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860 Best Science Universities in the United States

Harvard University tops our list of 860 Science universities in the United States at #5 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Cornell University (QS World #13) and University of Chicago (QS World #13) complete the top three. The universities on this list offer 2,545 matching courses between them.

860 universities · ranked best first

how we rank

How these universities are ranked

63 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #5 (Harvard University) to #575 (University of South Carolina); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. Harvard University has the largest research record in this group, with 146,463,495 citations and an h-index of 2,807. 32 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 850 public to 10 private institutions. By location, New York (6), Massachusetts (5) and Connecticut (2) 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.

Levels, lengths and start dates

By level: 1,717 bachelor's, 158 master's, 114 diploma and 66 phd / doctorate. Within the subject, the largest areas are Science (2,413), Chemistry (34), Mathematics (19) and Geology (15). The usual length is 4 years and 2 years. 98% are full-time and 35 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (96% of courses with a stated intake). Humboldt State University offers the widest choice, with 30 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 34 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

Which is the best university in the United States for Science?

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 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 Science in the United States?

850 public and 10 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Science course take in the United States?

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

When do 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 Science online with a university in the United States?

35 of these courses are listed as online.

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