The best universities in the US for 2022, according to QS

The QS World University Rankings 2022 indicates the best universities in the US, as the country looks to welcome more international students post-pandemic, under the Biden administration. As with previous years, US universities dominate the top 10, each with something special to offer to the global higher education landscape. Have a look at the best universities in the US for 2022, according to QS.

QS has given MIT a perfect ranking in several areas, such as their international faculty ratio. Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

QS’s first in the world for four years running, MIT ranks perfectly in reputation, research paper citations, faculty: student ratio, even international faculty ratio. Admission is competitive, with notable alumni including Nobel Peace Prize winner Kofi Annan, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and Buzzfeed co-founder Jonah Peretti. There are over 3,700 international students in this university, which is often held as the standard for engineering and sciences education.

Stanford University

Students with both technical and leadership strengths are often drawn to Stanford for its diverse programmes. Athletics is a strong point too, with Stanford producing more Olympians than other universities in the US. The student body here is also famously entrepreneurial; its alumni went on to form HP, Nike, Netflix, and Paypal, undoubtedly beginning their journey in the campus halls. There are close to 4,000 international students.

Harvard University

Almost 6,000 international students are enrolled at Harvard, one of the Ivy League universities in the US with a perfect employer reputation score from QS. As the oldest higher learning institution in the US, it has been shaping leaders in medicine, law, and business for centuries. Famous graduates include astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, and actress Natalie Portman.

US scientists Frances Arnold of Caltech (pictured) and George Smith, together with British researcher Gregory Winter, won the 2018 Nobel Chemistry Prize for applying the principles of evolution to develop enzymes used to make everything from biofuels to medicine. Arnold is only the fifth woman to clinch chemistry’s most prestigious honour since Marie Curie in 1911. Source: HO/Caltech/AFP

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Caltech is small but focused compared to other top universities in the US, with just under 700 international students on its campus near downtown Los Angeles. Among its main strengths are its faculty members, who are carefully selected among leading academics. Caltech’s high research output is supported by facilities such as the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Caltech Seismological Laboratory, and the International Observatory Network.

University of Chicago (UChicago)

Around 4,700 international students attend UChicago —  the alma mater of icons such as writer Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and dancer Katherine Dunham. Barack Obama also famously taught law here. Not only is UChicago known for its public policy programmes, it was also the first in the US to offer the graduate international affairs and executive MBA programmes.

University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)

With over 4,600 international students and more than 5,000 faculty members, UPenn received a perfect rating for faculty:student ratio. Students choose this Ivy League school for its highly-ranked medical and veterinary courses. UPenn is also home to the renowned Wharton School; Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, and Warren Buffet all went to grad school here.

Yale University

Famed for its law, management, and fine arts courses, Yale played a part in shaping high-profile actors such as Meryl Streep, Paul Newman, and Jodie Foster. Access to great resources affords students here a great social life, with various societies and parties to fill up your time with. Over 2,500 international students currently enjoy the low-key city college life in New Haven, Connecticut.

Mike Pride, administrator of The Pulitzer Prizes, announces the 2016 Pulitzer Prize winners at Columbia University in New York on April 18, 2016. Source: Jewel Samad/AFP

Columbia University

Over 11,000 international students are lucky to be admitted into one of the most selective universities in the US, with alumni ranging from Oscar winners to Nobel Laureates, US Presidents and Supreme Court judges. As the home of the Pulitzer Prize, Columbia places significant emphasis on journalism, literature, and music education. It’s no wonder that it has more Nobel Laureates than any other US institution.

Princeton University

Princeton has just under 2,000 international students, with a breathtaking campus featuring iconic buildings such as the Gehry-designed Lewis Library. It offers well-reputed humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering programmes. On top of that, its alumni list boasts names such as Jeff Bezos, Michelle Obama, and Queen Noor of Jordan.

Cornell University

Of all universities in the US, Cornell was the pioneer of journalism degrees as well as the study of Far Eastern languages. It has the highest acceptance rate of all Ivy League schools, which barely reaches 11%. Cornell currently hosts over 5,600 international students at its Ithica, New York campus, with graduates such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Bill Nye.