Best Universities in the USA: Here’s a state-wise overview of some of the best universities in the USA — highlighting leading institutions (both public and private) that are known for strong academics, research, reputation, and overall excellence.
Which States Have the Most Colleges?
States with the most colleges generally follow the state’s population. Unsurprisingly, California tops the list by being the most populated and having the most institutions – 644. According to IPEDs data, the next in the top 5 states with the most colleges are New York, Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania. All the colleges and universities on the following list are Title IV institutions. This means they must meet basic criteria such as being accredited by the U.S. Department of Education, offering at least one program leading to a degree, and more. Below, you’ll find the number of colleges by state for the top 15 states with the most colleges:
State Total Institutions
California 644
New York 423
Texas 394
Florida 328
Pennsylvania 301
Ohio 270
Illinois 234
North Carolina 164
Michigan 159
New Jersey 155
Massachusetts 148
Tennessee 148
Virginia 143
Missouri 142
Georgia 141States With the Most Top-Ranked Universities:
- California: Along with having the most colleges by state in the U.S., California also has the highest number of top-ranked institutions. Some of the top-ranked colleges on the list include Stanford University, Pomona College, and California Institute of Technology. Several public universities are also on the list, including the University of California – Los Angeles, the University of California – Berkeley, and the University of Southern California, among others.
- New York: The state of New York has the second-most top-ranked universities in the USA. Two of these are Ivy League schools: Cornell University and Columbia University in the City of New York. The state is also home to institutions such as the United States Military Academy, Barnard College, and schools in the State University of New York system.
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania is home to an Ivy League school, the University of Pennsylvania, and several other highly-ranked colleges and universities like Carnegie Mellon University and Haverford College.
- Massachusetts: In terms of the number of colleges by state, Massachusetts is number 11. However, when it comes to the number of top-ranked schools in the state, it ranks 4th. Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University regularly rank in the top 5 schools in the nation. It also has institutions like Amherst College, Boston College, and Boston University.
- Texas: Some of the most notable top-ranked institutions in Texas are Rice University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Southern Methodist University.