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101 Best Public Master's Science Universities in the United States

Of the 101 Public Master's Science universities in the United States, Johns Hopkins University ranks highest at #24 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Next come University of California, Berkeley (QS World #28) and University of California, Los Angeles (QS World #40). The universities on this list offer 157 matching courses between them.

101 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
40Ranked
IS Idaho State University logo
#464 in United States United States
#464 in United States · by research impact
437,218 citations · h-index 225

By university type

How these universities are ranked

17 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #24 (Johns Hopkins University) to #575 (University of South Carolina); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. Johns Hopkins University has the largest research record in this group, with 78,461,703 citations and an h-index of 2,284. 6 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

The split is 101 public to 0 private institutions. By location, California (1), New York (1) and Puerto Rico (1) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is University of California, Berkeley, founded in 1868. University of California, Berkeley is the largest, with 45,000 students.

What the courses look like

Within the subject, the largest areas are Science (143), Forensic Science (4), Chemistry (3) and Environmental Science (2). The usual length is 1–2 years and null. 95% are full-time and 6 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). New Mexico State University offers the widest choice, with 8 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 3 of these universities. University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is the least expensive at USD 5,274 a year and University of California, Berkeley the most at USD 44,000; the middle of the range is about USD 15,185. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for Public Master's Science in the United States?

Johns Hopkins University (QS World #24), University of California, Berkeley (QS World #28) and University of California, Los Angeles (QS World #40) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Public Master's Science 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 Public Master's Science in the United States?

101 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Public Master's Science course take in the United States?

Most listed courses run 1–2 years, with null the next most common.

When do Public Master's Science 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 Public Master's Science online with a university in the United States?

6 of these courses are listed as online.

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