Did you know that you are eligible to receive a pirate’s license if you take archery, fencing, sailing and pistol (or rifle) classes from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)? That is how beneficial it is to study at an American university. The US education system helps students to focus not only on their academics but also on tons of extracurricular activities. In today’s article, we will be talking about some of the top universities in the USA that you as students must consider for positive personal and professional growth.
Top Universities In The US: Eligibility
A major criterion for being eligible to get into these highly renowned US-based universities is to have exceptional academic records. While the other criteria may differ from university to university, and course to course, you must submit test scores such as IELTS, PTE, TOEFL and even ACT/SAT if asked by your university. Some of the other tests like the GRE, GMAT, and LSAT could also be asked depending on your course. Make sure you read your course guidelines carefully before sending in your application.
Documents Required For American Universities
In order to get into the top universities in the US, your application form should be attached with the following necessary documents:
- Transcript of records
- Scores of standardized tests and other necessary tests
- Letter (s) of recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- Financial Documents
- Scholarships letters (if any)
- Resume/CV for PG students
- Research articles, artwork, music recordings, and other achievements in extracurricular activities
List Of The Top Universities In The US
The below table comprises a list of the top universities in the USA along with their respective 2023 rankings – rated by several prestigious platforms across a set of widely accepted indicators.
| Sr. No. | University | QS Ranking 2023 | THE Ranking 2023 | US News 20223 |
| 1. | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| 2. | Stanford University | 3 | =3 | 3 |
| 3. | Harvard University | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 4. | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | =6 | 6 | 9 |
| 5. | University of Chicago | 10 | 13 | 22 |
| 6. | University of Pennsylvania | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 7. | Princeton University | =16 | 7 | 16 |
| 8. | Yale University | 18 | 9 | 11 |
| 9. | Cornell University | 20 | 20 | 21 |
| 10. | Columbia University | 22 | =11 | 7 |
Harvard University
Harvard University is one of the oldest Ivy League Universities, located in Massachusetts, US. Not only does the university come in the top list as per the US universities ranking, but it also comes among the top 5 universities in the world. Besides academics, Harvard University is famous for its research-based opportunities, sports and other miscellaneous activities. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to choose and tailor their courses from various departments like Humanities, Arts, Science, and Business. There are 12 schools offering graduate programmes in various disciplines including Business, Divinity, Arts and Sciences, Design, Education, Law, Medicine, Engineering, & Theatre. Under these schools of discipline, the following are the most popular courses that students opt for at Harvard –
- BA
- BE/BTech
- BBA
- LLM
- MA
- MArch
- MBA/PGDM
- MDS
- MEng
- MIM
- MPA
- MPH
- MS
Tuition Fees: For UG programmes at Harvard University, the amount ranges from about USD $12,000 – USD $ 50,000 per year depending on whether they’ve resorted to any sort of financial aid in terms of scholarships and loans. For PG programmes, the average tuition fee ranges from USD $ 50,000 to USD $ 85,000 depending on whether it is an MA or an MBA.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT)
MIT lives by the motto of ‘mens et manus’ meaning ‘mind and hand’ indicating a total blend of academic knowledge with a more practical approach. MIT has been consistently ranked amongst the top universities in the US and continues to live up to its reputation to date. MIT offers undergraduate degrees in over 8 streams and graduate programmes including PhD, ScD and MS programmes in over 40 fields of study. Their fields of study vary from engineering, computing, architecture, and management to the natural and social sciences, the humanities, and the arts. Some of the popular courses offered by MIT to students are listed below –
- BE/BTech
- BSc
- BBA
- Executive MBA/PGDM
- MArch
- MBA/PGDM
- MEng
- MIM
- MS
Tuition Fees: The UG programmes for international students can begin at an average amount of USD $ 52,000 and can go upto USD $ 60,000. The PG programmes start at an average amount of USD $54,000 and can go upto USD $ 1,00,000 in the case of an MBA.
Stanford University
Stanford university is one of the oldest universities and still continues to be one of the top universities in the US as well as the world. Since 1908, Stanford University has had a record of winning gold medals in every Olympic game. So the versatility of this university gives students opportunities to explore different areas and excel in what suits them best. If you wish to study at Stanford University, these are the following degree divisions that Stanford offers best: Business, Earth Sciences, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Sciences, Law & Medicine. Some of the most popular courses that students opt for at Stanford include the following –
- BA
- BArch
- BE/BTech
- BJMC
- BSc
- Executive MBA/PGDM
- LLM
- MA
- MFA
- MIM
- MS
Tuition Fees: The average annual tuition fee for studying at Stanford begins at USD $ 18,105 and can go upto USD $ 24,902. However, students are subject to paying lesser or more depending on the course type, duration and structure.
University Of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley hosts over 43,000 students in 130 academic departments every year. It ranks second amongst the PhD granting institutions in the US and has a high reputation for its faculty. Amongst the top universities in the US, the University of California, Berkeley is popular for its major programmes in the fields of Social Sciences, Engineering, Biological, and Biomedical Sciences. Popular courses at UCB are listed below –
- BE/BTech
- BSc
- BBA
- MA
- MArch
- MDes
- MBA/PGDM
- MEng
- MFA
- MIM
- MS
Tuition Fees: For resident students, the tuition fees are an average of USD $ 39,550 and for non-resident students, at an amount of USD $ 69,304. This is again subject to change depending upon the course type and duration and other factors.
Columbia University
Columbia University falls under the category of the top universities in the US and also happens to be a part of the Ivy League Universities. The University has tie-ups with prestigious universities like Yale University and MIT, opening doors for a broader curriculum and exposure. The most popular programmes at Columbia University include: social sciences; engineering; computer and information sciences and support services; biological and biomedical sciences; and visual and performing arts. Some of Columbia University’s most sought-after courses are listed below for you –
- BA
- BArch
- BE/BTech
- BJMC
- BSc
- BBA
- Executive MBA/PGDM
- LLM
- MA
- MArch
- MFA
- MIM
- MPA
- MPH
- MSN
Tuition fees: The cost of studying at this university is a little expensive and could begin at an amount of USD $ 53,040 and could go up to USD $ 77,376. However, if you take financial aid like scholarships for international students, the fees will considerably reduce to an extent.
FAQs
1. Which is the number one university in the USA?
According to the latest QS World University Rankings 2023, MIT, Stanford University, and Harvard University fall among the top 3 universities in the USA with top-notch courses, and cutting-edge facilities, welcoming a large population of international students.
2. Which universities are difficult to get into in the USA?
Some of the hardest universities to get into with high acceptance rates include Harvard University, Columbia University, Caltech, Stanford University, and MIT. While these universities have top rankings, the entry requirements are stringent and apart from GPA scores, these institutions take several parameters into account when enrolling students.
3. What is the minimum GPA to get into Harvard University?
In order to enrol at Harvard University, it is recommended that applicants achieve top grades in their previous education. According to the Harvard Crimson Report, the average reported GPA of applicants in 2022 was 3.90 on a scale of 4.0.
4. Which are Tier 1 universities in the USA?
While the Tier 1 list of universities in the USA includes the Ivy League Universities, the list of these top-tier universities also consists of other world-class institutions & major private research universities in the USA such as MIT, UChicago, Stanford, John Hopkins, Northwestern, California Institute of Technology, Duke, Vanderbilt, and Rice amongst many other institutes.
We hope you enjoyed reading this blog on the Top Universities In The US. If you wish to read more about studying in the US, here are some blogs that we think you will enjoy reading –
1 thought on “Top PGDM Courses In Canada: Universities, Specialisations & Eligibility”
I have done Bachelor’s in Culinary Arts from India and completed my graduation in the year 2022 .I am 22 years old. After graduation, I have done 1 year paid internship from USA .Now, I would like to take occupational experience and learn culinary skills and also do masters in Culinary arts.How can I find the college n best course / country where I can persue studying further