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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
121Ranked
UN University of North Carolina at Wilmington logo
#439 in United States United States
#439 in United States · by research impact
527,944 citations · h-index 230
122Ranked
UN University of New Haven logo
#442 in United States United States
#442 in United States · by research impact
517,864 citations · h-index 266
123Ranked
AS Appalachian State University logo
#446 in United States United States
#446 in United States · by research impact
506,320 citations · h-index 240
124Ranked
PU Park University logo
#448 in United States United States
#448 in United States · by research impact
505,217 citations · h-index 277
125Ranked
MS Morehouse School of Medicine logo
#449 in United States United States
#449 in United States · by research impact
503,850 citations · h-index 233
127Ranked
UM University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth logo
#454 in United States United States
#454 in United States · by research impact
480,894 citations · h-index 239
129Ranked
IS Idaho State University logo
#464 in United States United States
#464 in United States · by research impact
437,218 citations · h-index 225
131Ranked
CS California State University, Fresno logo
#466 in United States United States
#466 in United States · by research impact
419,341 citations · h-index 234
134Ranked
SC Smith College logo
#472 in United States United States
#472 in United States · by research impact
382,769 citations · h-index 228
135Ranked
CG Claremont Graduate University logo
#475 in United States United States
#475 in United States · by research impact
380,179 citations · h-index 241
137Ranked
MU Midwestern University logo
#479 in United States United States
#479 in United States · by research impact
370,219 citations · h-index 228
139Ranked
UW University of Washington-Bothell Campus logo
#488 in United States Bothell, Washington, United States

University of Washington-Bothell Campus

Public University · 13 courses in Master's

All 13 courses →
USD 43,155/yrTuition (indicative)
Founded
5,457Students
International
Admissions open
#488 in United States · by research impact
343,677 citations · h-index 210

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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