Top Universities in the USA for International Students

The USA has thousands of universities, some globally known, others quietly excellent.
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How Universities in the USA Work and What to Expect

The USA has more than 4,000 accredited universities. But still, the best part about them is how they’re built for choice, independence, and access to resources that students actually use.

Over 4,000 accredited universities are available for students to choose from.

Most undergraduate programs allow you to select your major after the first year.

Research opportunities are accessible even at the bachelor’s degree level.

OPT permits up to 3 years of work in the USA after a STEM degree.

Private universities charge higher tuition fees but offer more scholarship opportunities.

Top Universities in the USA

Not all top-ranked universities in the USA are ideal for everyone. The best choice depends on the degree you’re after, your career goals, and your budget.

# in USA

University

City

QS 2025 world rank

1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Cambridge, Massachusetts

1

2

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

4

3

Stanford University

Stanford, California

6

4

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Pasadena, California

10

5

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

11

6

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California

12

7

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

16

8

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

21

9

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey

22

10

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut

23

Top Programs and Popular Courses in the USA

Study world-class programs at America’s top-ranked universities.

CS Universities

Business Universities

Medical Universities

Architecture Universities

Top Computer Science Universities in the USA:

Top Business Schools in the USA:

Leading Medical Schools in the USA:

Top Architecture Schools in the USA:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Harvard University – Harvard Business School

Harvard University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Stanford University

Stanford University – Graduate School of Business

Johns Hopkins University

Harvard University – Graduate School of Design

Carnegie Mellon University

University of Pennsylvania – Wharton School

Stanford University

Columbia University – GSAPP

University of California, Berkeley

MIT – Sloan School of Management

University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

University of California, Berkeley

Harvard University

University of Chicago – Booth School of Business

University of Pennsylvania (Perelman)

Cornell University

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Columbia University – Columbia Business School

Columbia University

Yale University

University of Washington

Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management

University of Chicago (Pritzker)

University of Michigan – Taubman College

Application Requirements and Deadlines for Top Universities in the USA

Applying to universities in the USA usually involves submitting academic transcripts, test scores, recommendation letters, and personal essays. Deadlines depend on whether you’re applying for bachelor’s or master’s programs and the university you choose.

Bachelor’s applications typically close around November to January.

Master’s applications often have deadlines from December to February.

Popular universities may have earlier deadlines.

Test requirements (SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT) depend on your chosen program and university.

Top master's programs, particularly in cities like Boston or New York, are highly competitive.

Scholarships and Financial Aid for International Students in the USA

Studying in the USA can get expensive, but scholarships can help reduce the cost significantly. You can find funding from universities themselves, as well as from the government or private organizations.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program

Covers tuition, airfare, stipend, insurance for international master’s/PhD study at US universities.

Humphrey Fellowship Program

10-month, non-degree fellowship: tuition, airfare, stipend, insurance for mid-career professionals.

AAUW International Fellowships (for women)

$20,000–$50,000 for women’s graduate/postgraduate study in the US; tuition, living costs included.

University-specific Scholarships

Need/merit-based; can cover full tuition, room, board at top US universities like Stanford, Harvard.

Private Foundations and Nonprofit Grants

Full tuition/living cost grants; e.g., Tata Scholarship for Indian students at Cornell. Coverage varies.

Student Reviews and Success Stories from the USA

To really know what it’s like to study in the USA, it helps to hear from those who’ve done it. International students share their experiences after graduating from top universities in the USA.

200,000+

students assisted

4,000+

universities showcased

2,000+

indian cities served

Selecting the right institution can make all the difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best universities in the USA for international students?
Some popular universities for international students are MIT, Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, and Columbia. But the best one for you depends on your field, goals, and budget.
You’ll typically need transcripts, recommendation letters, a statement of purpose, and test scores (usually GRE or GMAT). Check the exact requirements on your chosen university’s admissions website.
Scholarships for international students include Fulbright, Humphrey Fellowships, and numerous university-specific scholarships. Each has its own criteria, so it’s important to verify eligibility.
Many universities accept IELTS, but others also accept TOEFL or Duolingo. Each university sets its own policy, so check carefully.
It usually takes a few weeks, but it can vary based on your country, paperwork, and embassy processing times. It’s wise to apply as early as possible.
Yes, through programs like Optional Practical Training (OPT), you can usually work for up to 12 months after graduation, or even 36 months for STEM graduates.

Tuheena Raj - Reportees

kshama

Kshama

Brands and Communications

Tarang Mohin - Reportees

sarthak prakash

Sarthak Prakash

Brands and Communications

Vivek Kumar Srivastava - Reportees

dadi pratushan

Dadi Pratushan

Associate, B2B Partnerships

hemanth k b

Hemanth K B

Sr. Associate, B2B Partnerships

sairam gottipalli

Sairam Gottipalli

Sr. Associate, B2B Partnerships

shobhit jindal

Shobhit Jindal

Sr. Associate, B2B Partnerships

Nandan Singh Danu- Reportees

arka ghosh

Arka Ghosh

Assistant Manager, Admin and Operations

Abhishek Raj - Reportees

yadvendra chauhan

Yadvendra Chauhan

Data Research Associate

harshit kumar

Harshit Kumar

Data Research Associate

suravi parik

Suravi Parik

Data Research Associate

Abhishek Anshu - Reportees

harsh ahuja

Harsh Ahuja

Software Engineer_FE

namrata nadgauda

Namrata Nadgauda

SDET

Ayushkumar

Ayush Kumar

OJT_Tech

SarthakArora

Sarthak Arora

SDE-2 Fullstack

prakhar shukla2

Prakhar Shukla

SDE-2 Fullstack

Dheeraj scaled

Dheeraj Shukla

QA Engineer

Krishnakant Nokwal- Reportees

Harshita scaled

Harshita Jajani

Product Design

Vardan Mishra - Reportees

Daksh

Daksh Bana

Product Associate

Vishnu - Reportees

ajay sunil kharade

Ajay Sunil Kharade

QA Specialist

chetty vivek

Chetty Vivek

SDE-1 Fullstack

debmalya bhattacharya

Debmalya Bhattacharya

Software Engineer_FE

lavanya gunnam

Lavanya Gunnam

SDE-1 Backend

Asakti Dev - Reportees

himanshu ramola

Himanshu Ramola

Student Success Manager-FR

aashima

Aashima

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

shubham khandelwal

Shubham Khandelwal

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

naushad ahmad

Naushad Ahmad

Manager, Student Success-FR

ayushi ranjan

Ayushi Ranjan

Senior Associate, Student Advisor

naveen kumar

Naveen Kumar

Senior Associate, Student Loan Advisor

poojitha

Poojitha

Senior Associate, Student Advisor

rahul yadav

Rahul Yadav

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

sanjeev kumar singh

Sanjeev Kumar Singh

Manager, Student Success-FR

kottana kusuma

Kottana Kusuma

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

kumari garima 1

Kumari Garima

Assistant Manager, Student Loan Advisor

mohit shrimali

Mohit Shrimali

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

peddinti keerthana

Peddinti Keerthana

Senior Associate, Student Loan Advisor

shivam agarwal

Shivam Agarwal

Manager, Student Success-FR

piyush saxena

Piyush Saxena

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

samiksha rai

Samiksha Rai

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

vandana uniyal

Vandana Uniyal

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

Bikramjit Chakraborty - Reportees

pasala subhashini

Pasala Subhashini

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

priyanka pedduappari

Priyanka Peddauppari

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

satti vivek reddy

Satti Vivek Reddy

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

subha biswas

Subha Biswas

Manager,Student Success-FR

anitra roy

Anitra Roy

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

reshab barman

Reshab Barman

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

vysyaraju sashank kumar raju

Vysyaraju Sashank Kumar Raju

Assistant Manager, Student Loan Advisory

abhijit saikia

Abhijit Saikia

Manager, Student Success-FR

maniteja mudanga

Maniteja Munaga

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

podila bhavani

Podila Bhavani

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

thumma mahitha

Thumma Mahitha

Associate, Student Loan Advisor

Jayesh Rao - Reportees

varun sharma

Varun Sharma

Manager, Student Success - FR

ayushi singh

Ayushi Singh

Associate, Student Loan Advisory

himanshu verma

Himanshu Verma

Student Success Manager-FR

ankit thakur

Ankit Thakur

Associate, Student Loan Advisory

archana jain

Archana Jain

Assistant Manager, Student Loan Advisory

Pranav Prabhu - Reportees

angad singh chaudhry

Angad Singh Chaudhry

Manager, Student Success-FR

bhukya renuka bai

Bhukya Renuka Bai

Senior Associate, Student Loan Advisory

archith siddoju

Archith Siddoju

Regional Business Head

kondengala yogesh

Kondengala Yogesh

Manager, Student Success-FR

a rana sai reddy

A Rana Sai Reddy

Associate, Student Loan Advisory

prabhanjan shivva

Prabhanjan Shivva

Senior Associate, Student Loan Advisory

thutta hem durgish

Thutta Hem Durgish

Senior Associate, Student Loan Advisory

mohammad khaja muzammil

Mohammad Khaja Muzammil

Manager, Student Success - FR

nikhil kumar

Nikhil Kumar

Associate, Student Loan Advisory

nishitha dorepally

Nishitha Dorepally

Senior Associate, Student Loan Advisory

ravina ketini

Ravina Ketini

Senior Associate, Student Loan Advisory

Tanya Popli - Reportees

ganapavarapu kumar

Ganapavarapu Kumar

Manager, Student Success - FR

naviya r

Naviya R

Associate, Student Loan Advisory

shashank penugonda

Shashank Penugonda

Senior Associate, Student Advisory

shilpa kumari rawal

Shilpa Kumari Rawal

Senior Associate, Student Loan Advisory

syed waseem sajjad

Syed Waseem Sajjad

Associate, Student Loan Advisory

rajat kapoor2

Rajat Kapoor

Manager, Student Success - FR

aditi mohapatra

Aditi Mohapatra

Associate, Student Loan Advisory

geetika sharma

Geetika Sharma

Associate, Student Loan Advisory

Mayank Kumar Bothra - Reportees

esha sharma

Esha Sharma

Lending Partnerships

Provider

Title and Desc

HDFC

ICICI

Team - General Management

ananya kommera

Ananya Kommera

Manager,Brand Communication Design

tuheena raj

Tuheena Raj

Senior Manager,Brands and Communications

tarang mohin

Tarang Mohin

Senior Manager, Brands and Social Media

priyanka aggarwal

Priyanka Aggarwal

Senior Account Manager, University Partnerships

sanchit panwar

Sanchit Panwar

Account Manager, University Partnerships

nakul dixit

Nakul Dixit

Account Manager, University Partnerships

parth kaura

Parth Kaura

AVP, Corporate Strategy and Planning

surbala k

SurBala K

Manager, International Partnerships

alana sobleman

Alana Sobelman

Brands and Communications

Team - Finance and Accounts

pushkar kumar

Pushkar Kumar

Senior Associate, Finance and Accounts

tripti rani

Tripti Rani

Accounts Executive

Ajay Goswami

Ajay Goswami

Manager-Finance and Accounts

Manish Kumar

Manish Kumar

Assistant Manager-Finance and Accounts

Team - Growth

hasil

Hasil

Lead, Domestic Partnerships

anandhu mohan

Anandhu Mohan

Manager, Domestic Partnerships

arindam banerjee

Arindam Banerjee

Assistant Manager, Digital Marketing

vivek kumar srivastava

Vivek Kumar Srivastav

Lead, Domestic Partnerships

akansha dagar

Akansha Dagar

Senior Designer, UI/UX

akash borah

Akash Borah

Associate, Performance Marketing

ajeet kumar

Ajeet Kumar

Associate, Digital Marketing

nirmit ahuja

Nirmit Ahuja

Community Associate

ChaturvediAbhishek

Abhishek Chaturvedi

Manager-Domestic Partnerships

Team - Talent Management

dikshita das

Dikshita Das

Assistant Manager, Talent Management

nandan singh danu

Nandan Singh Danu

Deputy Manager Admin

rajeev kumar singh

Rajeev Kumar Singh

Manager, Admin and Operations

kavya devanaka

Kavya Devanaka

Talent Management Trainee

Patrali Pic

Patrali Mukherjee

Assistant Manager, Talent Management

Team - Talent Management

abhishek raj

Abhishek Raj

Senior Business Analyst

abhishek wunnava

Abhishek Wunnava

Product Manager

Anshu

Abhishek Anshu

Tech Lead

nischal polishetty

Nischal Polishetty

Production Support Engineer

prankul

Prankul

Product Design

kk

Krishnakant Nokwal

Product Design

umesh podapati

Umesh Podapati

Salesforce Developer

vardan mishra

Vardan Mishra

Mishra Product Manager

vishnu 1

Vishnu

Tech Lead

shubham jangid

Shubham Jangid

Consultant SDE-2 FE

prakash maurya

Prakash Maurya

Consultant SDE-2 BE

Ashutosh scaled

Ashutosh Kumar

Consultant SDE-2 BE

Garima

Garima Mangla

Consultant SDE-2 BE

Team - Talent Management

adit sean obrian

Sean O'Brian

International Growth & Strategy

sayaka ono idris

Sayaka Ono Idris

Associate, International Growth and Development

Team - Talent Management

gautam sahni

Gautam Sahni

Motion Graphic Designer

caliph adam faredie

Caliph Adam Faredie

Senior Manager Communications

raghav bansal

Raghav Bansal

Graphic Designer

nidhi mehra

Nidhi Mehra

Graphic Designer

paras thappa

Paras Thappa

Senior Designer UI/UX

rajat malik

Rajat Malik

Associate Producer

atul s lal

Atul S Lal

Motion Graphic Designer

harshita chaudhary

Harshita Chaudhary

Digital Ad Copywirter

PiyushAgrawal

Piyush Agrawal

Digital Ad Copywirter

Team - Talent Management

asakti dev

Asakti Dev

Assistant Vice President Growth

bikramjit chakraborty

Bikramjit Chakraborty

Manager, Student Success-FR

jayesh rao

Jayesh Rao

Manager, Learning & Development - FR

pranav prabhu

Pranav Prabhu

Manager, Student Success-FR

tanya popli

Tanya Popli

Manager, Student Success-FR

Team - Talent Management

kale veera vanitha

Kale Veera Vanitha

Manager, Student Success - SR

arvind singh rajpurohit

Arvind Singh Rajpurohit

Program Manager, Student Success - SR

manish madanwad

Manish Madanwad

Program Manager, Student Success - SR

akula akshay

Akula Akshay

Senior Growth Associate - SR

bhargavi mopidevi

Bhargavi Mopidevi

Growth Associate - SR

bhagyalaxmi sahoo

Bhagyalaxmi Sahoo

Senior Growth Associate - SR

asv siddhartha

A.S.V. Siddhartha

Manager, Student Success - SR

saikiran g 1

Saikiran G.

Senior Growth Associate - SR

lavanya swaero

Lavanya Swaero

Growth Associate - SR

Team - Talent Management

Rectangle 24199

Monoj D S

Deputy Manager,Student Engagement FR

yash

Yash Kumar Goyal

Manager, Lending Partnerships

mayank

Mayank Kumar Bothra

Assistant Manager,Lending Partnerships

shoaurya gupta

Shaurya Gupta

VAS Partnership

manish

Manish Jain

Manager,VAS Partnership