10 Most Prestigious Universities in the US: 2025 Rankings
The United States of America is famous for its universities. If you are thinking about studying in America, the publication Black Star invites you to familiarize yourself with the rating of the most prestigious higher education institutions (HEIs).
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The list is based on the popularity of universities around the world. QS World University Rankings is an annual global ranking that evaluates more than 1 educational institutions around the world based on the following indicators:
- academic reputation;
- demand for graduates in the labour market;
- student to faculty ratio;
- international fame;
- scientific research.
Terms that will help you understand the rating correctly
"Admission rate" is what we call the competition for a place. If the admission rate is 10%, it means that out of a thousand applicants who applied, only the best 100 (10%) will become students.
"Graduation rate" is the percentage of students who successfully complete their studies at a university and receive a diploma, that is, do not drop out or are expelled due to poor academic performance.
On the subject: How to get a higher education in the US is almost free
1. Princeton university
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- State: New Jersey
- Average scholarship amount: $59
- Average student debt after graduation: $7
- Average salary 10 years after graduation: $189
Founded in 1746, Princeton University is one of the most prestigious universities in the United States, offering a graduation rate of 98% and an acceptance rate of 6%. It was ranked 22nd in the QS World University Rankings 2025 and 4th in the subject category, as well as 313th in the QS Sustainability Rankings. Princeton University is known across the country for offering the most in-demand majors, such as engineering, as well as the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.
2. Stanford University
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- State California
- Average scholarship amount: $60
- Average student debt after graduation: $12
- Average salary 10 years after graduation: $177
Founded in 1885, Stanford University has a graduation rate of 95% and an acceptance rate of 4%. It was ranked 6th in the QS World University Rankings 2025 and 2nd in the subject category. The university was ranked 148th in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025. It is known throughout the states for offering a variety of undergraduate courses with several options in majors such as biology, economics, psychology, political science, and computer science.
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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- State: Massachusetts
- Average scholarship amount: $45
- Average student debt upon graduation: $13
- Average salary 10 years after graduation: $189
The university was founded in 1861. The graduation rate is 96% and the acceptance rate is 4%. It was ranked 1st in the QS World University Ranking and 15th in the QS Sustainability Ranking 2025. It also ranked 1st in the subject category, making it one of the best universities in the world. The university offers undergraduate courses with 58 majors and 59 minors. Among the most popular specialties are mechanical engineering, mathematics, and computer science.
4. Yale University
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- State: Connecticut
- Average scholarship amount: $63
- Average student debt upon graduation: $4
- Average salary 10 years after graduation: $168
Founded in 1701, Yale has a graduation rate of 96% and an acceptance rate of 5%. The university is ranked 23rd in the QS World University Rankings, 4th in the subject category, and 76th in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025. Yale is widely known throughout the country for its courses such as mathematics, biology and biomedical sciences, social sciences, psychology, engineering, and history.
5.University of California at Berkeley
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- State California
- Average scholarship amount: $21
- Average student debt upon graduation: $7
- Average salary 10 years after graduation: $167
Founded in 1868, it has a graduation rate of 92% and an acceptance rate of 11%. The university is ranked 12th in the QS World University Rankings, 2nd in the subject category, and 2nd in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025. The university is known throughout the country for the undergraduate programs it offers in such specialties as economics, cell biology, computer science, business, psychology, electrical engineering.
6. Columbia university
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- State: New York
- Average scholarship amount: $61
- Average student debt upon graduation: $16
- Average salary 10 years after graduation: $156
Founded in 1754, it has a graduation rate of 94% and an acceptance rate of 4%. It is ranked 34th in the QS World University Rankings, 3rd in subject category and 211th in the QS Sustainability Rankings. It is renowned for its courses offered in economics, computer science, political science, psychology, history, English, neuroscience, and performing arts.
7. University of Pennsylvania
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- State: Pennsylvania
- Average scholarship amount: $57
- Average student debt after graduation: $12
- Average salary 10 years after graduation: $171
Founded in 1740, it has a graduation rate of 96% and an acceptance rate of 7%. It was ranked 11th in the 2025 QS World University Rankings, 1st in the subject category, and 71st in the 2025 QS Sustainability Rankings. The university offers undergraduate programs in more than 90 specializations. Among the top specializations are nursing, business, engineering, veterinary medicine, criminology.
8. Harvard University
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- State: Massachusetts
- Average scholarship amount: $61
- Average student debt upon graduation: $9
- Average salary 10 years after graduation: $171
The university was founded in 1636; it has a graduation rate of 98% and an acceptance rate of 3%. It is ranked 4th in the QS World University Rankings, 1st in the subject category, and 130th in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025. Harvard University is known for offering the most in-demand majors such as social sciences, biology, mathematics, computer science, history, physical sciences, engineering, psychology, performing arts, and English.
9. Rice University
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- State: Texas
- Average scholarship amount: $51
- Average student debt upon graduation: $10
- Average salary 10 years after graduation: $152
The university was founded in 1912 and has a graduation rate of 94% and an acceptance rate of 9%. It is ranked 141st in the QS World University Rankings, 91st in subject category, and 536th in the QS 2025 Sustainability Rankings. Rice University is known throughout the country for offering programs in the most in-demand specialties, such as computer science, biology, economics, psychology, and engineering.
10. Cornell University
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- State: New York
- Average scholarship amount: $54
- Average student debt after graduation: $8
- Average salary 10 years after graduation: $155
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Founded in 1865, the graduation rate is 95% and the acceptance rate is 7%. The university is ranked 16th in the QS World University Rankings, 3rd in the subject category, and 208th in the QS Sustainability Rankings. Cornell University is known in the United States for offering undergraduate programs in the most in-demand specialties, such as labor and industrial relations, computer science, biology, hotel management, and engineering.
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