What are the top 10 universities in the USA?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:A college with ED doesn't belong to the top tier. It demonstrates lack of confidence competing with HYPSM. So Columbia isn't HYPSM caliber. Neither is Penn or Chicago.

Can’t we stipulate that HYPSM are the top tier?
It is reality that Columbia, Chicago and Northwestern are not currently in the same tier as HYPSM.

I think there's ~15 "elite" schools in the US, of which "top tier" constitutes HYPSM. The other 10 elite schools are (no particular order):

Brown
Columbia
Cornell
Chicago
Northwestern
Duke
Dartmouth
JHU
Caltech
Penn

This is for undergrad only obviously

People on here need to look up the definition of university. I thought there were decent number of educated folks l
around here. University includes all students both undergraduate and graduate, faculty and academic research.

+1. I am disappointed in how all these posters keep talking about the undergraduate college as if it's the only component within a university. Clearly they do not know what a university is.

If this thread was named "what are the top 10 most desirable undergraduate colleges in the USA?," then those posters' argument would stand true.

The fact of the matter is that HYPSM has no legitimacy nor significance outside the undergraduate colleges. You can't assume that HYPSM are the best 5 universities just because they have the most desirable undergraduate programs.

Princeton as a university is weaker than Columbia. While Princeton's STEM is better than Columbia's, they are pretty much equal in the humanities and social sciences. But Princeton loses because they do not have top business, law, and medical schools like Columbia.

I don't understand why to some posters, the only important component of a university is their undergrad. If anything, grad school is more important and significant.

You could make the same case against MIT (except for business) and Caltech, but globally and for U.S. competitiveness I would argue they are certainly among the most important and significant.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My take


1. HYPSM
2. Columbia, Penn, Caltech
3. Brown, Dartmouth, Berkeley
4. Duke, Chicago
5. JHU, Cornell, Northwestern

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Undergraduate:

Harvard Stanford MIT
Yale Princeton
Columbia Caltech
Penn Chicago
Northwestern Duke Dartmouth Brown
Cornell JHU

Overall:

Harvard
Stanford MIT
Columbia Yale
Princeton
Penn Chicago Berkeley
Northwestern Duke

Good list

+1

+2

+100

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Just look at US News & World Report and be done with it.

I don’t think so.

Why not?

Why?

Seems like USNWR often changes its ranking formula in order to jumble up their list to get more eyeballs and clicks. Would be bad for USNWR business, if the top 10 was the same every year. Was a joke when they listed Chicago at number 3. HYPSM should be alone in the top 5 every year until they are knocked off their respective perches. USNWR lost credibility with me with the #3 Chicago ranking a few years back. Chicago should be somewhere in the 6-10 range. No way Chicago deserves to be at number 3. This is not an attack on Chicago but how many students would choose Chicago over Stanford. 1 in a hundred maybe.

Student preference shouldn't be factored in rankings. Many reasons why a kid will choose one school over another, like Cali weather or grade inflation, etc.

Of course it should be factored. It means that one school is getting a much stronger student body and the other not. It would be like a NFL draft where HYPSM gets to choose all the players in the first 5 rounds.

But that doesn't mean you can create tiers out of it. It's not like after the 5th round, the students suddenly become unintelligent and undistinguished. There's no sudden drop in student caliber after HYPSM.

There is some drop in student caliber after HYPSM but neither as minimal nor as severe as the pp suggests.

[Anonymous]

Below are the top universities in the US according to Peer Assessment Ratings from USNWR.

Harvard University 4.9
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4.9
Princeton University 4.9
Stanford University 4.9
Yale University 4.8
California Institute of Technology 4.7
Columbia University 4.7
Johns Hopkins University 4.7
University of California-Berkeley 4.7
Cornell University 4.6
University of Chicago 4.6
University of Pennsylvania 4.6
Brown University 4.5
Duke University 4.5
Northwestern University 4.5
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 4.5

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just look at US News & World Report and be done with it.

I don’t think so.

Why not?

Why?

Seems like USNWR often changes its ranking formula in order to jumble up their list to get more eyeballs and clicks. Would be bad for USNWR business, if the top 10 was the same every year. Was a joke when they listed Chicago at number 3. HYPSM should be alone in the top 5 every year until they are knocked off their respective perches. USNWR lost credibility with me with the #3 Chicago ranking a few years back. Chicago should be somewhere in the 6-10 range. No way Chicago deserves to be at number 3. This is not an attack on Chicago but how many students would choose Chicago over Stanford. 1 in a hundred maybe.

Student preference shouldn't be factored in rankings. Many reasons why a kid will choose one school over another, like Cali weather or grade inflation, etc.

Of course it should be factored. It means that one school is getting a much stronger student body and the other not. It would be like a NFL draft where HYPSM gets to choose all the players in the first 5 rounds.

But that doesn't mean you can create tiers out of it. It's not like after the 5th round, the students suddenly become unintelligent and undistinguished. There's no sudden drop in student caliber after HYPSM.

There is some drop in student caliber after HYPSM but neither as minimal nor as severe as the pp suggests.

do you really think that the students admitted to Caltech aren't identical to those pruning a science degree at HYPSM? Chicago and Harvey Mudd actually have higher SATs scores for incoming students than any of them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, 9 pages. You folks are nuts.

If we are nuts at 9 pages what are we at 26 pages?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Below are the top universities in the US according to Peer Assessment Ratings from USNWR.

Harvard University 4.9
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4.9
Princeton University 4.9
Stanford University 4.9
Yale University 4.8
California Institute of Technology 4.7
Columbia University 4.7
Johns Hopkins University 4.7
University of California-Berkeley 4.7
Cornell University 4.6
University of Chicago 4.6
University of Pennsylvania 4.6
Brown University 4.5
Duke University 4.5
Northwestern University 4.5
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 4.5

Most accurate list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Below are the top universities in the US according to Peer Assessment Ratings from USNWR.

Harvard University 4.9
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4.9
Princeton University 4.9
Stanford University 4.9
Yale University 4.8
California Institute of Technology 4.7
Columbia University 4.7
Johns Hopkins University 4.7
University of California-Berkeley 4.7
Cornell University 4.6
University of Chicago 4.6
University of Pennsylvania 4.6
Brown University 4.5
Duke University 4.5
Northwestern University 4.5
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 4.5

Most accurate list.

Surprised uva boosters haven’t popped up arguing uva belongs on the list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Below are the top universities in the US according to Peer Assessment Ratings from USNWR.

Harvard University 4.9
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4.9
Princeton University 4.9
Stanford University 4.9
Yale University 4.8
California Institute of Technology 4.7
Columbia University 4.7
Johns Hopkins University 4.7
University of California-Berkeley 4.7
Cornell University 4.6
University of Chicago 4.6
University of Pennsylvania 4.6
Brown University 4.5
Duke University 4.5
Northwestern University 4.5
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 4.5

Most accurate list.

Surprised uva boosters haven’t popped up arguing uva belongs on the list.

How could something "belong" on a list that is the data from a survey?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard Stanford MIT
Yale Princeton Columbia
Penn Chicago Caltech
Northwestern Duke Dartmouth Brown Berkeley
Cornell Johns Hopkins

Best list so far.

Not sure Stanford is above Yale, Princeton, Columbia. I know multiple kids who were rejected by Yale, Princeton, Columbia but admitted to Stanford.

Stanford is probably in a similar tier with Yale and Princeton, but these days perception is that Harvard and Stanford are best of best. There is a drop between HYPSM and Columbia

So what exactly is this gap between HYPSM and Columbia?

Funny, Ivy originally came from IV - Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia.

Look, I’m a DP and a fan of Columbia, but this is an urban legend that is mostly only touted by Columbia alums.

Pathetically insecure...

Please check the facts before you post. Ignorance is the most pathetic thing on this thread; it wins by a hair over those insecure posters.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercollegiate_Football_Association

"On November 23, 1876, representatives from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia met at the Massasoit House hotel in Springfield, Massachusetts to standardize a new code of rules based on the rugby game."

So yes, even though the term "Ivy" did not come from "IV," these four schools were the first precursor to the Ivy League.

Princeton, Yale, Harvard, and Columbia had set up a conference of sorts called the “Four League,” only written in Roman numerals as “IV League.” People would say “Ivy League” instead of “Four League.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard Stanford MIT
Yale Princeton Columbia
Penn Chicago Caltech
Northwestern Duke Dartmouth Brown Berkeley
Cornell Johns Hopkins

Best list so far.

Not sure Stanford is above Yale, Princeton, Columbia. I know multiple kids who were rejected by Yale, Princeton, Columbia but admitted to Stanford.

Stanford is probably in a similar tier with Yale and Princeton, but these days perception is that Harvard and Stanford are best of best. There is a drop between HYPSM and Columbia

So what exactly is this gap between HYPSM and Columbia?

Funny, Ivy originally came from IV - Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia.

Look, I’m a DP and a fan of Columbia, but this is an urban legend that is mostly only touted by Columbia alums.

Pathetically insecure...

Please check the facts before you post. Ignorance is the most pathetic thing on this thread; it wins by a hair over those insecure posters.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercollegiate_Football_Association

"On November 23, 1876, representatives from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia met at the Massasoit House hotel in Springfield, Massachusetts to standardize a new code of rules based on the rugby game."

So yes, even though the term "Ivy" did not come from "IV," these four schools were the first precursor to the Ivy League.

Princeton, Yale, Harvard, and Columbia had set up a conference of sorts called the “Four League,” only written in Roman numerals as “IV League.” People would say “Ivy League” instead of “Four League.”

Origin of the name
"Planting the ivy" was a customary class day ceremony at many colleges in the 1800s. In 1893, an alumnus told The Harvard Crimson, "In 1850, class day was placed upon the University Calendar. ... the custom of planting the ivy, while the ivy oration was delivered, arose about this time."[44] At Penn, graduating seniors started the custom of planting ivy at a university building each spring in 1873 and that practice was formally designated as "Ivy Day" in 1874.[45] Ivy planting ceremonies are recorded at Yale, Simmons College, and Bryn Mawr College among other schools.[46][47][48] Princeton's "Ivy Club" was founded in 1879.[49]

The first usage of Ivy in reference to a group of colleges is from sportswriter Stanley Woodward (1895–1965).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_League

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard Stanford MIT
Yale Princeton Columbia
Penn Chicago Caltech
Northwestern Duke Dartmouth Brown Berkeley
Cornell Johns Hopkins

Best list so far.

Not sure Stanford is above Yale, Princeton, Columbia. I know multiple kids who were rejected by Yale, Princeton, Columbia but admitted to Stanford.

Stanford is probably in a similar tier with Yale and Princeton, but these days perception is that Harvard and Stanford are best of best. There is a drop between HYPSM and Columbia

So what exactly is this gap between HYPSM and Columbia?

Funny, Ivy originally came from IV - Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia.

Look, I’m a DP and a fan of Columbia, but this is an urban legend that is mostly only touted by Columbia alums.

Pathetically insecure...

Please check the facts before you post. Ignorance is the most pathetic thing on this thread; it wins by a hair over those insecure posters.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercollegiate_Football_Association

"On November 23, 1876, representatives from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia met at the Massasoit House hotel in Springfield, Massachusetts to standardize a new code of rules based on the rugby game."

So yes, even though the term "Ivy" did not come from "IV," these four schools were the first precursor to the Ivy League.

Princeton, Yale, Harvard, and Columbia had set up a conference of sorts called the “Four League,” only written in Roman numerals as “IV League.” People would say “Ivy League” instead of “Four League.”

Origin of the name
"Planting the ivy" was a customary class day ceremony at many colleges in the 1800s. In 1893, an alumnus told The Harvard Crimson, "In 1850, class day was placed upon the University Calendar. ... the custom of planting the ivy, while the ivy oration was delivered, arose about this time."[44] At Penn, graduating seniors started the custom of planting ivy at a university building each spring in 1873 and that practice was formally designated as "Ivy Day" in 1874.[45] Ivy planting ceremonies are recorded at Yale, Simmons College, and Bryn Mawr College among other schools.[46][47][48] Princeton's "Ivy Club" was founded in 1879.[49]

The first usage of Ivy in reference to a group of colleges is from sportswriter Stanley Woodward (1895–1965).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_League

If your story is correct, why aren’t Simmons College, and Bryn Mawr College part of Ivy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard Stanford MIT
Yale Princeton Columbia
Penn Chicago Caltech
Northwestern Duke Dartmouth Brown Berkeley
Cornell Johns Hopkins

Best list so far.

Not sure Stanford is above Yale, Princeton, Columbia. I know multiple kids who were rejected by Yale, Princeton, Columbia but admitted to Stanford.

Stanford is probably in a similar tier with Yale and Princeton, but these days perception is that Harvard and Stanford are best of best. There is a drop between HYPSM and Columbia

So what exactly is this gap between HYPSM and Columbia?

Funny, Ivy originally came from IV - Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia.

Look, I’m a DP and a fan of Columbia, but this is an urban legend that is mostly only touted by Columbia alums.

Pathetically insecure...

Please check the facts before you post. Ignorance is the most pathetic thing on this thread; it wins by a hair over those insecure posters.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercollegiate_Football_Association

"On November 23, 1876, representatives from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia met at the Massasoit House hotel in Springfield, Massachusetts to standardize a new code of rules based on the rugby game."

So yes, even though the term "Ivy" did not come from "IV," these four schools were the first precursor to the Ivy League.

Princeton, Yale, Harvard, and Columbia had set up a conference of sorts called the “Four League,” only written in Roman numerals as “IV League.” People would say “Ivy League” instead of “Four League.”

Origin of the name
"Planting the ivy" was a customary class day ceremony at many colleges in the 1800s. In 1893, an alumnus told The Harvard Crimson, "In 1850, class day was placed upon the University Calendar. ... the custom of planting the ivy, while the ivy oration was delivered, arose about this time."[44] At Penn, graduating seniors started the custom of planting ivy at a university building each spring in 1873 and that practice was formally designated as "Ivy Day" in 1874.[45] Ivy planting ceremonies are recorded at Yale, Simmons College, and Bryn Mawr College among other schools.[46][47][48] Princeton's "Ivy Club" was founded in 1879.[49]

The first usage of Ivy in reference to a group of colleges is from sportswriter Stanley Woodward (1895–1965).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_League

If your story is correct, why aren’t Simmons College, and Bryn Mawr College part of Ivy?

Logic. You fail it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard Stanford MIT
Yale Princeton Columbia
Penn Chicago Caltech
Northwestern Duke Dartmouth Brown Berkeley
Cornell Johns Hopkins

Best list so far.

Not sure Stanford is above Yale, Princeton, Columbia. I know multiple kids who were rejected by Yale, Princeton, Columbia but admitted to Stanford.

Stanford is probably in a similar tier with Yale and Princeton, but these days perception is that Harvard and Stanford are best of best. There is a drop between HYPSM and Columbia

So what exactly is this gap between HYPSM and Columbia?

Funny, Ivy originally came from IV - Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia.

Look, I’m a DP and a fan of Columbia, but this is an urban legend that is mostly only touted by Columbia alums.

Pathetically insecure...

Please check the facts before you post. Ignorance is the most pathetic thing on this thread; it wins by a hair over those insecure posters.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercollegiate_Football_Association

"On November 23, 1876, representatives from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia met at the Massasoit House hotel in Springfield, Massachusetts to standardize a new code of rules based on the rugby game."

So yes, even though the term "Ivy" did not come from "IV," these four schools were the first precursor to the Ivy League.

Princeton, Yale, Harvard, and Columbia had set up a conference of sorts called the “Four League,” only written in Roman numerals as “IV League.” People would say “Ivy League” instead of “Four League.”

Origin of the name
"Planting the ivy" was a customary class day ceremony at many colleges in the 1800s. In 1893, an alumnus told The Harvard Crimson, "In 1850, class day was placed upon the University Calendar. ... the custom of planting the ivy, while the ivy oration was delivered, arose about this time."[44] At Penn, graduating seniors started the custom of planting ivy at a university building each spring in 1873 and that practice was formally designated as "Ivy Day" in 1874.[45] Ivy planting ceremonies are recorded at Yale, Simmons College, and Bryn Mawr College among other schools.[46][47][48] Princeton's "Ivy Club" was founded in 1879.[49]

The first usage of Ivy in reference to a group of colleges is from sportswriter Stanley Woodward (1895–1965).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_League

If your story is correct, why aren’t Simmons College, and Bryn Mawr College part of Ivy?

because Bryn Mawr's men's athletics weren't quite on the level of Harvard and the Ivy league was a sports league