing more than 54,000 papers – and counting. The number of utility patents held by JHU and its researchers was also among the world’s top five in 2020.

The university’s Signature Initiatives for the Rising to the Challenge campaign, launched in 2013, is also making significant changes in global health, space exploration, and the science of learning. 

University of California – Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California 

UCLA is a top research university partly because of its huge research funding at $1.4 billion (2019-2020), a 38% increase since 2015 and the third consecutive year of increase. Such is its research spending that it’s #3 in total research expenditures among all American universities. The funding came from federal agencies (60%) and industries, nonprofits and charitable organizations, higher education institutions, and the state government. 

Such strong funding support isn’t surprising considering that UCLA’s research projects range from arts and humanities to engineering, medicine, and technology. With more than 330 degree programs, undergraduate and graduate students also have diverse topics for research.

UCLA’s faculty and alumni have the “who’s who” of elite individuals, too, with Nobel laureates, Turing Award winners, and members of national academies in sciences, engineering, and medicine. 

UCLA is also home to more than 350 organizations dedicated to research and its allied disciplines! Of these research labs and centers, there are 280 medical centers with more than 1,800 inventions. In 2020 alone, 394 inventions were recorded by the entire UCLA machinery. 

Many of the world’s greatest discoveries have also been made at UCLA. These include being the internet’s birthplace , making the first AIDS diagnosis , and pioneering PET scanning in brain function. Many of its alumni and faculty members have also made their mark in American society , from space exploration to biochemistry. 

Undergraduates have ample opportunities to become research assistants In such a research-friendly environment. The opportunities come in varied forms, too, including conference presentations, faculty assistantships, and authorship of works published in the Undergraduate Science Journal. 

The Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) are an excellent introduction to the graduate school experience. Graduate students are also provided with similar opportunities, not to mention that many research projects welcome visiting students. 

The range of research projects undertaken by students is a testament to UCLA’s open-minded approach. Students in digital humanities may work on African-American silent films while students in environmental science study oil drilling. Such wide-ranging studies are made possible through two Undergraduate Research Centers – first, in sciences; and second, in humanities, arts, and social sciences. 

UCLA also provides resources through its comprehensive library collections, including books and ebooks to clay tablets, scrolls, and data sets. With more than 13 million books – and counting – the UCLA Library is a researcher’s dream! Research support is also available.  

Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, Georgia 

In recent years, Georgia Tech received more than $1 billion in annual research funding, launched 300 startups, and received 74 patents. Nine research institutes report to the Executive Vice President for Research, whose responsibilities include direct reporting to the University President. 

The oldest and most prominent research institute is the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), a nonprofit organization involved in applied research. Its research includes several disciplines, including homeland security, mobile, and wireless technologies, and public health, with the Department of Defense and Georgia as its major customers. Its funding comes largely from defense agencies, but it’s also involved in economics and policy research.  

The other research institutions are Georgia Tech Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering & Bioscience, and Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems. Each institute works as a fairly autonomous unit with the capacity for collaborative work with the others. 

Georgia Tech is at the forefront of many current issues affecting the public, either independently or in collaboration with others. In 2019, it received $21.9 million for the development of new techniques in flu pandemic control. It has also received $13.5 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to reinvent the toilet. Its frugal science approach has also resulted in many practical innovations, including a 3D-printed wheel made for just one dollar. 

While Georgia Tech evokes images of STEM innovations, it’s actually among the best universities for entrepreneurship! The Yellow Jackets have them covered, from researching the best business practices to contract and technology licensing. These are done through various entities, including the VentureLab, Advanced Technology Development Center, and Georgia Tech Research Corporation. 

Undergraduates are encouraged to join faculty-led research, too, usually alongside graduate students. The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program is a scholarship program for undergraduates involved in research. The package includes salaries, travel expenses, credits, and the opportunity to be a published author in an undergraduate research journal. 

Georgia Tech also has strong partnerships for research purposes with other educational institutions. Examples include the  Emory-Georgia Tech Predictive Health Institute, the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering with Emory University and Peking University, and The Centre for Next Generation Logistics with the National University of Singapore. 

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey 

Seeking knowledge and solutions is the motto by which Princeton researchers perform basic and applied research. The comprehensive scope of its research areas includes social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and engineering. Undergraduate and graduate students have numerous research opportunities, from their capstone projects and dissertations to institutional research. 

Princeton is home to the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) and the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL). These are national laboratories managed in partnership with DOE and NOAA, respectively. PPPL is engaged in plasma physics and fusion energy research, while GFDL is known for its climate research. 

Funding for PPPL represents a substantial part of Princeton’s research funding – in 2020, it was $120 million for the total research funding of $370 million. More than 81% of its research funding comes from the federal government. The rest comes from foundations (12%), industry (5%), and private sources (1%).

With more than 120 members in the National Academy, Princeton is in the nation’s top 10 for most members. The Ivy League institution also holds the distinction of membership in the New Jersey Space Grant Consortium. 

The AAU member has several research facilities on its campus, too, each with its specific areas of interest, including: 

• The Confocal Microscopy Facility has outstanding light-microscope resolution equipment with medical and non-medical applications. 
• The Genomics Core Facility has state-of-the-art high-throughput sequencing technologies used in data analysis, microarray labeling, and experimental design consultation. 
• The Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials specializes in materials science and photonics, with its particular strength being in the marriage of “hard” and “soft” materials.  

Such is the huge impact of Princeton-led discoveries . These are evident not just among the R&D community but also in supermarkets and stores! 

Undergraduates can ask for the assistance of the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) in finding programs, getting started with projects, and accessing evidence. Funding for research is available, too, via the office. The Princeton Correspondents on Undergraduate Research acts as a support group for undergraduates looking for first-hand research experiences. 

The Princeton Research Day celebrates researchers through campus-wide presentations and other activities. The ReMatch program matches first-year students and sophomores with graduate students who act as mentors in academic research. There’s a nine-week paid summer research project for qualified undergraduates, too, under the ReMatch+ program. 

The Student Initiated Internship Program, an OUR-managed program, provides grants to undergraduates (non-seniors only) with the opportunity to present their projects at a mini-academic conference. Princeton also has several paid research assistant positions and fellowship opportunities, as well as research-focused student organizations. 

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Stanford’s body of research rests on its underlying principle of ” inquiry, investigation, and discovery.” Faculty members and students are encouraged to participate in original research and scholarship through funding and technical support. With 20 libraries filled with more than 9.5 volumes, research materials and subjects are abundant, too. 

The 2020 sponsored research budget of $1.93 billion proves that Stanford’s reputation for financial integrity and breakthrough innovations is well-deserved. With 18 institutes committed to life-changing innovations, Stanford researchers have made several discoveries and inventions, too! 

The research institutes include: 

• The SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, a DOE-owned national lab managed by Stanford, is known for its materials and energy sciences, chemistry, and high-energy physics. 
• The Hoover Institution engages in studies of national and international affairs. 
• The Stanford Humanities Center expands humanity’s understanding of its earthly experience in the realms of history, literature, and philosophy. 

Other notable institutes are the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford Bio-X, and Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI). Stanford is also part of the Biohub in partnership with UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley; Biohub is a medical science research center funded by the husband-and-wife team of Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan. 

Stanford’s robust research support has resulted in numerous notable inventions , including antibody therapies, artificial facet joints, and data analytics. Many of today’s technologies are also the product of its researchers’ work, including digital music, digital subscriber lines (DSL), and Google. The university’s best medical inventions are the tuberculosis test, recombinant DNA, and the 293T cell line used in cell and gene therapy. 

Stanford offers undergraduate research opportunities and provides intensive support in different ways. Students can develop professional mentor relationships with faculty members and gather their research toolbox. Undergraduates have several grants for pursuing their research, such as the Chappell Lougee for Arts and Humanities. 

There are small and major grants, conference grants, and Beagle II grants for voyages of discovery. Departmental funding is also available with areas of study covered, including bioengineering, economics, and linguistics. 

University of Wisconsin – Madison

UW–Madison, an AAU founding member, is a Public Ivy institution known as much for its academic excellence and its prestigious accomplishments in the world of research. While the university’s ranking in terms of research spending has taken a hit recently, it’s still in the top 10 of NSF rankings. 

The 2020 research spending reached nearly $1.3 billion , still a staggering amount and an increase of 7.6% from 2019 figures. Since 2010, UW-Madison has increased its R&D spending by 26%. The university’s standing as a leader in research and innovation in the Badger State and the country is intact and growing stronger. 

The Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education (VCRGE) is the oversight organization charged with addressing the challenges faced by researchers. Aside from overseeing the research budget and expenditures, it also manages the 17 research centers across Purdue’s campuses. With its army of master’s and doctorate students who perform independent research, the Graduate School is also under its watch. 

Research funding for faculty-led research is also under the VCRGE. The annual Fall Research Competition, a cross-campus event, provides researchers with the opportunity to secure funding for travel and other expenses. Assistance for transfer technologies is also done through VCRGE funding programs. 

Undergraduates have opportunities to gain research skills through assistantships and self-directed projects. There are plenty of projects designed specifically for them, too: 

• Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowships
• Holstrom Environmental Research Fellowship
• Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program (Open for low-income students and other underrepresented or disadvantaged groups) 
• Summer Research Opportunity Program 
• Undergraduate Research Scholars (Open for first-year students and sophomores) 
• Wisconsin Idea Undergraduate Fellowships (Project length varies from one semester to one academic year. Areas of study include health, community development, and the arts) 

UW researchers have made numerous scientific discoveries that changed the world in many ways. These include the discovery of Vitamin A, the revolutionary technique in canned vegetable production, and the mass production of penicillin. The university has also earned millions in income from patents on a blood-thinning agent, the synthetic form of dicumarol. 

California Institute of Technology   

Pasadena, California 

CalTech, an AAU member, is best known for its STEM research and its commitment to excellence in instruction in basic and applied sciences. Even without a medical school, its innovations and inventions influence the health sciences, partly because of its more than $270 million annual research expenditure. NASA, NSF, DHHS, and DOE are its largest federal funding sources for physical sciences, life sciences, and engineering, among other areas. 

National laboratories are among the research institutions that CalTech operates in partnership with the federal government. The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is the most famous, but the Palomar Observatory, W. M. Keck Observatory, and Kerckhoff Marine Laboratory perform vital work, too. The Kavli Nanoscience Institute and Einstein Papers Project call CalTech their home, and it has an on-campus TCCON station, too. 

With over 50 research institutes and centers, graduate and undergraduate students have abundant opportunities for research work. About 90% of undergraduates are engaged in research during their stay.

A worthwhile endeavor made easier with brilliant mentorship from its distinguished faculty. CalTech is affiliated with Nobel laureates, Turing Award recipients, and members of national academies and ranked first among universities with the highest percentage of doctoral graduates. 

CalTech has several dedicated undergraduate research programs that have been externally recognized for their exceptional performance. The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program welcomes CalTech and visiting students to work with experienced mentors throughout the research process.

The SURF@JPL is intended for aspiring engineers and scientists in space explorations, and it lasts for ten exciting weeks during the summer. 

The WAVE Fellows Program promotes diversity in the research community by welcoming underrepresented minorities, disadvantaged students, and first-generation college students. The Amgen Scholars Program is for visiting students interested in chemistry, biology, and other biotechnical fields.

The exchange programs are for CalTech students who will participate in research projects at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology and the University of Iceland. 

Summer isn’t the only term for great research opportunities as Caltech has a wide range of academic year projects. Independent research is encouraged, while collaborative researchers can rely on strong university support. 

The Office of Technology Transfer is in charge of the licensing and technology transfer of CalTech’s innovations and inventions . The protection and management of intellectual property aren’t just for pride but also for profitability (i.e., royalties). From 1969 to the present, more than 1,800 patents have been granted to its researchers.  

Columbia University

New York, New York 

Columbia University has an AAU founding member with a $1 billion-plus annual research funding from federal government agencies and other sources. Its researchers discover 350 inventions across diverse disciplines every year, while its distinguished roster of faculty and alumni includes 84 Nobel laureates. 

There are more than 200 research centers and institutes under the Columbia umbrella. Their researchers and scholars have led or contributed to scientific breakthroughs, among them many firsts, including the first nuclear fission reaction, nuclear pile, and evidence for the continental drift theory. Other Columbia-led innovations are the laser and maser , brain-computer interface , and nuclear magnetic resonance. 

Ordinary consumers have also benefited from Columbia’s inventions or innovations, which were made from its discoveries through consumer products sold in pharmacies and supermarkets. Examples include pharmaceutical products used to treat arthritis, glaucoma, blood clot complications, and cancer therapy. 

Columbia Technology Ventures is the management arm for the active license agreements and patents held by the university and its researchers. The university earns more than $1.75 billion in annual gross revenue from these intellectual property rights, too, while also making significant contributions to humanity’s welfare. 

There are several research centers and institutions under the Columbia brand, too, such as: 

• The Center for Climate Systems Research engaged in cutting-edge climate change studies, collaborating with academic and government partners, including NASA. 
• The Seymour, Paul, and Gloria Milstein Division of Cardiology have more than 180 active clinical trials and research studies collaborating with other Columbia schools. 
• The Celiac Disease Center is dedicated to finding treatments for celiac disease. 
• The Columbia Quantum Initiative promotes quantum technology for mass applications in health, information science, and meteorology. 

Columbia has several on-campus and online resources for its researchers. The Columbia University Library has more than 14.5 million volumes, the third largest of its kind in the country. 

Undergraduates have diverse research opportunities in arts and humanities, engineering and science, and social sciences. Fellowships are available in these three areas of study, the most notable of which are the John W. Kluge Research Fellowship and the Weatherhead Undergraduate Training Grant. Engineering students have about 400 research opportunities exclusively available for them. 

Publications of undergraduate research are also an honored tradition at Columbia. The student publications, such as the Columbia Science Review and Columbia Journal of Literary Criticism, have high standards for research papers. 

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York 

Cornell’s founding mission hasn’t changed much in its 156-year history! Then and now, it’s known for its excellence in education and research in diverse fields of knowledge, from the humanities to the sciences, as well as the theoretical and applied. Its researchers, including graduate and undergraduate students, work toward practical research applications, particularly in measurable ways. 

An AAU member, Cornell is also known for being among the world’s largest producers of graduates who have pursued doctoral degrees in natural sciences, engineering, and other fields. Indeed, research is an integral part of its culture and it has a $1.19 billion total research spending in 2020, ranked first in the State of New York. The DHHS, NFS, and DOD are the top three federal government sources, while the top non-federal sources are foundations, New York State, and corporations. 

Such huge research spending is manifested in the number of patents in its name and the number of startup companies it has formed through the years. In the 2004-2005 period alone, Cornell filed more than 200 patent applications, received 200 disclosures for inventions, and made 77 license agreements. Of course, its inventors and research units benefit from these license agreements through royalties in the millions! 

Cornell’s research-related achievements are grounded on Earth and in space, too. These include its long-term participation in the Mars mission, the discovery of Uranus” rings, and contributions to nuclear physics. 

Cornell’s campus has two national research centers – the Cornell NanoScale Facility and the  Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, serving several scientific companies. The R&D community here is invigorated by research centers and institutes engaged in diverse fields, many unique. The Duck Research Laboratory, Virtual Embodiment Lab, and Equine Drug Testing Laboratory are a few examples. 

Undergraduates work with the Office of Undergraduate Research in taking advantage of the wide range of research programs and projects throughout the year. The scope and duration of research projects vary, but the typical ones welcome juniors and seniors willing to spend 10-15 hours every week on faculty-led projects. 

The Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, a foremost cross-cultural initiative, adopts a multidisciplinary approach in research of development, international and thematic studies. Undergraduates may earn credits for research during the academic year as well as during the summer term. The Cornell Cooperative Extension Summer Internships, Cornell Agri-Tech Summer Research Scholars Program, and Cornell Center for Materials Research offer 8-week to 10-week programs. 

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina

Duke has a highly selective admissions process, with only 5.7% of applicants accepted for the Class of 2025. Such selectivity also applies to its research programs where the cream of the crop vies for spots. Duke faculty includes Nobel laureates, Turing Award recipients, and Rhodes Scholars! With distinguished faculty members and researchers, undergraduate and graduate students have exceptional mentoring opportunities. 

In the fiscal year 2019, Duke’s total R&D spending reached $1.226 billion , the tenth among all universities in the country. The university made it to the top 10 federally funded institutions and ranked fourth for funding for life sciences research.

Business research funding isn’t far behind with $236 million in spending; corporate sources are among Duke’s largest contributors. The Duke Clinical Research Institute receives a large bulk of the funds for its clinical trials.

Duke’s track record in scientific breakthroughs is just as impressive! Its biomedical engineering department created the first engineered stents and blood vessels and the first real-time 3D ultrasound diagnostic system. The mapping of the final human chromosome completed the Human Genome Project. Its pioneering studies on chaos, nonlinear dynamics, and complex systems are recognized in the scientific community. 

The Office for Research & Innovation (OR&I) is responsible for overseeing the university’s research enterprises. The promotion and protection, including licensing of Duke’s intellectual property, also falls on its shoulders. 

The Undergraduate Research Support Office (URS) facilitates undergraduate research, including workshops, funding sources, and research assistantships. The yearly Visible Thinking Symposium showcases undergraduate research and an opportunity to forge connections in research. 

There are several undergraduate research programs administered by the URS, including: 

• URS Conference Grants are for expenses related to the attendance and presentation of research at regional and national meetings. 
• URS Assistantships are intended for research assistants needing financial aid. 
• The Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Fellowship (B-SURF) is for sophomores interested in biological and biomedical sciences research. Students spend eight weeks in the summer at Duke’s science laboratories and participate in faculty-led research. 

Undergraduates have also made their mark on the international stage! In July 2019, the Duke Electric Vehicles (DEV) club broke its world record when it traveled at 797 mph. The record was for electric vehicle efficiency. 

University of California – Berkeley

Berkeley, California 

UC Berkeley’s R&D operations are supported by external sponsorships as well as internal funding, including royalties. As of June 30, 2021, it received more than $1 billion in new research funding. More than 61% came from the federal government, while the rest came from California state agencies, industry, and nonprofits. The NIH, NSF, and NASA were the largest donors, and many of their research projects cover multiple years. 

As a Public Ivy and an AAU founding member, UC Berkeley has several research centers and institutes performing vital work in diverse fields. These include the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, Space Sciences Lab, Center for New Music and Audio Technologies, and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is also its partner in several major research projects like the Joint BioEnergy Institute. 

UC Berkeley’s researchers have made numerous innovations and inventions that have changed society and individual lives. While a few have debatable benefits, such as the atomic bomb, most have positive impacts that have lasted into present times. Among these are the immunotherapy of cancer, the discovery of 16 chemical elements, and the launch of the open-source revolution. 

Many Golden Bears alumni have also started their business revolutions! The Berkeley SkyDeck is a startup incubator that assists entrepreneurs in establishing their businesses through groundbreaking research, among other services. The most famous companies founded by alumni are Apple (Steve Wozniak), eBay (Pierre Omidyar), Intel (Gordon Moore and Andy Grove), and Tesla (Marc Tarpenning). 

Faculty members carry on the tradition of R&D excellence in over 80 multidisciplinary research units and 130 academic departments. Many of the faculty members are Nobel laureates, American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellows, members of national academies, and Guggenheim Fellows, among other distinguished titles. 

Undergraduate research is also a staple of university life, and it’s just as diverse as the professional R&D programs. STEM topics are popular, but the same can also be said for music, language, and history. Law, politics, and literature are also favorite subject matters, and it’s proof of UC Berkeley’s love for knowledge in all areas. 

With three main libraries, expert faculty, and large budgets, undergraduate research is a rewarding experience for un undergraduates. The first-hand experiences enhance not only R&D skillsets but also open doors of opportunities for paid research positions in the future. The Haas Scholars Program, Berkeley Summer Bioengineering Program, and Townsend Center Research Apprenticeship are a few undergraduate programs. 

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan

UMich, a founding AAU member, offers graduate programs in social sciences, STEM, and humanities, of which 102 programs are in the nation’s top 10. Indeed, its graduate students are among the pillars of R&D, and it’s thanks to the academic rigor and high standards of research integrity! 

With $1.62 billion in annual research expenditures, UMich is among the big spenders of research universities. The Medical School takes the largest share, followed by the College of Engineering, as UMich’s strongest suit. Among their notable accomplishments are the development of the gastroscope and EKG and the virtual memory architectural model.  

The technology transfer office, in turn, ensures that the university’s inventions will have commercial value and lawful protection. With 502 invention disclosures in 2019 alone, UMich scientists are among the most prolific in the state, if not the country. 

UMich has 227 research institutes and centers on its main campus. The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, National Election Studies, Life Sciences Institute, and  Institute for Social Research are examples. Major research centers are on wireless integrated microsystems, reconfigurable manufacturing systems, optics, and the social sciences. 

The interdisciplinary research initiatives are as diverse as the degree programs offered at UMich, too. The current ones are in precision health, biosciences, sport science, poverty solutions, and global CO2. The humanities collaboratory provides generous grants for scholars engaged in the humanities and whose research will positively impact the human experience. 

Researchers and scholars have an extensive UMich library system to count on for their sources. There are 24 separate collections and 19 separate libraries within the system resulting in about 13.3 volumes. The JSTOR database called UMich is the original home, too, while the University of Michigan Press continues to produce old and new editions. 

The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) is committed to creating effective research collaborations between UMich researchers and undergraduates. The latter learn from mentors whose expertise in their fields is respected by their peers. 

First-year students, sophomores, and transfer students have opportunities to develop their research skills, too, during the academic year. The reasonable requirements include attendance in research seminars where skillsets and ethics are emphasized. The Summer Research Fellowship programs are 10-week programs where students engage in full-time independent research. Funding support is available for supplies and travel expenses related to presentations or performances. 

University of Washington

Seattle, Washington

The state of Washington has a consistent presence in lists of the best universities and most innovative universities globally for good reasons. In 2019, for example, Reuters ranked the public university #1 among public institutions for its innovations and #5 worldwide. 

Such a brilliant performance in R&D isn’t surprising considering the amount of funding Washington receives from external sources. In 2020, the total amount in sponsored grants and contracts amounted to $1.63 billion . Of this amount, $1.23 billion came from federal government agencies and over $399 million from non-federal sources. 

Washington, an AAU member and the flagship institution in Washington’s public university system has contributed major innovations in engineering and medical sciences. Many of these have a significant impact on the quality of life among humans, including: 

• Professor Ben Hall led a research team that was successful in the genetic engineering of protein production. The process was used in Hepatitis B vaccine production that UW licensed to several biotechnical and pharmaceutical companies. 
• Professor R. Palmer Beasley advocated newborn inoculation against Hepatitis B and proved that Hepatitis B is the underlying cause of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer. 
• William Foege developed an innovative technique in smallpox vaccinations that resulted in eliminating the disease by 1979. 
• Don Baker came up with the concept of using pulse Doppler ultrasound which resulted in its use as a cost-effective diagnostic today. 
• Belding Scribner proposed Teflon shunt implantation in patients with chronic kidney failure, and Professor Albert Babb aided in inventing a home dialysis machine. 

Washington has also been instrumental in launching successful business ventures through its computer labs and other research facilities. Bill Gates and Paul G. Allen are among the best examples. Washington also has long-standing partnerships with corporate titans like Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing. 

Undergraduate research is as much a part of Washington’s success, research-wise, as its professional researchers, faculty, and graduate students. Summer research opportunities abound, and these have fixed terms with full-time demands. These can last for 9-10 weeks and require 30 to 40 hours per week of research-related time. 

Undergraduates also cover most areas of research undertaken by Washington’s professional researchers. In the arts and humanities, the programs include UW-Exploration Seminars and Travel and Study Programs at UW Tacoma. The medicine and health programs are at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, and Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center. 

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut

The 320-year-old Ivy League university has academic and research ventures across numerous departments, schools and colleges, and affiliated institutions. The cross-disciplinary collaborative research projects can be overwhelming due to the myriad of people, policies, and funding involved. But Yale is Yale, and its army of researchers has made and continues to make advances in the diverse fields of the arts and sciences.  

Yale also has its alumni and faculty as Nobel laureates, Abel Prize laureates, and Turing Award recipients. Yale is among the nation’s largest producers of bachelor’s degree holders who have achieved doctorate degrees. Many faculty members are also national academies in the sciences, engineering, and arts and sciences. 

The AAU member is also prolific in its research work, with many of the world’s greatest inventions made by its researchers within its historical halls. These include the invention of the first submarine (1775), the first cotton gin patent (1792), and the first Ph.D. in engineering (1852).  

In the art department, Yale isn’t a slouch either! Faculty at the English and Comparative Literature departments were behind the New Criticism and deconstruction movements. The Music School and Department nurtured music theory and established the Journal of Music Theory, the oldest and among the most influential of its kind.

Yale’s enormous R&D spending – approximately $1.07 billion in 2019 – is evident in its researchers’ consistent stream of inventions, innovations, and discoveries. The amount is also a huge jump from its 2006 spending of about $462.08 million. 

Undergraduate research is as robust as its professional research part, too! First-year students can even apply for the 100-plus summer research fellowships for the sciences and engineering. The research experience rewards 95% of undergraduates with science majors participate in faculty-led research. There’s also more than $1 million in annual funding for undergraduate science research . 

There’s no shortage of research laboratories at Yale, too, thanks to its 800 math, science, and engineering labs. These labs are in addition to the professional and graduate school facilities used for research purposes. Yale’s libraries are a goldmine of information, too, with a staggering 15 million volumes. 

Yale has its Science, Technology, and Research Scholars (STARS) Program, a nationally recognized initiative established to promote diversity in research. Study groups, faculty mentoring, and assistance for original research are among the services provided to its freshmen and sophomore scholars. Juniors and seniors can participate in the STARS II program for the continuation of their research. 

University of California – Davis

Davis, California 

UC Davis is also a strong magnet for research funding from external sources! The 2020-2021 fiscal year received $968 million in sponsored funds, increasing $27 million from the previous fiscal year. With its $514 million fund transfer, the federal government is the largest source, followed by $164 million from California. Industry sources contributed $116 million to the overall award amount. 

UC Davis can engage in R&D projects to advance human and animal health, food security, and environmental sustainability with such enormous funding. Of these research areas, public health and medicine received the highest increase in funding, with The School of Medicine receiving $368 million.

COVID-19-related research, including testing, vaccination, and treatment, received $42 million. UC Davis’ College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the School of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Engineering, and the College of Biological Sciences also received their fair share. 

UC Davis’ status as a Public Ivy and an AAU member partly contributed to its R&D funding success. It also has several members of national academies, the Institute of Medicine, and Nobel laureates are also instrumental. In university research, the quality of faculty members has a profound influence on the quality of research. 

UC Davis also supports several research laboratories and centers. The California National Primate Research Center, Center for Poverty Research, and CalEPR Center are examples. Research with possible impact on humanity is also being done at the John Muir Institute of the Environment, UC Solar Energy Center, and Western Institute for Food Safety and Security. 

Undergraduate research at UC Davis is filled with viable opportunities, not barriers that often characterize undergraduate research in many universities. The course-based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) are classes where undergraduates and faculty collaborate on original research. This is aimed at newcomers and transfer students so that their UC Davis experience will be more meaningful. 

With numerous undergraduate research programs, it isn’t surprising that nearly 50% of undergraduates have participated in faculty-led research, including creative projects. The combination of research, mentoring and advisement, and academic enrichment is a major draw, too. 

The Mentorships for Undergraduate Research in Agriculture, Letters and Science (MURALS) are intended for students with plans to achieve a doctorate. The Biology Undergraduate Scholars Program (BUSP) is for students interested in research biology, and it involves a year-long seminar course. The NSF-CAMP or California Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation includes a 40-hour week of research work during the summer term and a 10-hour week at other terms. 

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan 

MSU, an AAU member, has consistently increased its R&D spending in the past decade, a testament to its enduring commitment to world-class research. For 2019, its total research spending was $725.7 million , of which $331 million was spent on federally-funded research. The DOE, NSF, and DHHS are among the largest federal contributors, followed by the Department of Agriculture (DA), USAID, DOD, and Department of Education (DoEd).  

According to Nature Index, in terms of its contributions to the world’s prestigious scientific journals, MSU is one of the five leading U.S. universities. The number of primary articles is proof of its researchers’ prolific productivity in diverse fields including life sciences, Earth and environmental science, and the physical sciences. 

MSU is also a hub for scientific research within its sprawling 5,300-acre campus. The cutting-edge facilities include the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, and the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory. The W. J. Beal Botanical Garden, Wharton Center for Performing Arts, and Abrams Planetarium are also notable structures on campus. 

The Public Ivy is also a member of consortiums with other institutions of higher education and government agencies. The Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope (SOAR) was built with the Brazilian government and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. The Michigan Life Sciences Corridor is a partnership with the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Van Andel Institute, and Wayne State University. 

The MSU Innovation Center is in charge of the university’s tech transfers and innovation stewardships. In 2020 alone, it received 69 applications for new patents and received 62 issued patents. The innovations are a source of pride and profit for the university for this reason. The prolific productivity attracted $20.3 million in corporate funding and generated $4.3 million in licensing income, including royalties. 

MSU is also known for its support of entrepreneurship ventures that have earned it several accolades. The Outstanding Contributions to Venture Creation from the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers is a great example. 

The list of MSU innovations in its 166-year history is as impressive as it comes, too! The creation of hybrid corn, the improvement in milk homogenization, and the development of cisplatin and carboplatin (cancer-fighting drugs) are notable. 

MSU’s research programs are overseen by the Office of Research and Innovation, particularly research fund administration. Other services include licensing inventions, providing support services, and ensuring regulatory compliance and integrity. 

As for undergraduate research, the two main avenues are the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum and the Mid-Michigan Symposium for Undergraduate Research Experiences.

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University, an AAU member, values independent and collaborative research in its students, faculty, and professional researchers. With ample opportunities for research, including consistent financial support, Emory’s research community is among the most productive in the country. 

In 2020, Emory received over $831 million in research funding for its diverse projects. Of its research initiatives, its health programs get the largest share of funding at $507 million from the NIH alone. About 20% of the NIH funding was poured into COVID-19 research in line with Emory’s thrust toward addressing the most pressing issues.  

And its health researchers are among the most successful, too, in terms of getting value for the money! Baricitinib, which Emory researchers first tested, has huge potential to become a COVID-19 treatment option. Its efficacy among hospitalized patients with a high need for respiratory support is promising. 

Emory scientists are also on the heels of finding solutions to the mosquito menace through big data and exploring the genetic lineage of modern populations. Through documentation of slave voyages, researchers also provided useful information about the arrival of enslaved Africans to the Americas. 

Many research centers on diseases and vaccines are affiliated with Emory, including the Winship Career Institute, the National Ebola Training, and Education Center, and the Tuberculosis Research Units Program. The CDC or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also works with the university by funding the Emory Center for Injury Control and Emory University Prevention Research Center. 

Emory’s Office of Research Administration and Woodruff Health Sciences Center are collaborative research projects’ frontline. These partnerships with educational and medical institutions like Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Tech, and Atlanta’s Children’s Healthcare. The Atlantic Pediatric Device Consortium, Translational Science Alliance, and the Center for Nanobiology of the Macromolecular Assembly Disorders are prime examples. 

The Undergraduate Research Programs complement the faculty, graduate, and professional research projects, partly by strengthening the talent pool. There are more Kirschstein-National Research Service Award pre-doctoral fellowship awardees at Emory than most research universities, too. The best ones are: 

• The SURE or Summer Undergraduate Research Experience program is intended for full-time summer researchers. 
• The Scholarly Inquiry and Research Experience (SIRE) Program connects undergraduates with faculty researchers looking for assistants. Undergraduates improve their skill sets through weekly classes, hands-on experiences, and professional interactions with faculty mentors. 

Graduate fellows work with undergraduate researchers, too, on diverse programs in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. 

Ohio State University

Columbus, Ohio 

Ohio State’s enviable reputation among the world’s top research universities is cast in stone with its long list of inventions and innovations. Many of these inventions positively impact our daily lives, including freon for refrigeration, a vaccine for cancer prevention in cats, and processes for clean energy conversion. 

With $968.3 million in total R&D spending in 2020, it isn’t just a well-supported institution but also considered among the nation’s most innovative universities. Federal funding amounted to $539.4 million, and industry funding was $150.2 million.OSU’s research spending has also increased every year, from $875 million in 2018 and $929 million in 2019 to its current $968.3 million. Federal agencies that provided funding included the NIH, NSF, and the Department of Education. 

OSU’s extensive scope of subjects is due to its commitment to academic and research excellence, particularly in promoting change and innovation. There are 15 different colleges with specific research programs, including an international academic medical center and health sciences colleges . The latter include medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, nursing, and veterinary medicine. 

Wexner Medical Center is noteworthy for its excellent rankings in 10 specialties, including cancer, diabetes and endocrinology, and neurology and neurosurgery. Researchers engage in life-changing studies that contribute to better patient care. 

Aside from health and wellness, OSU is also known for its research on food and agriculture through the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Research on sustainability is conducted as an interdisciplinary science with the President and Provost’s Council on Sustainability and the Sustainability Institute at the helm. 

The research facilities at OSU reflect the breadth of its research initiatives. Examples are the Byrd Polar Research Center, David Heart, Lung Research Institute, and Aeronautical/Astronautical Research Laboratory. 

OSU also provides extensive resources to its researchers, including access to research tools including Buck-IRB, e-Tools, and PI Portal. These resources are also available to undergraduates engaged in research, usually under the supervision of faculty members. The Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry offers grants that support undergraduate research.  

The Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP) accepts applications for undergraduate research, too. The Department of Political Science has its Honors Research Distinction in Political Science and Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP). The Department of Psychology has numerous projects on human behavior, a few of which are for paid participants. 

Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island

Brown University’s track record in creating knowledge is tried and tested with its researchers engaged in cutting-edge studies throughout its history. As an AAU member, it has remained true to its mission of addressing the biggest challenges society faces through knowledge, too. 

In 2019, its R&D spending amounted to $256.95 million . This is a significant leap from its 2006 R&D spending of $195.7 million, and it’s the kind of spending with concrete and positive results. 

Brown has more than a few “first” distinctions, notably the first engineering program offered among the Ivy League and the first medical programs in New England. Its long history in the engineering and medical fields contributed to its prominence in research in these areas. Even its master’s and doctoral degree programs are among the oldest in the country, some of which date back to 134 years old! 

Becoming an undergraduate researcher at Brown is as challenging as gaining admission! Brown is a highly selective university with a reported 5.4% acceptance rate in 2021! Undergraduates compete for slots in several research opportunities, including fellowships and grants like: 

• The Karen T. Romer Undergraduate Teaching and Research Awards (UTRAs) program supports undergraduates working on faculty-led research and teaching projects. These are available during the academic year, including the summer term. 
• The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) welcomes applicants from underrepresented populations who want to pursue doctorate degrees in key fields. 
• The Brown Venture Launch Fund (BVLF) assists student entrepreneurs in launching their new ventures. The fund uses a gated award system with three levels.

The VPR or Office of the Vice President for Research provides useful services to students and faculty engaged in research projects. The assistance includes idea conceptualization, knowledge dissemination, and compliance with regulations. There are also services related to funding, awards management, and commercialization of discoveries.

Brown also has an annual Research Achievement Award that honors the exceptional achievements of its researchers. The high-impact research covers various disciplines from engineering, computer science, and pediatrics to visual arts. 

There are also several research institutes on Brown’s campus. The Cogut Institute for the Humanities is dedicated to innovations in humanities, including curriculum advancements. The Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES) studies the interactions between the human and natural systems.

The Institute for Molecular and Nanoscale Innovation (IMNI) is an umbrella organization assisting centers involved in molecular, nanoscience, and materials sciences. 

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

UF holds the distinction of being the only AAU member in the Sunshine State. The public land grant university is among the country’s most comprehensive institutions, with numerous institutes and centers and 16 colleges on its main campus alone. The comprehensive range means that interdisciplinary research projects are the norm, not the exception, at UF. 

Researchers at UF are also well-funded due to the university’s enormous budget for the R&D sector. In 2020, total research spending increased by 1.5% from the previous year and reached $942.2 million . This was impressive considering a two-month pause on most research projects because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal government made its largest contribution of $397.2 million, while state and local governments spent $169.2 million. 

UF researchers are currently working on nearly 8,000 projects, including: 

• The 1FloridaAlzheimer’s Disease Research Center seeks treatments and preventive measures for Alzheimer’s and related dementias. This is a UF-organized partnership with Miami, Mount Sinai Medical Center, and  Florida International University. Funding comes from the NIH National Institute on Aging. 
• The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering trains 100 teachers using probes and sensors for STEM education purposes. Funding comes from the DoEd.  
• The UF/IFAS TREC or Tropical Research and Education Center focuses on pest eradication and management of the avocado industry. The State of Florida and DA provide funding support. 

UF researchers and innovators don’t rest on their laurels either! In 2020 alone, the university, through UF Innovation, received about 400 invention disclosures. Its number of patents awarded is also among the highest in the country on a year-to-year basis. 

UF is also at the forefront of biotechnology research transfers, particularly in the commercialization of its innovations and inventions. This also applies to business startups, and UF has helped in launching 190 startups in 15 years. UF Innovate is the driving force behind new business launchings, aside from the venture capital and business incubators.

Licensing income contributes substantial amounts to UF’s gross annual revenues. The highest income generators are Gatorade, the famous sports drink; Trusopt, a glaucoma drug; and Sentricon, a system for termite elimination. 

The Center for Undergraduate Research (CUR) is in charge of matters related to undergraduate research, including coordination of activities and expansion of opportunities.  Undergraduates have various programs to choose from, such as the Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program and InvestiGators Research Honor Society. 

University of Virginia  

Charlottesville, Virginia

Thomas Jefferson must be so proud of what UVA has become in its 200-year-old history! As an AAU member and the State of Virginia’s flagship university, its track record in R&D is unparalleled in the Old Dominion.

Its research programs have identified five priority areas – democracy, precision medicine, digital technology, environmental resilience and sustainability, and society. UVA encourages a coordinated approach between its research centers, institutes, and labs to amplify their impact. 

UVA’s annual research proposal budget is $2.02 billion, a combination of internal and external funding. In 2020, it received $436 million in sponsored research awards. Its School of Engineering was among the schools with the highest funding at $83 million. UVA reported 172 invention disclosures, too. 

North Fork – A UVA Discovery Park is a sprawling research park operated by the University of Virginia Foundation. Science and technology firms, academic institutions, government contractors, nonprofits, and startups make their home here.

Many of these organizations have collaborated with UVA’s faculty, students, and researchers on diverse issues, too. These include developing a treatment for diabetes, cancer, and alcohol addiction, unmanned, autonomous systems, and cyber hygiene and resiliency tools. 

Among the organizations at North Fork are the MITRE Corporation, Battelle, and Signature Science. The UVA Applied Research Institute also makes its home here. 

UVA also recognizes faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to their fields and whose research and scholarly works have a profound impact. The annual Research Achievement Awards is the venue for said recognition. 

The VPR or Office of the Vice President for Research oversees the research programs at UVA, including providing support and safeguarding intellectual property. The UVA Undergraduate Student Opportunities in Academic Research Program (USOAR) welcomes first-year students and sophomores and transfer students under the Federal Work-Study program to apply for paid research positions.

Students spend between five and ten hours every week on faculty-led research projects during the fall and spring terms. 

The Office of Undergraduate Research offers grants for student-led research, too. The Double Hoo, Harrison Undergraduate Research Award, and Kenan Fellowship are a few examples. The University Award for Arts Projects is notable for its focus on showcasing the arts-related accomplishments of deserving undergraduates. 

Rutgers University

New Brunswick, New Jersey

Rutgers University, a land-grant and sea-grant university with AAU membership, lives up to its reputation as the best and largest public university in the Garden State. With more than 170 academic departments, there’s an abundance of opportunities for exceptional R&D projects in the Public Ivy. 

The percentage of sponsored research in Rutgers” annual budget is nearly 14%, a significant chunk dedicated to advancing arts and humanities, social sciences, and STEAM. Rutgers also has a sizable endowment of more than $1.4 billion, and it’s also a source of funding for its pioneering research. 

Such is the brilliance of its researchers that Rutgers is the place where many life-changing inventions and discoveries were made! Several antibiotics, such as streptothricin, actinomycin, clavacin, neomycin, and candicidin, were discovered here by Selman Waksman, who won the 1952 Nobel Prize for Medicine. Researchers also developed robotic hands, tetraploids, and water-soluble sustained-release polymers here. 

The Rutgers University Center for Cognitive Science, where researchers in fields as diverse as electric engineering, philosophy, and linguistics work together. Such diversity in research comes far easier for Rutgers researchers because of the numerous research centers, institutes, and laboratories within its campuses.

The RCSB Protein Data Bank, awarded $34.5 million in grants in 2019, transforms medicine and biology through impactful research, including drug discoveries. 

The Rutgers University Cell and DNA Repository is the largest of its kind globally, and it’s instrumental in understanding the genetic causes of diseases. The organization also undertakes collaborative projects with other researchers, mainly by providing biomaterials and bio-banking services. 

Undergraduate research opportunities are provided in most of the academic departments, too. Students work alongside faculty members and researchers, resulting in enhanced academic experiences. The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School requires independent research among undergraduates with the stipulation of appropriate faculty supervision. Other notable research programs are: 

• The Undergraduate Research Fellowships provide funding for student-led research. 
• The Summer Science Program is for sophomores only, and it’s designed as a full-time, intensive, on-campus research experience. Students learn from mentors as well as participate in seminars, workshops, and social events. 
• The Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Neuroscience chooses 12 students for its 10-week, hands-on research experience. 
• The Rutgers RiSE program is a 10-week program where students learn about cutting-edge research in diverse fields from physical sciences to engineering. 

Purdue University

West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University, an AAU member and a public land-grant university, truly makes an effort to secure funding for its wide range of research areas. For 2019, more than  $520 million was secured in research funding, a substantial increase from 2018’s $454.5 million funding. 

The largest sponsors were from the corporate and foundation sectors (28%), while the federal government through the NSF and DHHS contributed 29% in total. Even DOD funding has increased to $54 million, an increase of 39% that Purdue has put to good use in programs like: 

• The Partners for University-led Solutions Engine (PULSE), a project financed by a $22 million infusion from USAID and intended for research development in developing countries.
• The $15.2 million fund infusion from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was used in information dissemination related to Medicaid technical assistance, quality patient care, and opioid addiction recovery. 
• The DOE contributed $9.3 million to a new national center dedicated to a theoretical and experimental physics program. 

Purdue’s commitment to high-impact research has resulted in 135 research institutes and centers on its main campus. Each of these organizations addresses particular needs and issues in society, but collaborative projects are common.

Purdue’s Discovery Park is home to several research centers and allows multidisciplinary groups to work on collaborative projects. Large and grassroots centers operate from Discovery Park; large organizations typically have external funding, while grassroots centers have departmental funding. 

A few of these organizations are: 

• A.H. Ismail Center for Health, Exercise, and Nutrition is the venue for fitness and exercise studies.  
• Advanced Aviation Analytics Institute for Research promotes research in aviation/aerospace, applied engineering and management, and leadership. 
• Advanced Lyophilization Technology Hub promotes research in freeze-drying/lyophilization. 
• Bindley Bioscience Center performs research on life sciences and engineering. 

The extensive university library system provides reliable and relevant information sources for researchers in and out of Purdue. There are 15 separate libraries on the West Lafayette campus, including an undergraduate library and a special collections and archives research center.

Libraries with specific subject matters are also accessible. There are more than four million traditional and digital volumes in Purdue’s collections. 

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is the oversight organization that recognizes original research, creative work, and scholarship among undergraduates. Annual but non-renewable academic scholarships are provided to deserving students who work as full-time researchers. 

Additional Resources:

• Most Affordable Master’s in Medical Research Grad Schools
• Best Online Master’s of Research Graduate Schools
• Graduate Research Centers That Are Making a Real Difference

Related Posts

We’re certain of one thing—your search for more information on picking the best graduate degree or school landed you here. Let our experts help guide your through the decision making process with thoughtful content written by experts.

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Big 12 schools ranked academically by u.s. news for 2022-23, share this article.

The Big 12 has had its fair share of athletic success in a number of sports. Its member schools also have strong academic reputations.

According to  U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Colleges rankings, four of the expanded Big 12’s universities rank within the top 100 in the US News report. The Oklahoma Sooners were just outside the top five in the conference.

U.S. News takes into account faculty resources, graduation rates and student outcomes to come to its rankings.

In the new-look Big 12, enrollment ranges from TCU, just over 10,000, to UCF, just over 60,000 students.

Using U.S. News’ rankings as a guide, here’s how the Big 12 schools in the new-look Big 12 stack up academically, according to U.S. News in the current calendar year.

14 West Virginia University

Oct. 29, 2022; Morgantown, West Virginia; West Virginia Mountaineers fans cheer during the first quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Location: Morgantown, West Virginia

U.S. News rank: 234

Total enrollment fall 2021: 19,599

4-year graduation rate: 44%

13 Texas Tech University

Texas Tech football players and fans celebrate the team’s win against Oklahoma, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, Jones AT&T Stadium. Texas Tech won, 51-48, in overtime.

Location:  Lubbock, Texas

U.S. News rank: 219

Total enrollment fall 2021: 33,132

4-year graduation rate: 38%

12 University of Houston

March 18, 2023; Birmingham, Alabama; Fans of the Houston Cougars during the first half against the Auburn Tigers at Legacy Arena. Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

Location:  Houston, Texas

U.S. News rank: 182

Total enrollment fall 2021: 38,581

11 Oklahoma State University

Oct. 31, 2020; Stillwater, Oklahoma; Oklahoma State Cowboys fans and students hold up their seat cushions and yell during overtime against the Texas Longhorns at Boone Pickens Stadium. Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Location:  Stillwater, Oklahoma

Total enrollment fall 2021: 20,197

4-year graduation rate: 45%

10 Kansas State University

Nov. 26, 2022; Manhattan, Kansas; Kansas State Wildcats fans hold up signs after a victory over the Kansas Jayhawks at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

Location:  Manhattan, Kansas

U.S. News rank: 166

Total enrollment fall 2021: 15,619

4-year graduation rate: 41%

9 University of Cincinnati

Dec. 31, 2021; Arlington, Texas; Cincinnati Bearcats fans cheer during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Cincinnati Bearcats the 2021 Cotton Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game at AT&T Stadium. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

U.S. News rank: 151

Total enrollment fall 2021: 28,910

4-year graduation rate: 39%

8 University of Central Florida

Dec. 3, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana; UCF Knights fans react to a touchdown against the Tulane Green Wave during the second half at Yulman Stadium. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Location: Orlando, Florida

U.S. News rank: 137

Total enrollment fall 2021: 60,075

4-year graduation rate: 46%

7 Iowa State University of Science and Technology

Oct. 23, 2021; Ames, Iowa; Fans storm the field after the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Jack Trice Stadium. Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Location:  Ames, Iowa

U.S. News rank: 127

Total enrollment fall 2021: 25,808

4-year graduation rate: 51%

6 University of Oklahoma

Oklahoma fans cheer during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Baylor Bears at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.

Location:  Norman, Oklahoma

Total enrollment fall 2021: 21,152

4-year graduation rate: 50%

5 University of Kansas

Nov. 5, 2022; Lawrence, Kansas; Kansas Jayhawks fans celebrate against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the second half of the game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Location: Lawrence, Kansas

U.S. News rank: 121

Total enrollment fall 2021: 19,158

4 Brigham Young University

Sept. 10, 2022; Provo, Utah; Brigham Young Cougars fans storm the field after the Cougars beat the Baylor Bears at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Gabriel Mayberry-USA TODAY Sports

Location:  Provo, Utah

U.S. News rank: 89

Total enrollment fall 2021: 31,633

4-year graduation rate: 25%

3 Texas Christian University

Oct. 22, 2022; Fort Worth, Texas; TCU Horned Frogs fans hold up phones during a time out in the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Location: Fort Worth, Texas

Total enrollment fall 2021: 10,222

4-year graduation rate: 71%

2 Baylor University

Sept. 11, 2021; Waco, Texas; Baylor Bears fans celebrate a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Texas Southern Tigers at McLane Stadium. Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Location:  Waco, Texas

U.S. News rank: 77

Total enrollment fall 2021: 15,191

4-year graduation rate: 68%

1 University of Texas

Sept. 21, 2019; Austin, Texas; Texas Longhorns fans in the second half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Location:  Austin, Texas

U.S. News rank: 38

Total enrollment fall 2021: 40,916

4-year graduation rate: 70%

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50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024

Featured Programs

Best research universities for undergrads, harvard university.

• Student-Faculty Ratio: 7 to 1

University of California, Berkeley

• Student-Faculty Ratio: 19 to 1

Columbia University

• Student-Faculty Ratio: 6 to 1

University of Chicago

• Student-Faculty Ratio: 5 to 1

Stanford University

Yale university, princeton university, massachusetts institute of technology.

• Student-Faculty Ratio: 3 to 1

Cornell University

• Student-Faculty Ratio: 9 to 1

University of Pennsylvania

• Student-Faculty Ratio: 8 to 1

Key Takeaways

• A great research university will expand your academic networking opportunities with some of the most influential professors in the world.
• Because of the huge research budgets at large research universities, students will be on the cutting edge of the latest technology and discoveries.
• A research university is the perfect choice for those students interested in pursuing a STEM degree.

A research university is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees . Such students benefit from engaging in experimental inquiry, exploring cutting-edge technologies, and pursuing innovation in a rich and dynamic campus atmosphere. The top research universities give students a chance to work closely with influential professors and choose from a wide range of well-funded degree programs and research opportunities.

What is a research university?

A research university is any university that invests heavily in research, and which consequently provides meaningful and extensive opportunities for its students and faculty to participate in research.

The best research universities are classified based on their quantifiable commitment to research activities. This tiered ranking is called the Carnegie Classification . This is where terms like R1 university and tier one university come from.

Are you interested in attending a school where cutting-edge innovation converges with academic excellence? Check out our look at the most technologically advanced colleges in the United States. These schools also typically offer degrees that can lead to some of the highest starting salaries , even for undergrads.

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.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US .

Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges

If you would like to see this ranking without school size considered, visit our best universities in the US ranking.

The following list of research universities is composed of both private and public schools. We’ve identified 399 research universities in the US . Of those, there are 190 private research universities in the US. In order to be included in this list of best research universities, a school must be a fully accredited university, offer doctoral degrees across the range of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), and it must report high levels of research activity based upon the number of research and/or practice doctorates awarded each year.

The Best Research Universities for Undergrads in the US

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• #1 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #3 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #3 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
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• #7 The Fastest Traditional MBA Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Tuition + fees

Student body

Median SAT/ACT

Career Outlook for degree at Harvard University

Research at harvard.

Harvard is home to more Nobel Prize winners than any other university, and is second in Fields Medal award winners, right behind Princeton University.

The school has cutting-edge research facilities and world-renowned faculty. Undergraduate students have a wide range of research opportunities in areas such as cosmology, particle physics, and condensed matter physics.

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

• Political Science
• Communications

Most Influential Alumni

• Jacques Derrida
• William James
• Noam Chomsky
• Charles Sanders Peirce
• T. S. Eliot
• Norbert Wiener
• Marvin Minsky
• Daniel Dennett
• Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Willard Van Orman Quine
• Paul Samuelson
• Hilary Putnam

What we love about it:

Being a global brand, students at Harvard get exposed to students from all over the world.

This university is ideal for students who:

Stand to benefit professionally from Ivy League academics and prestige.

This university may not be ideal for students who:

Might not take too kindly to all the Ivy League air of exclusivity.

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• #2 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
• #2 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #2 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online
• #5 Best Universities in the World 2024
• #1 Best Colleges in California 2024
• #1 Best Public Colleges California 2024
• #1 Most Affordable Colleges in California 2024
• #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities in California 2024
• #2 Best Grad Schools California 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities for Social Work Degrees
• #3 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #5 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #5 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
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Career Outlook for degree at University of California, Berkeley

Research at the university of california, berkeley.

While Berkeley conducts research across a wide range of disciplines, the school’s research often focuses on societal well-being. Through the Goldman School of Public Policy, Berkeley Law, and the Blum Center for Developing Economies, numerous research initiatives address pressing social, economic, and environmental issues.

Berkeley also has a strong focus on entrepreneurship and innovation, with initiatives like the Berkeley Innovation Index, SkyDeck, and the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology.

It is steeped in history but also leads the way in various aspects.

Want their college experience to be vibrant and dynamic, with various academic and non-academic opportunities.

Might get easily overwhelmed by very large universities.

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

• Earth Sciences
• Computer Science
• Mathematics
• Anthropology
• Engineering
• Daniel Kahneman
• John Kenneth Galbraith
• Timothy Leary
• Shing-Tung Yau
• Ken Thompson
• Niklaus Wirth
• Douglas Engelbart
• Theodosius Dobzhansky
• Betty Friedan
• George Dantzig
• Octavio Paz
• Gary Snyder
• #3 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online
• #5 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024
• #6 Best Universities in the World 2024
• #8 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024
• #1 Best Colleges in New York 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities in New York 2024
• #1 Best Grad Schools in New York 2024
• #1 Best Private Colleges in New York 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #2 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #2 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #2 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #2 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #2 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #3 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #5 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #5 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #5 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
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Career Outlook for degree at Columbia University

Research at columbia.

Columbia University operates over 200 research centers and institutes and has a world-renowned medical center. The school boasts a research budget of over $1+ billion, 400 new inventions each year, and 87 Nobel laureates associated with the university.

Being in New York City gives a unique flavor to its student life & overall college experience.

Thrive in dynamic and highly energetic environments.

Might not like the overall high cost of living in New York City.

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

• Social Work
• Milton Friedman
• Herbert Marcuse
• Murray Rothbard
• Stephen Jay Gould
• Carl Rogers
• Kenneth Arrow
• B. R. Ambedkar
• Isaac Asimov
• Robert Nozick
• Margaret Mead
• Thomas Sowell
• Jerry Fodor
• #7 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024
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• #1 Best Colleges in Illinois 2024
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• #2 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #3 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
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• #5 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
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Career Outlook for degree at University of Chicago

Research at the university of chicago.

Ninety-nine scholars associated with the University of Chicago have been named Nobel laureates. The school has two U.S. Department of Energy laboratories—Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab—and the world-renowned Marine Biological Laboratory. A majority of undergraduate students choose to engage in research.

It has produced one the highest number of Nobel laureates in the world, which speaks of its academic quality.

Are perhaps looking for somewhere with a strong liberal arts foundation.

Don’t like the Great Lakes area’s cold and harsh winters.

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

• Religious Studies
• Herbert A. Simon
• Joseph Stiglitz
• Richard Rorty
• James Watson
• Martin Gardner
• George Lakoff
• John B. Watson
• Gary Becker
• Philip Roth
• #5 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
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• #2 Best Colleges in California 2024
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• #2 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
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• #2 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #3 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #3 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #3 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
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Career Outlook for degree at Stanford University

Research at stanford.

Stanford’s total sponsored research support revenue is a whopping $1.98 billion, which supports more than 7,500 projects throughout the school across a range of disciplines.

Stanford supports 15 independent interdisciplinary labs, centers, and institutes in areas that range from economic studies, the environment, energy, and health. The school also supports 9 STEM-based labs.

Stanford operates the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy. Research at the SLAC spans chemistry, materials and energy sciences, bioscience, fusion energy science, high-energy physics, cosmology, advanced accelerator and technology development, and advanced computer science.

Its proximity to Silicon Valley gives students a unique opportunity to get their foot early into industry leaders’ doors.

Stand to benefit from its notable pioneering and entrepreneurial culture.

Might not be able to handle the overall high cost of living of its host city.

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

• Allen Newell
• Douglas Hofstadter
• Sandra Day O'Connor
• Hans Moravec
• John Harsanyi
• Gérard Debreu
• Rodney Brooks
• Anthony Kennedy
• Stuart J. Russell
• Garrett Hardin
• Stewart Brand
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Career Outlook for degree at Yale University

Research at yale.

Yale university has over one million square feet of lab space that includes more than 800 laboratories, and numerous research centers and institutes. The school’s main areas of research include biotechnology, environmental science, oncology, pharmaceuticals, and quantum computing.

Yale is also known for its highly diverse and engaging student life.

Want a well-rounded college experience with lots to do and learn.

Might have a low level of tolerance/acceptance of diverse perspectives.

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

• Harold Bloom
• Judith Butler
• Josiah Willard Gibbs
• Murray Gell-Mann
• Thorstein Veblen
• Alvin Plantinga
• Fredric Jameson
• Alan Dershowitz
• Grace Hopper
• Lawrence Lessig
• W. Edwards Deming
• #7 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
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Career Outlook for degree at Princeton University

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

• Richard Feynman
• Alonzo Church
• Robert Mueller
• Edward Witten
• John McCarthy
• John Bardeen
• Edward Said

Research at Princeton

Princeton University is considered one of the best research universities in the world because of its distinguished faculty, commitment to interdisciplinary research, and small student-to-faculty ratio.

As of October 2022, 79 Nobel laureates and 13 Fields Medal award winners have been affiliated with Princeton University. The majority of the school’s research falls into four disciplines: engineering and applied sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.

It is well-known for its increased focus on undergraduate education.

Want a high-quality and prestigious undergraduate college experience.

Might be looking to take up a non-liberal arts/engineering major.

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• #8 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #2 Best Grad Schools in Massachusetts 2024
• #2 Best Colleges in Massachusetts 2024
• #2 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities in Massachusetts 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #2 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #2 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #2 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #2 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #3 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #3 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #5 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #3 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students
• #6 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
• #9 Best Schools in the World for Earning an MBA Degree Ranked for 2024
• #11 The Fastest Traditional MBA Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Career Outlook for degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research at mit.

MIT is a private research university. According to their website, there have been 101 Nobel laureates, 61 National Medal of Science recipients, 33 National Medals of Technology and Innovation, 83 MacArthur Fellows, and 17 A. M. Turing Awards have been affiliated with MIT.

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) gives students the opportunity to collaborate with renowned MIT faculty on real-world research happening across the school. Many students who participate in the program go on to become published, file patent applications, or even launch start-ups.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology or MIT was founded in 1861. It continues to lead the way in advancing modern technology.

It is almost unmatched worldwide in the field of engineering and the sciences.

Are looking for the best education in the sciences that can open many doors professionally.

Aren’t ready to handle huge amounts of stress and academic pressure.

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

• Paul Krugman
• Claude Shannon
• Richard Stallman
• Ben Bernanke
• William Shockley
• Vannevar Bush
• Lawrence Summers
• #11 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #15 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2024
• #16 Best Universities in the World 2024
• #17 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024
• #3 Best Colleges in New York 2024
• #3 Best Research Universities in New York 2024
• #3 Best Grad Schools in New York 2024
• #3 Best Private Colleges in New York 2024
• #5 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #1 Best Online Master’s in Engineering Management
• #1 Best Online Master's in Management
• #1 Best Online Master’s in Engineering
• #2 Best Online Master's Programs in New York 2024
• #4 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2024
• #4 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students
• #8 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
• #17 The Fastest Traditional MBA Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Career Outlook for degree at Cornell University

Research at cornell university.

Cornell’s excellence as a research university spans a wide range of disciplines, including agriculture, engineering, life sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, and business, among others.

Cornell provides opportunities for undergrads to engage in research alongside faculty mentors. Students can gain research skills and contribute to scholarly inquiry while pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

It is arguably one of the most beautiful campuses in the country in terms of natural beauty.

Perhaps love the outdoors and would love for it to be part of their college experience.

Might want to be in an equally good university but in a big city.

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

• Thomas Pynchon
• Abraham Maslow
• Thomas Nagel
• Sheldon Glashow
• Anthony Fauci
• Francis Fukuyama
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Steven Weinberg
• Leonard Susskind
• Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
• #11 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #13 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024
• #14 Best Universities in the World 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities in Pennsylvania 2024
• #1 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024
• #1 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024
• #1 Best Grad Schools in Pennsylvania 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for Social Work Degrees
• #1 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #2 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #1 Top 50 Best No GRE Online PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #1 Most Affordable Online Criminology Doctorate Programs (PhDs)
• #2 Best Online PhD of Computer Science Degree Programs (Doctorates) 2024
• #3 Guide to Free Online Courses for MBA Students in 2024
• #3 Fastest Accelerated Online Computer Science Doctorates (PhDs)
• #3 Most Affordable Online Computer Science PhDs (Doctorates) 2024
• #7 Top 15 Most Affordable Online Social Work PhDs (Doctorates)
• #6 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students
• #9 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
• #10 Best Schools in the World for Earning an MBA Degree Ranked for 2024
• #10 The Fastest Traditional MBA Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Career Outlook for degree at University of Pennsylvania

Research at the university of pennsylvania.

The University of Pennsylvania’s location in Philadelphia is a hub for healthcare, technology, and finance. The school has been able to forge strategic partnerships with leading corporations, research institutions, and government agencies, a boon for faculty and students alike.

UPenn emphasizes translating research initiatives into real-world applications and solutions. The university actively supports entrepreneurship and technology commercialization through initiatives like the Penn Center for Innovation.

The school also encourages collaboration among faculty and students outside of normal academic boundaries, creating initiatives like Penn Integrates Knowledge (PIK) professorships, which is specifically for professors who hold joint appointments across two disciplines.

Philadelphia is quite affordable to live in for a big city.

Might want to pursue a business-related degree.

Might not like the university’s overall large size and the ensuing impersonality.

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

• Martin Seligman
• James McKeen Cattell
• John Backus
• Eric S. Raymond
• Paul R. Ehrlich
• J. Presper Eckert

Johns Hopkins University

• #17 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024
• #1 Best Grad Schools in Maryland 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities in Maryland 2024
• #1 Best Private Colleges in Maryland 2024
• #1 Best Colleges in Maryland 2024
• #3 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #22 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #1 Best Online MBA in Economics Degree Programs Ranked in 2024
• #1 Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics
• #1 Best Online MBA Programs in Maryland
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in Maryland 2024
• #1 Best Online Master’s in Sustainability and Green Technologies
• #1 Best Online Master's in Organizational Leadership
• #1 Top 8 Best Online Public Health PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #1 Best Online Master's in Economics
• #2 The Best Online MBA Degree Programs in 2024 Ranked for Students
• #2 Top 50 Best No GRE Online PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #2 Best Data Science Online Master’s Programs
• #2 Top 5 Best Online Sociology PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates) 2024
• #2 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2024
• #3 Best Online PhD of Computer Science Degree Programs (Doctorates) 2024
• #3 Best Online Master's in Management
• #3 Best Online Master’s in Finance
• #4 Fastest Accelerated Online Computer Science Doctorates (PhDs)
• #6 Best Online Master's Programs 2024
• #18 Fastest Accelerated Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)
• #1 Best Online PhD of Nursing (DNP) Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
• #11 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for degree at Johns Hopkins University

Research at johns hopkins.

Johns Hopkins is known for its research and education, and has the highest federal research funding of any American university. 80% of JHU students participate in research. The Provost’s Undergraduate Research Awards (PURA) program was created to support and encourage undergraduate students to engage in independent research under the guidance of JHU faculty.

The university also claims nearly 3700 patented inventions, the likes of which generated more than $32.1 million in revenue.

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

• G. Stanley Hall
• John Archibald Wheeler
• John Mauchly
• Thomas Hunt Morgan
• Gertrude Stein
• Rachel Carson
• Joseph Jastrow
• Robert Fogel
• Richard E. Bellman
• John R. Commons

California Institute of Technology

• #14 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024
• #15 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #15 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #23 Best Universities in the World 2024
• #25 Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship
• #1 Best Small Colleges in California 2024
• #3 Best Private Colleges in California 2024
• #4 Best Colleges in California 2024
• #4 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
• #5 Best Research Universities in California 2024
• #5 Best Grad Schools California 2024
• #5 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #5 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #22 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at California Institute of Technology

Research at caltech.

CalTech is classified as an “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity” institution. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is managed by CalTech through a partnership with NASA. The school also manages a number of observatories, a marine laboratory, an institute for space studies, and a Joint Center for Translational Medicine with UCLA (UCLA-Caltech JCTM).

Undergraduate students are encouraged to participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program. Approximately 80% of the student body participates in the program at least one time during their studies.

Its small size is the perfect opportunity for undergraduate students to work closely with grad students and faculty.

Are looking for a highly specialized university that excels in the sciences.

Might be looking to study in a non-STEM field.

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

• Donald Knuth
• Linus Pauling
• Ivan Sutherland
• Benoit Mandelbrot
• Vernon L. Smith
• L. Sprague de Camp
• Robert C. Merton

Duke University

• #14 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2024
• #15 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
• #17 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #20 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #24 Best Universities in the World 2024
• #1 Best Grad Schools in North Carolina 2024
• #1 Best Christian Colleges in North Carolina 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities in North Carolina 2024
• #1 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 2024
• #1 Best Colleges in North Carolina 2024
• #4 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #5 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in North Carolina 2024
• #1 Guide to Free Online Courses for MBA Students in 2024
• #1 Best Online MBA Programs in North Carolina
• #1 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Master's Degrees
• #1 Best Online Master's in Nursing MSN
• #1 Fastest Online Doctoral Degree Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
• #3 Best Online Master's Programs 2024
• #4 Top 50 Best No GRE Online PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #4 Best Online Master's in Management
• #6 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2024
• #2 Best Online PhD of Nursing (DNP) Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
• #9 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students
• #14 The Fastest Traditional MBA Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
• #16 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for degree at Duke University

Research at duke university.

Duke University is located in the Research Triangle area of central North Carolina, giving it a prime location for collaborations with external partners. The school focuses on specific areas of study, such as health, energy, the environment, public policy, and global affairs.

Duke even has an Innovation & Entrepreneurship Department that provides resources, mentorship, and funding to help students translate their ideas into products and services.

Duke University is more than its academic prestige. The university’s athletic programs also stand out.

Want to surround themselves with highly motivated and intelligent peers.

Might not have a lot of self-confidence or might tend to compare themselves to others needlessly.

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

• Jerome Bruner
• Fred Brooks
• Charlie Rose
• John W. Campbell
• Paul Farmer
• Russell Kirk
• David G. Bromley
• Michael Tomasello
• Peter J. Denning
• Charles Tart

Northwestern University

• #21 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #2 Best Colleges in Illinois 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities in Illinois 2024
• #2 Best Grad Schools Illinois 2024
• #2 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 2024
• #4 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #22 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #1 Fastest Online Associate Degrees Ranked for 2024
• #1 Best Online Master's in Public Administration Degree Programs
• #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Strategic Communications Degree Programs
• #1 Best College Majors that Offer Accelerated Degree Programs
• #3 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of Counseling Degree Programs 2024
• #12 Best Schools in the World for Earning an MBA Degree Ranked for 2024
• #19 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
• #21 The Fastest Traditional MBA Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Career Outlook for degree at Northwestern University

Research at northwestern university.

Like all of the other colleges in our list, Northwestern has state-of-the-art research facilities, but the school also supports innovation through initiatives like The Garage and the Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Northwestern’s research initiatives are especially strong in specific areas of study, such as nanotechnology, neuroscience, global health, and data science.

Among its various strong points is its beautiful lakeshore campus.

Are looking for a standout and innovative university.

May be easily affected by the area’s cold weather.

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

• Stephen Colbert
• George Stigler
• John Paul Stevens
• Saul Bellow
• Robert Hanssen
• Aaron Director
• Charles W. Morris
• Walter Dill Scott
• J. Gordon Melton
• Alston Scott Householder
• Adam Przeworski
• Joseph Greenberg

Carnegie Mellon University

• #23 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #24 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #25 Best Universities in the World 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities in Pennsylvania 2024
• #2 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024
• #2 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024
• #2 Best Grad Schools in Pennsylvania 2024
• #5 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #22 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #20 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for degree at Carnegie Mellon University

Research at carnegie mellon.

Carnegie Mellon is definitely a leader in research universities in the US. The world’s largest robotics research and development organization, the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), is housed within Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute (RI).

The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University is one of only 10 Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) in the US. The institute conducts research and development in software engineering, systems engineering, cybersecurity, and many other areas.

It excels in fostering collaboration and interdisciplinary study.

Thrive under pressure and are highly motivated to put huge amounts of effort into their academics.

Aren’t mentally equipped for intense academic workloads.

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

• Oliver E. Williamson
• James Gosling
• Edward Feigenbaum
• John Forbes Nash Jr.
• Henry Giroux
• Edward C. Prescott
• Shafi Goldwasser
• Kurt Vonnegut
• Robert H. Dennard

Brown University

• #24 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #25 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #1 Best Colleges in Rhode Island 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities in Rhode Island 2024
• #1 Best Private Colleges in Rhode Island 2024
• #1 Best Grad Schools in Rhode Island 2024
• #6 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in Rhode Island 2024
• #19 The Fastest Traditional MBA Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Career Outlook for degree at Brown University

Research at brown university.

Brown University conducts research across a wide range of disciplines, but is known especially for its initiatives in the fields of health care, technology, social justice, and the arts. Initiatives like the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES) and the Data Science Initiative facilitate collaborative research across disciplines.

It is renowned among the Ivy League for its open curriculum that lets students better plan out their studies.

Have a clear idea of their preferred major, as well as the type of academic journey they would prefer.

Go in thinking that Brown University is relaxed/not rigorous.

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

• Janet Yellen
• Peter Norvig
• Richard Holbrooke
• Andy Hertzfeld
• Jacob M. Appel
• S. T. Joshi
• Lester Frank Ward
• Randy Pausch
• Jeffrey Eugenides
• David Lodge

Georgetown University

• #1 Best Christian Colleges in DC 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities in DC 2024
• #1 Best Private Colleges in DC 2024
• #1 Best Grad Schools in DC 2024
• #1 Best Colleges in DC 2024
• #7 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #22 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in DC 2024
• #1 Top 20 Most Affordable Online Master's of Nursing Programs
• #13 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students
• #23 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
• #23 The Fastest Traditional MBA Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Career Outlook for degree at Georgetown University

Research at georgetown university.

Located in Washington, D.C., Georgetown University offers unique opportunities for research collaboration opportunities with government agencies, international organizations, think tanks, and NGOs. Its close proximity to policymakers enriches research initiatives and facilitates partnerships.

The university provides state-of-the-art research facilities and laboratories to support faculty and student research endeavors.

It stands out for being a leading university in the diplomacy, policy, government, and business fields.

Stand to benefit from its location at the country’s capital.

Wouldn’t like the overall vibe of Washington, DC.

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

• Criminal Justice
• J. Edgar Hoover
• Antonin Scalia
• George Tenet
• Abdullah II of Jordan
• Steven Novella
• Jerome Powell
• Susan Hockfield
• Solomon H. Snyder
• John R. Allen

Dartmouth College

• #1 Best Colleges in New Hampshire 2024
• #1 Best Private Colleges in New Hampshire 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities in New Hampshire 2024
• #19 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in New Hampshire 2024
• #18 The Fastest Traditional MBA Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
• #19 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students

Career Outlook for degree at Dartmouth College

Research at dartmouth college.

Dartmouth college emphasizes research opportunities for undergraduate students and provides faculty mentors to those students. Undergraduates can gain hands-on research skills, contribute to scholarly inquiry, and explore their interests in various fields.

Despite being a research university, it continues to maintain a significant focus on undergraduate education.

Are looking for the quintessential college experience, enhanced by a vibrant and international student body.

Might not be inclined to venture outside their comfort zones.

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

• Joseph Campbell
• Robert Frost
• Daniel Webster
• Vincent Canby
• Robert Reich
• C. Everett Koop
• Stuart Kauffman
• Jaegwon Kim
• Robert Christgau
• Michael Gazzaniga
• Edward Norton Lorenz

Rice University

• #3 Best Grad Schools In Texas 2024
• #3 Best Research Universities in Texas 2024
• #3 Best Colleges in Texas 2024
• #15 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #3 Best Online Master's Programs in Texas 2024
• #3 Best Online MBA Programs in Texas
• #3 Best Online Master's in Computer Science Degree Programs
• #5 The Best Online MBA Degree Programs in 2024 Ranked for Students
• #24 The Fastest Traditional MBA Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Career Outlook for degree at Rice University

Research at rice university.

Much of the research at Rice University focuses on public policy and societal well-being. Through initiatives like the Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, the school engages works to address social, economic, and environmental issues.

Rice also has a strong focus on entrepreneurship and innovation. The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship are two examples where the school encourages researchers and students to translate their ideas into real-world applications, startups, and ventures.

It emphasizes collaborative education among its students.

Want to take up studies in any of the Engineering/science-related fields.

Might be thinking of taking a major in the humanities or social sciences.

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

• Herman Daly
• Joyce Carol Oates
• Robert Woodrow Wilson
• Dennis Sullivan
• Robert Curl
• Matthew Sands
• George Mackey
• William Sims Bainbridge
• Thomas W. Malone
• David Eagleman
• John Morgan
• Henry M. Morris

Yeshiva University

• #8 Best Colleges in New York 2024
• #8 Best Research Universities in New York 2024
• #8 Best Grad Schools in New York 2024
• #2 Best Online Master's in Social Work MSW
• #5 Best Online Master's Programs in New York 2024
• #6 Best Online Master’s in Education
• #12 Best Online Master's in Marketing and Advertising
• #15 Best Data Science Online Master’s Programs

Career Outlook for degree at Yeshiva University

Research at yeshiva university.

Yeshiva University is home to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, which is known for its research in biomedical sciences, healthcare, and medical education. Faculty and researchers at Einstein conduct research in areas such as cancer, neuroscience, genetics, and infectious diseases.

The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University is also known for its research in the field of law. The legal research conducted at the school contributes to shaping legal discourse and policy.

It stands out among universities for primarily catering to the needs of the country’s significant Jewish community.

Are from the Jewish community and are looking for the best institution to cater to their specific needs.

Aren’t from the Jewish community, which has its unique practices and customs.

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

• Hillel Furstenberg
• John Taylor Gatto
• Paul Gottfried
• Herman Wouk
• Joseph Halpern
• David Rosenhan
• Howard Dean
• Henry Abramson
• Norman Lamm
• Saul Lieberman
• Shlomo Riskin
• Samuel J. Danishefsky

Brandeis University

• #5 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 2024
• #5 Best Research Universities in Massachusetts 2024
• #2 Best Online Master's Programs in Massachusetts 2024
• #3 Best Online Master's in Project Management
• #4 Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics
• #7 Best Online Master's in Marketing and Advertising
• #12 The Best Online MBA Degree Programs in 2024 Ranked for Students
• #12 Best Online Master's Programs 2024
• #16 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2024
• #2 How to Earn Your Master's Degree Without Your Bachelor's Degree

Career Outlook for degree at Brandeis University

Research at brandeis university.

Brandeis University has a strong commitment to social justice and equity, and as such, researchers at the school strive to make a positive impact on society through their scholarly work and engagement with local and global communities. Their research initiatives have a significant global impact, with collaborations, projects, and partnerships taking place around the world.

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

• Angela Davis
• Michael Walzer
• Leslie Lamport
• Thomas Friedman
• Patricia Hill Collins
• Abbie Hoffman
• Avital Ronell
• Michael Sandel
• Elaine Showalter
• Deborah Lipstadt
• Christina Hoff Sommers

University of Michigan

• #4 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online
• #9 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #9 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #11 Best Universities in the World 2024
• #1 Best Grad Schools in Michigan 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities in Michigan 2024
• #1 Best Colleges in Michigan 2024
• #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Michigan 2024
• #1 Best Public Colleges in Michigan 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #5 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #1 Best Online MBA Programs in Michigan
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in Michigan 2024
• #1 Best Online MBA Degree Programs No GRE Required Ranked for 2024
• #1 Best Online Master’s in Health Science
• #1 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2024
• #2 Best Online History Doctorate Degree Programs (PhDs) 2024
• #2 Top 10 Best Online Communications PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #2 Best Online Master's Programs 2024
• #3 Top 3 Best Online Economics PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #3 Top 5 Best Online English PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #4 Top 6 Best Online Clinical Nutrition PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #6 Guide to Free Online Courses for MBA Students in 2024
• #1 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of Nursing Degree Programs 2024
• #7 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for degree at University of Michigan

Research at the university of michigan.

The University of Michigan has a strong focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, with initiatives like the Center for Entrepreneurship. The school also informs public policy through initiatives like the Poverty Solutions initiative and the Center for Sustainable Systems.

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

• Arthur Miller
• Edgar F. Codd
• Hans-Hermann Hoppe
• Stephen Smale
• Urie Bronfenbrenner
• John Henry Holland
• Amos Tversky
• Marshall Sahlins

New York University

• #13 Best Universities in the World 2024
• #2 Best Colleges in New York 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities in New York 2024
• #2 Best Grad Schools in New York 2024
• #2 Best Private Colleges in New York 2024
• #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
• #3 Best Research Universities for Social Work Degrees
• #3 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #1 20 Best Online Master's of Speech Pathology Degree Programs
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in New York 2024
• #1 Top 10 Best Online Communications PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs 2024
• #1 Top 5 Best Online English PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #2 Best Online Master's in Management
• #2 Top 3 Best Online Economics PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #2 Top 6 Best Online Clinical Nutrition PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #3 Top 10 Best Online Counseling PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #3 Best Online History Doctorate Degree Programs (PhDs) 2024
• #3 Top 5 Best Online Sociology PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates) 2024
• #3 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2024
• #1 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of Counseling Degree Programs 2024
• #1 Fastest Accelerated Online PhDs in Education Degree Programs 2024
• #5 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students
• #10 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for degree at New York University

Research at new york university.

New York University’s location in New York City offers numerous research opportunities with industry, government agencies, cultural institutions, and non-profit organizations. The school often has a specific focus on public policy, and that shows through initiatives such as the Marron Institute of Urban Management and the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy.

NYU encourages research opportunities for their undergraduate students alongside faculty mentors.

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

• Erich Fromm
• Martha Nussbaum
• Glenn Greenwald
• Howard Zinn
• Eric Kandel
• Lewis Mumford
• Alvin Toffler
• Louis Nirenberg

Tufts University

• #4 Best Research Universities in Massachusetts 2024
• #12 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #1 Best Online MBA Programs in Massachusetts
• #1 Top 6 Best Online Clinical Nutrition PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #4 Top 8 Best Online Public Health PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)

Career Outlook for degree at Tufts University

Research at tufts university.

Tufts University has multiple campuses, offering opportunities for research with industry, government, healthcare, and non-profit agencies, among others. The university’s close proximity to Boston, enhances the research opportunities.

The school engages in research that addresses social, economic, and environmental issues, and as such, conducts research through the Tisch College of Civic Life and the Feinstein International Center. Tufts is also a proponent of entrepreneurship through the Tufts Entrepreneurship Center and the Gordon Institute.

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

• Eugene Fama
• Jamie Dimon
• Gordon S. Wood
• Roderick MacKinnon
• Peter Navarro
• Mariana Mazzucato
• John Ciardi
• Richard N. Goodwin

University of Rochester

• #4 Best Research Universities in New York 2024
• #4 Best Grad Schools in New York 2024
• #4 Best Private Colleges in New York 2024
• #16 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #2 Best Online Colleges in New York 2024
• #2 Best RN to BSN Online
• #4 Fastest Online Bachelor's Degrees Ranked for 2024

Career Outlook for degree at University of Rochester

Research at the university of rochester.

The University of Rochester is renowned for its medical and health sciences research. The School of Medicine and Dentistry conducts cutting-edge biomedical research, clinical trials, and healthcare innovation.

The school also contributes research in the area of public policy through research centers such as the Rochester Center for Community Leadership and the Center for Urban Education Success.

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

• Richard Thaler
• Janet Maslin
• J. C. R. Licklider
• Bruce Schneier
• Masatoshi Koshiba
• Arthur Kornberg
• John C. Slater
• David Sloan Wilson
• Donna Strickland

University of Rochester’s Online Degrees

• Required Credits : 128
• Completion Time : None Reported
• Format : Online

Washington University in St. Louis

• #1 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 2024
• #13 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #1 Best Online Associate Degrees in Missouri 2024
• #1 Best Online Colleges in Missouri 2024
• #2 Fastest Online Associate Degrees Ranked for 2024
• #2 Fastest Online Bachelor's Degrees Ranked for 2024
• #3 Best Online Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and Humanities Degree Programs for 2024
• #8 Best Online MBA Degree Programs for 2024 with No GMAT Required

Career Outlook for degree at Washington University in St. Louis

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

• Tennessee Williams
• Phyllis Schlafly
• Daniel Nathans
• Edwin G. Krebs
• Charles Eames
• Marilyn vos Savant
• Samuel Moyn
• Michael Isikoff
• İhsan Doğramacı
• Clyde Cowan
• William E. Moerner

Washington University in St. Louis’s Online Degrees

Degree concentrations.

• Social Science
• Required Credits : 120

Vanderbilt University

• #1 Best Colleges in Tennessee 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities in Tennessee 2024
• #9 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #22 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in Tennessee 2024
• #7 Best Online Master's in Computer Science Degree Programs
• #12 Best Online Master's in Management
• #18 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2024
• #4 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of Nursing Degree Programs 2024
• #8 Best Online PhD of Nursing (DNP) Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Career Outlook for degree at Vanderbilt University

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

• James Patterson
• Cleanth Brooks
• John Crowe Ransom
• Robert Penn Warren
• David Brinkley
• John Seigenthaler
• John Ridley Stroop
• Michelle Alexander
• Norman Shumway
• Steven E. Jones

Case Western Reserve University

• #2 Best Colleges in Ohio 2024
• #19 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #15 Best Online MBA Degree Programs for 2024 with No GMAT Required

Career Outlook for degree at Case Western Reserve University

Case Western Reserve University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• David Gorski
• Donald A. Glaser
• Paul Lauterbur
• William Glasser
• Ferid Murad
• Alistair Cockburn
• John D. Mayer
• David Satcher

University of Notre Dame

• #1 Best Christian Colleges in Indiana 2024
• #1 Best Private Colleges in Indiana 2024
• #2 Best Grad Schools in Indiana 2024
• #3 Best Colleges in Indiana 2024
• #3 Best Research Universities in Indiana 2024
• #8 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #4 Top 20 Best Online MBA Programs that Can Be Completed in One Year 2024
• #9 The Fastest Traditional MBA Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Career Outlook for degree at University of Notre Dame

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

• Jacques Maritain
• Orson Scott Card
• E. Jerome McCarthy
• Saskia Sassen
• Condoleezza Rice
• Peter Suber
• Jon Barwise
• Joe Montana
• David H. Barlow
• Eric F. Wieschaus
• Robert Seamans
• Matthew Fox

University of Southern California

• #19 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #2 Best Private Colleges in California 2024
• #4 Best Research Universities in California 2024
• #4 Best Grad Schools California 2024
• #5 Best Colleges in California 2024
• #5 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
• #5 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #22 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #1 Top 7 Best Online Social Work PhDs (DSW Programs) 2024
• #1 The Best Online MBA Degree Programs in 2024 Ranked for Students
• #1 Best Online Master’s in Communications
• #1 Best Online Doctorate in Education Degree Programs Ranked for Students
• #1 Top 8 Best Online Applied Behavioral Analysis PhDs (Doctorates)
• #1 Best Online Doctorate of Physical Therapy Programs (PhDs)
• #1 Best Online Master's in Hospitality and Tourism Degree Programs
• #1 Top 20 Best Online Accredited Doctorate Degree Programs (PhDs) 2024
• #1 Best Online Doctorate in Organizational Leadership Degree Programs
• #1 Best Research Universities with Online Doctorates (PhDs) 2024
• #1 Best Data Science Online Master’s Programs
• #1 Best Online Master's in Project Management
• #1 Best Online Master's in Social Work MSW
• #1 Best Online Master’s in Human Resources
• #1 Best Online Master's in Computer Science Degree Programs
• #1 Best Online Master's in Cybersecurity
• #1 Top 10 Best Online Master's of Public Relations Ranked 2024
• #1 Best Online MBA Degree Programs for 2024 with No GMAT Required
• #1 Best Online Master’s in Finance
• #2 Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics
• #2 Best Online Master’s in Sustainability and Green Technologies
• #2 Best Online Master's Programs in California 2024
• #2 Best Online MBA Programs in California
• #2 Best Online Master’s in Engineering Management
• #2 Best Online Master's in Public Administration Degree Programs
• #2 Top 18 Most Affordable No GRE Online PhD Degree Programs
• #2 Best Online Master's in Criminal Justice
• #2 Fastest Online Doctoral Degree Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
• #2 Best Online Master’s in Engineering
• #3 Best Online Master's in Nursing MSN
• #4 Best Online PhD of Computer Science Degree Programs (Doctorates) 2024
• #4 Best Online Master's Programs 2024
• #5 Fastest Accelerated Online Computer Science Doctorates (PhDs)
• #5 Top 10 Best Online Communications PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #5 Top 15 Most Affordable Online Social Work PhDs (Doctorates)
• #5 Best Online Master's in Management
• #5 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2024
• #6 Top 50 Best No GRE Online PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #2 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of Counseling Degree Programs 2024
• #17 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for degree at University of Southern California

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

• Frank Gehry
• Neil Armstrong
• Jack L. Warner
• John Mearsheimer
• Boris Podolsky
• Michael D. Griffin
• Maulana Karenga
• O. J. Simpson
• Robert Ballard

CUNY Graduate Center

Career outlook for degree at cuny graduate center.

CUNY Graduate Center’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Nancy Fraser
• Janet Biehl
• Paul Mariani
• Terrell Ward Bynum
• Lisa Nakamura
• Douglas Crimp
• Holland Cotter
• Stephen K. White
• Edwin Battistella

CUNY Graduate Center’s Online Degrees

• Accelerated Nursing Education
• Accelerated Nursing Informatics
• Accelerated Nursing Organizational Leadership
• AcceleratedNursing Informatics
• Required Credits : 150
• Queensborough Community College Fast Track
• Dual Program with Queensbourough College

Illinois Institute of Technology

• #5 Best Research Universities in Illinois 2024
• #5 Best Grad Schools Illinois 2024

Career Outlook for degree at Illinois Institute of Technology

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

• Munir Ahmad Khan
• Jack Steinberger
• Jack Dongarra
• Helmut Jahn
• Virgil Abloh
• Watts Humphrey
• Sidney Coleman
• Dorothy Thompson
• Kevin Roche
• Grote Reber
• Martin C. Jischke
• Samuel Karlin

University of California, Los Angeles

• #7 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges
• #13 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
• #14 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #14 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #17 Best Universities in the World 2024
• #2 Best Public Colleges California 2024
• #2 Most Affordable Colleges in California 2024
• #3 Best Colleges in California 2024
• #3 Best Research Universities in California 2024
• #3 Best Grad Schools California 2024
• #6 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #4 Best Online History Doctorate Degree Programs (PhDs) 2024
• #4 Top 3 Best Online Economics PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #4 Top 5 Best Online English PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #4 Top 5 Best Online Sociology PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates) 2024
• #12 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for degree at University of California, Los Angeles

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

• Elinor Ostrom
• Judea Pearl
• Glenn T. Seaborg
• Barry Boehm
• Stanley Cavell
• William F. Sharpe
• John Ehrlichman
• Stephen Krashen
• Edward O. Thorp
• Stephen Kosslyn

University of Virginia

• #9 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024
• #20 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
• #25 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #1 Best Grad Schools in Virginia 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities in Virginia 2024
• #1 Best Public Colleges in Virginia 2024
• #1 Best Colleges in Virginia 2024
• #12 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #22 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #22 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in Virginia 2024
• #1 Top 20 Most Affordable Online Doctorate of Education (PhDs)
• #1 Best Online Master's in Special Education
• #6 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Virginia
• #8 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2024
• #10 Guide to Free Online Courses for MBA Students in 2024
• #12 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students
• #21 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for degree at University of Virginia

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

• Edgar Allan Poe
• Ronald Coase
• William Faulkner
• Georgia O'Keeffe
• Katie Couric
• Francis Collins
• Anselm Strauss

Emory University

• #1 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 2024
• #2 Best Colleges in Georgia 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities in Georgia 2024
• #9 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #22 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #22 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #1 Fastest Accelerated Online Bachelor's of Nursing Degree Programs 2024

Career Outlook for degree at Emory University

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

• Newt Gingrich
• C. Vann Woodward
• Jeffrey Burton Russell
• Carl Hiaasen
• Mikhail Epstein
• Walter Wink
• Timothy Tyson
• Ernie Harwell
• Dumas Malone
• Tressie McMillan Cottom

The Catholic University of America

• #5 Best Research Universities in DC 2024
• #5 Best Private Colleges in DC 2024
• #5 Best Grad Schools in DC 2024
• #5 Best Colleges in DC 2024
• #23 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #1 Best Online Associate Degrees in DC 2024
• #5 Best Online Master's Programs in DC 2024

Career Outlook for degree at The Catholic University of America

The Catholic University of America’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Brian Williams
• Maureen Dowd
• Thomas L. Saaty
• Raymond E. Brown
• Verlyn Flieger
• Theodore Hesburgh
• Raymond Leo Burke
• Thomas Berry
• Seán Patrick O'Malley
• Marjorie Perloff

University of Washington

• #6 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online
• #7 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2024
• #16 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #16 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #1 Best Grad Schools in Washington 2024
• #1 Best Public Colleges in Washington 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities in Washington 2024
• #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington 2024
• #1 Best Colleges in Washington 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities for Criminal Justice Degrees
• #5 Best Research Universities for Social Work Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #22 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #1 5 Inexpensive Online Master's Programs in Library Science
• #1 20 Fastest Accelerated Online English Doctorates (PhDs) 2024
• #1 Best Online Colleges in Washington 2024
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in Washington 2024
• #4 Best Online MBA Degree Programs No GRE Required Ranked for 2024
• #5 Best Online MBA Programs in Washington
• #6 Most Affordable Online Applied Behavioral Analysis PhD Programs
• #8 Guide to Free Online Courses for MBA Students in 2024
• #10 Most Affordable Early Childhood Education Bachelor's (Online, On-Campus)
• #10 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students
• #13 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for degree at University of Washington

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

• Frank Herbert
• Jerry Pournelle
• Robert Mundell
• Michael Hardt
• Harold Hotelling
• Minoru Yamasaki
• Lyle Campbell
• Dave Cutler
• Steven Holl

George Washington University

• #2 Best Colleges in DC 2024
• #6 Best Research Universities for Criminal Justice Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Social Work Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #1 Best Online MBA Programs in DC
• #2 Best Online Master's Programs in DC 2024
• #3 Best Research Universities with Online Doctorates (PhDs) 2024
• #3 Top 10 Best Online Master's of Public Relations Ranked 2024
• #5 Top 18 Most Affordable No GRE Online PhD Degree Programs
• #6 Most Unusual Doctoral Degrees You Can Earn Online (PhDs)
• #6 Best Online MBA Degree Programs for 2024 with No GMAT Required
• #7 Top 8 Fastest Accelerated Online Psychology Doctorates (PhDs)
• #10 Top 50 Best No GRE Online PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #7 Best Online PhD of Nursing (DNP) Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Career Outlook for degree at George Washington University

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

• L. Ron Hubbard
• Bob Woodward
• Allen Dulles
• George Armitage Miller
• Juan Guaidó
• Roger Stone
• James E. Webb

Clark University

Career outlook for degree at clark university.

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

• Edward B. Titchener
• Solomon Lefschetz
• Lewis Terman
• George Mandler
• Robert H. Goddard
• John H. Flavell
• Arnold Gesell
• E. Franklin Frazier
• Edwin Boring
• Henry H. Goddard
• William L. Langer

American University

• #3 Best Private Colleges in DC 2024
• #4 Best Grad Schools in DC 2024
• #4 Best Colleges in DC 2024
• #9 Best Research Universities for Criminal Justice Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #3 Best Online Master's Programs in DC 2024
• #4 Best Online MBA Programs in DC
• #7 Top 15 Most Affordable Online Economics PhD Programs (Doctorates) 2024
• #12 Best Online MBA Degree Programs for 2024 with No GMAT Required
• #15 Top 20 Best Online MBA Programs that Can Be Completed in One Year 2024
• #4 How to Earn Your Master's Degree Without Your Bachelor's Degree

Career Outlook for degree at American University

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

• Oliver North
• Stephen A. Kent
• Queen Rania of Jordan
• Corey Lewandowski
• Juan E. Méndez
• Robert Kagan
• Kathy Reichs
• James Alan Fox
• Clark Howard

University of Pittsburgh

• #3 Best Research Universities in Pennsylvania 2024
• #3 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024
• #3 Best Grad Schools in Pennsylvania 2024
• #17 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students
• #25 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for degree at University of Pittsburgh

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

• Stuart Hameroff
• Paul Churchland
• Patricia Churchland
• Richard Lazarus
• Ernest Sosa
• Michael Chabon
• August Wilson
• Bennet Omalu
• Bas van Fraassen
• Jaak Panksepp

Boston University

• #3 Best Research Universities in Massachusetts 2024
• #3 Best Research Universities for Criminal Justice Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in Massachusetts 2024
• #1 Top 10 Best Online Counseling PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #1 Best Online Master's in Marketing and Advertising
• #1 Fastest Online Bachelor's Degrees Ranked for 2024
• #1 Best Online Master's in Art Education and Art Administration
• #1 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts 2024
• #1 Best Online Degree Completion Programs for Returning Students
• #2 10 Best Online Master's of Music Education Degree Programs
• #2 Best Online Master's in Project Management
• #2 Best Online MBA Degree Programs No GRE Required Ranked for 2024
• #2 Best Online Master’s in Finance
• #3 Best Online Master’s in Communications
• #3 Top 10 Best Online Communications PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #3 Best Online Master's in Social Work MSW
• #3 Best Online MBA Degree Programs for 2024 with No GMAT Required
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• #13 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2024
• #1 How to Earn Your Master's Degree Without Your Bachelor's Degree
• #15 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students
• #22 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for degree at Boston University

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

• Martin Luther King Jr.
• Neal Stephenson
• Norman Vincent Peale
• Tipper Gore
• Albert-László Barabási
• Steven M. Wise
• Kim Stanley Robinson
• Bernard Berenson
• Daniel C. Tsui
• Bill Simmons

Boston University’s Online Degrees

• Required Credits : 64

University of Miami

• #2 Best Research Universities in Florida 2024
• #22 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #1 Best Online MBA Programs in Florida
• #1 Fastest Accelerated Online Doctorate of Nursing Programs (PhDs)
• #1 Best Online Master's in Sports Management
• #2 Best Online Master's Programs in Florida 2024
• #3 Best Online Master's Degrees in Accounting
• #3 10 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of Accounting Programs
• #4 Best Online Master's in Public Administration Degree Programs
• #5 Best Online Master’s in Finance
• #6 The Best Online MBA Degree Programs in 2024 Ranked for Students
• #7 Best Online MBA Degree Programs for 2024 with No GMAT Required
• #13 Best Online Master's in Management
• #13 Fastest Online Doctoral Degree Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
• #14 Best Online Master's Programs 2024
• #1 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of Finance Degree Programs 2024

Career Outlook for degree at University of Miami

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

• Vincent Bugliosi
• G. William Domhoff
• Martin H. Greenberg
• Anthony Atala
• Sylvester Stallone
• Algis Budrys
• Jeff Garlin
• Mikheil Saakashvili
• Joe Barresi
• Enrique Iglesias
• Gloria Estefan

Howard University

• #4 Best Private Colleges in DC 2024
• #18 Best Research Universities for Criminal Justice Degrees
• #2 Best Online MBA Programs in DC
• #4 Best Online Master's Programs in DC 2024
• #19 Best Online MBA Degree Programs for 2024 with No GMAT Required

Career Outlook for degree at Howard University

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

• Toni Morrison
• Stokely Carmichael
• Amiri Baraka
• Zora Neale Hurston
• Lucretia Mott
• James Farmer
• Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Sonia Sanchez
• Kamala Harris
• Marjorie Lee Browne

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• #17 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024
• #1 Best Public Colleges in North Carolina 2024
• #1 Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina 2024
• #2 Best Grad Schools in North Carolina 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities in North Carolina 2024
• #2 Best Colleges in North Carolina 2024
• #10 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #22 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #1 Best Online Master's in Healthcare Administration
• #1 Best Online Master's Degrees in Accounting
• #1 Fastest Accelerated Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)
• #1 Fastest Accelerated Online Healthcare Administration Masters
• #2 Best Online Master's Programs in North Carolina 2024
• #2 15 Most Affordable Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)
• #2 Best Online MBA Programs in North Carolina
• #2 Best Online Doctorate of Physical Therapy Programs (PhDs)
• #2 Best Online MBA Degree Programs for 2024 with No GMAT Required
• #3 The Best Online MBA Degree Programs in 2024 Ranked for Students
• #3 Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics
• #3 Best Online Master's in Public Administration Degree Programs
• #4 Best Online Master’s in Communications
• #4 Fastest Online Doctoral Degree Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
• #7 Guide to Free Online Courses for MBA Students in 2024
• #7 Top 20 Best Online MBA Programs that Can Be Completed in One Year 2024
• #7 Top 8 Best Online Public Health PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #8 Best Online Master's in Management
• #8 Best Online Master's Programs 2024
• #8 Best Online MBA Degree Programs No GRE Required Ranked for 2024
• #10 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2024
• #5 Best Online PhD of Nursing (DNP) Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
• #13 Most Affordable Master's in Counseling Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
• #14 Best Schools in the World for Earning an MBA Degree Ranked for 2024
• #20 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students

Career Outlook for degree at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Lawrence Ferlinghetti
• Howard T. Odum
• Jeffrey Beall
• Robert F. Furchgott
• Sidney Powell
• Christine Blasey Ford
• James Rachels

Boston College

• #6 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 2024
• #7 Best Grad Schools in Massachusetts 2024
• #7 Best Colleges in Massachusetts 2024
• #7 Best Research Universities in Massachusetts 2024
• #5 Best Research Universities for Criminal Justice Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #2 Best Online Master’s in Education
• #3 Best Online Master's Programs in Massachusetts 2024
• #3 Top 8 Best Online Applied Behavioral Analysis PhDs (Doctorates)
• #5 Best Online Doctorate in Education Degree Programs Ranked for Students
• #5 Fastest Online Doctoral Degree Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
• #9 Best Online MBA Degree Programs No GRE Required Ranked for 2024

Career Outlook for degree at Boston College

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

• Robert Gallo
• Dennis Ross
• Ernest Moniz
• R. Nicholas Burns
• Richard Cushing
• J. Arch Getty
• Maeve Kennedy McKean
• Julianne Malveaux
• Richard Swedberg
• John Courtney Murray

California Institute of Integral Studies

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

• Nancy C. Maryboy

California Institute of Integral Studies’s Online Degrees

• Required Credits : None Reported
• Format : None Reported

Tulane University

• #1 Best Private Colleges in Louisiana 2024
• #10 Best Online MBA Programs in Louisiana
• #10 Top 15 Most Affordable Online Social Work PhDs (Doctorates)
• #16 Fastest Accelerated Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)

Career Outlook for degree at Tulane University

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

• Jim Garrison
• Florian Cajori
• Henry Hobson Richardson
• Andrew Breitbart
• Richard Schechner
• John Kennedy Toole
• Sander Gilman
• Maxwell Wintrobe
• John Sallis

The New School

Career outlook for degree at the new school.

The New School’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Marc Jacobs
• Peter L. Berger
• Franco Modigliani
• Ruth Benedict
• James Baldwin
• Heinrich Blücher
• Robert Heilbroner
• Shimon Peres
• Eleanor Roosevelt

The New School’s Online Degrees

City college of new york.

• #7 Best Colleges in New York 2024
• #7 Best Research Universities in New York 2024
• #7 Best Grad Schools in New York 2024
• #5 Most Affordable Master's in Counseling Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Career Outlook for degree at City College of New York

City College of New York’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Julian Schwinger
• Leonard Kleinrock
• Upton Sinclair
• William Friedkin
• Robert Aumann
• Daniel Bell
• Seymour Martin Lipset
• See Schools 51-399
• Build Your Custom College Rankings

Find the Best Research Universities in Your Area of Interest

• Earth Science
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Earn a Degree from a Research University Close to Home

A research university is a great choice for students who are interested in a STEM degree.

And as important as a great research university is, if attending a school near home is also important to you, check out our Complete List of Colleges and Universities by State .

Check out the College Admissions Process Guide for additional tips on finding, applying to, and getting into the college of your choice.

See our Resources Guide for much more on studying, starting your job search, and more.

Photo Credit: California Institute of Technology, Beckman Institute. By Canon.vs.nikon , via CC BY-SA 3.0 .

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World University Rankings 2023

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 include 1,799 universities across 104 countries and regions, making them the largest and most diverse university rankings to date.

The table is based on 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across four areas: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

This year’s ranking analysed over 121 million citations across more than 15.5 million research publications and included survey responses from 40,000 scholars globally. Overall, we collected over 680,000 datapoints from more than 2,500 institutions that submitted data.

Trusted worldwide by students, teachers, governments and industry experts, this year’s league table reveals how the global higher education landscape is shifting.

View the World University Rankings 2023 methodology

The University of Oxford tops the ranking for the seventh consecutive year. Harvard University remains in second place, but the University of Cambridge jumps from joint fifth last year to joint third.

The highest new entry is Italy’s Humanitas University, ranked in the 201-250 bracket.

The US is the most-represented country overall, with 177 institutions, and also the most represented in the top 200 (58).

Mainland China now has the fourth-highest number of institutions in the top 200 (11, compared with 10 last year), having overtaken Australia, which has dropped to fifth (joint with the Netherlands).

Five countries enter the ranking for the first time – all of them in Africa (Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Mauritius).

Harvard tops the teaching pillar, while Oxford leads the research pillar. Atop the international pillar is the Macau University of Science and Technology.

Overall, 1,799 universities are ranked. A further 546 universities are listed with “reporter” status, meaning that they provided data but did not meet our eligibility criteria to receive a rank, and agreed to be displayed as a reporter in the final table.

Read our analysis of the World University Rankings 2023 results

Download a copy of the World University Rankings 2023 digital report

To raise your university’s global profile with Times Higher Education , contact [email protected]

To unlock the data behind THE ’s rankings and access a range of analytical and benchmarking tools, click here

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Read more about the World University Rankings 2023

Student insights.

• Best universities in the world
• Best universities in the UK
• Best universities in the United States
• Best universities in Canada
• Best universities in Australia
• Best universities in Europe
• Best universities in the Netherlands
• Best universities in France
• Best universities in Germany
• Best universities in Malaysia
• Best universities in South Korea

Academic Insights

• World University Rankings 2023: results announced
• World University Rankings 2023: African sector improving rapidly
• World University Rankings 2023: US stagnating, Oceania rising, and a weak point for China
• World University Rankings 2023: the opportunities and threats ahead
• World University Rankings 2023: top marks for Australian sector
• Underfunding basic research is a recipe for disaster
• Society benefits from industry partnerships – but there are provisos
• Universities must innovate new kinds of learning for students of all ages
• The future of global research collaboration is rocky
• Talking Leadership 44: Alice Gast on championing ‘risk-taking’ foreign students
• The half-life of knowledge
• How can universities leverage their pandemic reputation boost?
• Our task for the future: global education for all
• World University Rankings 2023: trends in research
• World University Rankings 2023: trends in teaching
• World University Rankings 2023: trends in international outlook
• World University Rankings 2023: trends in working with industry
• Talking Leadership 45: Andrew Hamilton on the trajectory of higher education
• European universities tentatively embrace working with industry
• Talking leadership 46: Louise Richardson on academic precarity and elitism
• Rankings are changing: WUR 3.0 will be more robust and insightful
• Talking leadership 47: Stephen Toope on culture wars and collaboration

Methodology:

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Student Wellness Tip: Supporting Spiritual Wellness

For students looking for meaning in their lives, colleges and universities can encourage purposeful living.

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