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1,024 Best Bachelor's Universities in the United States

Of the 1,024 Bachelor's universities in the United States, Harvard University ranks highest at #5 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Next come Cornell University (QS World #13) and University of Chicago (QS World #13). The universities on this list offer 24,131 matching courses between them.

1,024 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
194Ranked
SU Southern University and A&M College logo
#403 in United States United States
#403 in United States · by research impact
717,146 citations · h-index 327
196Ranked
AS Athens State University logo
#405 in United States United States
#405 in United States · by research impact
711,564 citations · h-index 278
201Ranked
UC University of Colorado at Colorado Springs logo
#413 in United States United States
#413 in United States · by research impact
638,015 citations · h-index 289
210Ranked
CS California State University System logo
#426 in United States United States
#426 in United States · by research impact
576,084 citations · h-index 266

How these universities are ranked

69 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #5 (Harvard University) to #593 (University of Central Florida); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: Harvard University is cited most (146,463,495 citations). 40 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

1,013 are public and 11 private (99% public). By location, Massachusetts (5), New York (5) and California (3) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is Harvard University, founded in 1636. Ohio State University-Main Campus is the largest, with 45,638 students.

Inside the course list

The most common subjects are Social Sciences & Psychology (3,312), Business & Management (2,660), Education (1,799) and Medicine & Health Sciences (1,644). The usual length is 4 years and 2 years. 96% are full-time and 841 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (100% of courses with a stated intake). Humboldt State University offers the widest choice, with 298 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 41 of these universities. University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is the least expensive at USD 5,274 a year and Columbia University the most at USD 66,000; the middle of the range is about USD 22,870. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for Bachelor's in the United States?

Harvard University (QS World #5), Cornell University (QS World #13) and University of Chicago (QS World #13) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Bachelor's in the United States?

Of those with published fees, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is the least expensive at about USD 5,274 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How many public universities offer Bachelor's in the United States?

1,013 public and 11 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Bachelor's course take in the United States?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 2 years the next most common.

When do Bachelor's courses start in the United States?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study Bachelor's online with a university in the United States?

841 of these courses are listed as online.

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