Universities in the USA: A Guide for International Students

The United States has long been a top destination for international students seeking a world-class education. American universities consistently rank among the best globally, offering diverse academic programs, cutting-edge research opportunities, and vibrant campus life. This comprehensive guide explores top U.S. universities by state, highlights their most popular majors, and includes essential information like tuition fees, acceptance rates, and international student support.

U.S. University Rankings

Rankings from sources such as U.S. News & World Report, QS World University Rankings, and Times Higher Education help students compare universities based on academic reputation, research output, faculty qualifications, and student satisfaction. Top-tier institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT consistently rank among the top globally.

Top U.S. Universities by State

• Arizona State University (ASU) (Tempe, AZ): ASU is known for its innovative approach to education and strong programs in Business, Engineering, and Journalism. For the 2024–2025 academic year, international undergraduate tuition is approximately $34,398. The university's acceptance rate is about 88%, and over 15,000 international students are enrolled.
• University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ): Located in southern Arizona, the university is recognized for its programs in Optical Sciences, Public Health, and Astronomy. For the 2024–2025 academic year, international undergraduate tuition is around $38,000. The acceptance rate is approximately 87%, and the school serves over 4,000 international students.

• Stanford University (Stanford, CA): Located in Silicon Valley, Stanford is renowned for programs in Computer Science, Engineering, and Business. For the 2024–2025 academic year, undergraduate tuition is $21,709 per quarter, totaling approximately $65,127 annually. The university's acceptance rate is 3.6%, and international students make up about 13% of the undergraduate population.
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (Pasadena, CA): Known for science and engineering excellence, Caltech has a 3:1 student-faculty ratio and highly selective admissions. Tuition for 2024–2025 is $65,000. International students make up about 30% of the total student population.
• University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) (Berkeley, CA): UC Berkeley is renowned for its rigorous academic programs and diverse student body. It excels in Computer Science, Engineering, and Economics. For the 2025–2026 academic year, nonresident undergraduate tuition and fees are approximately $44,734. The overall acceptance rate is around 12%, with an estimated 6% for international applicants.
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) (Los Angeles, CA): UCLA is recognized for its strong programs in Business, Film, and Political Science. For the 2024–2025 academic year, nonresident undergraduate tuition and fees are approximately $46,503. The overall acceptance rate is about 9%, with a 6% acceptance rate for international students.
• University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (La Jolla, CA): UCSD is known for its excellent programs in Engineering, Biology, and Computer Science. For the 2024–2025 academic year, nonresident undergraduate tuition and fees are approximately $51,015. The overall acceptance rate is around 25%.
• University of California, Irvine (UCI) (Irvine, CA): UCI excels in Computer Science, Engineering, and Biological Sciences. For the 2025–2026 academic year, nonresident undergraduate tuition and fees are approximately $37,602. The acceptance rate is about 21%.
• University of Southern California (USC) (Los Angeles, CA): USC is renowned for its programs in Film, Business, and Computer Science. For the 2024–2025 academic year, undergraduate tuition and fees are approximately $71,647. The acceptance rate is about 10%, with international students comprising approximately 26.6% of the student body.
• University of California, Davis (UC Davis) (Davis, CA): UC Davis is known for its strong programs in Agriculture, Engineering, and Biological Sciences. For the 2025–2026 academic year, nonresident undergraduate tuition and fees are approximately $47,682. The overall acceptance rate is around 42%, with an international acceptance rate of approximately 34.2%.

• University of Connecticut (UConn) (Storrs, CT): UConn is noted for its programs in Pharmacy, Business, and Law. For the 2024–2025 academic year, international undergraduate tuition is approximately $41,000. The university’s acceptance rate is 55%, and over 2,000 international students are enrolled.

• Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.): Celebrated for programs in International Relations, Business, and Political Science. Tuition and fees are approximately $65,082 for 2024–2025. The acceptance rate is about 12%, with a strong international student presence.
• University of Washington (UW) (Seattle, WA): Offers strong programs in Computer Science, Engineering, and Business. Tuition for nonresidents is around $42,831 annually. The overall acceptance rate is about 47%, with over 7,000 international students.

• University of Florida (Gainesville, FL): Noted for Business, Engineering, and Health Sciences. Tuition for nonresidents is around $28,658. The acceptance rate is about 23%, with more than 6,000 international students enrolled.

• Emory University (Atlanta, GA): Known for programs in Business, Biology, and Psychology. Tuition for 2024–2025 is $60,774. The acceptance rate is approximately 16%, with international students representing about 18% of undergraduates.

• University of Chicago (Chicago, IL): Renowned for its rigorous academic environment, the University of Chicago offers top majors like Economics, Political Science, and Mathematics. For the 2024–2025 academic year, undergraduate tuition is $67,446, with total costs approximately $93,633. The acceptance rate stands at 6.2%, and international students comprise a significant portion of the student body.
• Northwestern University (Evanston, IL): Known for Journalism, Economics, and Psychology. Tuition is $63,468. The acceptance rate is 6.8%, and international students make up a notable percentage of the population.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Urbana-Champaign, IL): Offers strong programs in Engineering, Computer Science, and Business. Tuition ranges from $39,392 to $49,742. The international student acceptance rate is around 45%.

• University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN): Recognized for Business, Political Science, and Engineering. Tuition for 2024–2025 is $64,200. The acceptance rate is around 12%, and international students make up roughly 10% of the student population.

• Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD): Leading in Public Health, Biology, and Computer Science. Tuition is approximately $63,000. The acceptance rate is 7.5%, and 20% of students are international.
• University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) (College Park, MD): Strong in Engineering, Business, and Computer Science. Nonresident tuition is around $39,000. The acceptance rate is 45%, and UMD enrolls over 4,000 international students.

• Harvard University (Cambridge, MA): Harvard remains a global leader across disciplines, including Economics, Computer Science, and Government. Undergraduate tuition is $56,550, with total costs ranging from $86,366 to $91,166. Acceptance rate: 3.4%; international students: ~27.2%.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (Cambridge, MA): World-renowned for STEM. Tuition: $61,990; total cost: ~$85,960. Acceptance rate: 4.5%; international reach: students from 138+ countries.
• Tufts University (Medford, MA): Known for International Relations, Engineering, and Medicine. Tuition: ~$65,222. Acceptance rate: 11%; international population: 15%.
• Boston University (Boston, MA): Offers Business, Communications, and Psychology. Tuition: ~$62,360. Acceptance rate: 14%; international students: ~24%.

• University of Michigan – Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI): Offers top programs in Business, Engineering, and Computer Science. Tuition for international undergraduates is approximately $63,000. The acceptance rate is about 18%, with international students making up around 16% of the student body.

• University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN): Offers top programs in Engineering, Business, and Health Sciences. Nonresident tuition is about $36,000. The acceptance rate is 73%, and the school hosts over 6,000 international students.

• Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO): Offers strong majors in Business, Engineering, and Biology. Tuition is $63,800. Acceptance rate is about 11%, and 13% of students are international.

• Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH): Ivy League school emphasizing liberal arts and programs like Economics, Government, and Computer Science. Tuition is $65,511. The acceptance rate is 6%, and around 12% of undergraduates are international.

• Princeton University (Princeton, NJ): Princeton offers majors such as Economics, Computer Science, and Public Policy. Tuition is $62,400. The university's acceptance rate is 4%, with international students comprising 12% of the student body.

• Columbia University (New York, NY): Columbia offers majors in Economics, Political Science, and Computer Science. Tuition and fees are $71,170, with total estimated costs around $93,417. The acceptance rate for international students stands at 3.9%.
• New York University (NYU) (New York, NY): NYU excels in Film, Business, and Arts. Tuition is approximately $63,000. The acceptance rate for international students is 16.2%.

• University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN): Offers top programs in Engineering, Business, and Health Sciences. Nonresident tuition is about $36,000. The acceptance rate is 73%, and the school hosts over 6,000 international students.

• Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO): Offers strong majors in Business, Engineering, and Biology. Tuition is $63,800. Acceptance rate is about 11%, and 13% of students are international.

• Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH): Ivy League school emphasizing liberal arts and programs like Economics, Government, and Computer Science. Tuition is $65,511. The acceptance rate is 6%, and around 12% of undergraduates are international.

• Princeton University (Princeton, NJ): Princeton offers majors such as Economics, Computer Science, and Public Policy. Tuition is $62,400. The university's acceptance rate is 4%, with international students comprising 12% of the student body.

• Columbia University (New York, NY): Columbia offers majors in Economics, Political Science, and Computer Science. Tuition and fees are $71,170, with total estimated costs around $93,417. The acceptance rate for international students stands at 3.9%.
• New York University (NYU) (New York, NY): NYU excels in Film, Business, and Arts. Tuition is approximately $63,000. The acceptance rate for international students is 16.2%.

• Duke University (Durham, NC): Duke excels in Public Policy, Economics, and Engineering. For the 2024–2025 academic year, undergraduate tuition and fees are approximately $69,140. The acceptance rate stands at approximately 5.9%. International students are an integral part of the Duke community.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) (Chapel Hill, NC): Known for Journalism, Business, and Psychology, UNC offers financial aid for international students. Nonresident tuition is approximately $39,228. The overall acceptance rate is about 16.8%, with an 8.2% rate for out-of-state applicants.

• Ohio State University (Columbus, OH): Strong in Business, Engineering, and Health Sciences. International tuition is ~$38,365. Acceptance rate: 57%. Over 6,000 international students are enrolled.
• Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH): Known for Engineering, Medicine, and Law. Tuition is ~$65,000. Acceptance rate: ~30%. International students: ~16%.

• University of Oregon (Eugene, OR): Known for Journalism, Business, and Environmental Law. Tuition is ~$43,000. Acceptance rate: 83%. International enrollment exceeds 3,000 students.
• Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR): Offers top programs in Engineering, Forestry, and Marine Sciences. Tuition is ~$34,000. The university enrolls 4,000+ international students.

• University of Pennsylvania (Penn) (Philadelphia, PA): Known for Business, Economics, and Engineering. Tuition is ~$68,686. Acceptance rate: 6.5%. International students: ~13%.
• Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA): Excels in Computer Science, Engineering, and Business. Tuition is ~$61,344. Acceptance rate: ~11.4%. Strong international presence.
• University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA): Known for Health Sciences and Engineering. Tuition: ~$36,000. Acceptance rate: 66%. Hosts thousands of international students.

• Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN): Known for Engineering, Business, and Medicine. Tuition: ~$63,610. Acceptance rate: ~7.7%. 11% of students are international.

• Rice University (Houston, TX): Offers top programs in Business, Engineering, and Computer Science. Tuition: ~$54,100. Acceptance rate: 8%. International students: ~14%.
• University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) (Austin, TX): Excels in Business, Engineering, and Computer Science. Nonresident tuition: ~$44,042. Acceptance rate: ~29%; ~12% for out-of-state students.

• University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT): Offers strong programs in Medicine, Business, and Engineering. Tuition: ~$31,104. Acceptance rate: ~79%. More than 2,000 international students enrolled.
• Brigham Young University (BYU) (Provo, UT): Known for Business, Languages, and Humanities. Tuition: ~$13,000. Acceptance rate: ~67%. Smaller international student body.

• University of Virginia (UVA) (Charlottesville, VA): Known for Business, Political Science, and Economics. Nonresident tuition: ~$57,884. Acceptance rate: ~16%. International student population: ~8%.

• University of Washington (UW) (Seattle, WA): Offers top programs in Computer Science, Engineering, and Business. Tuition: ~$42,831. Acceptance rate: ~47%. Hosts 7,000+ international students.

• University of Wisconsin–Madison (Madison, WI): Recognized for Engineering, Business, and Computer Science. Tuition: ~$41,000. Acceptance rate: 49%. 4,000+ international students enrolled.