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516 Best Public Master's Universities in the United States

Of the 516 Public Master's universities in the United States, University of Chicago ranks highest at #13 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Next come Johns Hopkins University (QS World #24) and University of California, Berkeley (QS World #28). Across the whole list there are 4,338 courses to choose from.

516 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
292Ranked
SX Saint Xavier University logo
#929 in United States United States
#929 in United States · by research impact
56,479 citations · h-index 108
293Ranked
UH University of Houston-Downtown logo
#932 in United States United States
#932 in United States · by research impact
55,799 citations · h-index 98
299Ranked
UI University of the Incarnate Word logo
#950 in United States United States
#950 in United States · by research impact
52,221 citations · h-index 89
301Ranked
BU Bastyr University logo
#959 in United States United States
#959 in United States · by research impact
49,964 citations · h-index 97
305Ranked
GC Goucher College logo
#978 in United States United States
#978 in United States · by research impact
45,576 citations · h-index 94
307Ranked
NU Niagara University logo
#981 in United States United States
#981 in United States · by research impact
44,951 citations · h-index 90

How these universities are ranked

30 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #13 (University of Chicago) to #575 (University of South Carolina); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: Johns Hopkins University is cited most (78,461,703 citations). 22 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

516 are public and 0 private (100% public). By location, New York (3), Texas (3) and Washington (2) 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.

Inside the course list

The most common subjects are Business & Management (800), Education (606), Medicine & Health Sciences (580) and Social Sciences & Psychology (458). The usual length is 1–2 years and null. 82% are full-time and 666 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). Pratt Institute offers the widest choice, with 73 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 17 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 19,531. 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 in the United States?

University of Chicago (QS World #13), Johns Hopkins University (QS World #24) and University of California, Berkeley (QS World #28) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

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

516 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

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

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

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

666 of these courses are listed as online.

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