Top Universities in the US 2016/17

**This article is for the QS World University Rankings® 2016/17 results. Click here to discover the top universities in the US in 2018.

The world's leading international study destination, the US consistently dominates the global rankings tables – and this remains the case in the QS World University Rankings® 2016-2017. Top US universities account for almost a third (32) of the top 100 positions in the ranking, with a further 30 US universities in the global top 300. Read on to discover this year's top 10, as well as how the other 144 top US universities featured in the ranking.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

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The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)tops the QS World University Rankings 2016-2017, placing 1^st for the fifth year running. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, MIT is of course known for its physical sciences and engineering, but is also increasingly well-respected for other subject areas in the social sciences, arts and humanities.

2. Stanford University

Climbing one place this year to overtake Harvard,Stanford University ranks second in the world in the 2016-2017 tables. Located in the heart of the famous Silicon Valley, Stanford University and is particularly well-known for its business courses – with an alumni community full of successful entrepreneurs.

3. Harvard University

Harvard University concludes the uninterrupted trio of US universities at the top of the QS World University Rankings this year. Harvard is the oldest university in the US, dating back to 1636, and achieved the top position for life sciences and medicine in the QS World University Rankings by Faculty 2015. 

4. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Retaining fifth place in the overall world ranking this year is California Institute of Technology, commonly known as Caltech, located in the city of Pasadena, California. The smallest US university in the top 10, Caltech punches above its weight – particularly in scientific and technical subjects.

5. University of Chicago

Ranked fifth in the US and tenth in the world this year, the University of Chicago is affiliated with 89 Nobel Prize winners, and its physics department is known for developing the world's first man-made, self-sustaining nuclear reaction.

6. Princeton University

Princeton University retains its position, at 11^thplace once again this year. Another of the oldest US universities, it's especially renowned for academic excellence in the arts and humanities, achieving seventh place for this in the faculty rankings.

7. Yale University

Ranked 15^th in the world, Yale University's alumni includes five US presidents and 13 billionaires, and in 1861 the university awarded the first PhD in the US. Around 20% of Yale's 12,385 students are international, representing 118 countries.

8. Cornell University

Located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell Universityranks 16^th in the world this year. Having awarded the nation's first veterinary medicine degree, it currently ranks second in the world for veterinary science in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2016.

9. Johns Hopkins University

Ranked 17^th in the world, Johns Hopkins University was established in 1876. Considered to be the first research university in the US, it is particularly esteemed for research and teaching in the life sciences and medicine (achieving fifth place for this in the QS World University Rankings by Faculty).

10. University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania, commonly known as Penn, is ranked 18^th in the world this year. Located in Philadelphia, it's another institution which is highly regarded for life sciences and medicine, achieving first place in this year's inaugural ranking of the world's top nursing schools.