by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in the United States, it can be hard to know where to start. We have ranked **518** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 518 graduate schools on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal graduate school depends on your goals. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Start by picking a degree level:
Looking to pit your favorite graduate schools against each other? We built a tool called College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston tops our 2026 ranking of the best graduate schools in the United States. Based in Houston, TX, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,748, with out-of-state students paying around $43,132. Graduates go on to earn a median of $101,165 early in their careers. The median student debt is $21,988.
Northwestern University came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the United States. Based in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Northwestern University graduates report median early-career earnings of $78,551. The median student debt is $16,616.
Out of the 518 graduate schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Stanford University landed the #3 spot. Based in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $100,827. Typical student debt is $10,492.
University Of Chicago came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the United States. Set in Chicago, IL, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Early-career graduates earn a median of $81,002. University Of Chicago students take on a median of $15,854 in debt.
Out of the 518 graduate schools in the United States in this year's ranking, The University Of Texas Medical Branch landed the #5 spot. The University Of Texas Medical Branch is a public school based in Galveston, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,402, with out-of-state students paying around $28,011. Graduates go on to earn a median of $79,793 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,250.
University Of California Berkeley placed #6 among the best graduate schools in the United States. University Of California Berkeley is a public school based in Berkeley, CA. University Of California Berkeley posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,847. The median student debt is $14,238.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #7 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Set in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Early-career graduates earn a median of $83,560. Graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans.
Vanderbilt University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashville, TN. About 94% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Vanderbilt University graduates report median early-career earnings of $77,997. The median student debt is $13,975.
University Of Southern California placed #9 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Set in Los Angeles, CA, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $75,677. Graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
University Of Maryland Baltimore placed #10 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Based in Baltimore, MD, University Of Maryland Baltimore is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,638 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,811 for out-of-state students. University Of Maryland Baltimore graduates report median early-career earnings of $85,300. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete a degree here.
Washington University In St Louis ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in St. Louis, MO, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Median early-career earnings reach $68,303. The median student debt is $17,553.
Johns Hopkins University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit school based in Baltimore, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Median early-career earnings reach $84,850. Graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #13 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Carnegie Mellon University graduates report median early-career earnings of $89,327. The median student debt is $23,529.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #14 position. Based in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $113,129. Graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans.
Duke University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Set in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Duke University posts a six-year graduation rate of 97%. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $83,388. The median student debt is $13,296.
Georgetown University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit school based in Washington, DC. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Georgetown University graduates report median early-career earnings of $79,632. The median student debt is $16,483.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,461. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete a degree here.
Rice University placed #18 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Located in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Rice University graduates report median early-career earnings of $75,299. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete a degree here.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #19 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Located in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates report median early-career earnings of $59,877. Graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
University Of Pennsylvania placed #20 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Set in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Early-career graduates earn a median of $99,682. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete a degree here.
Samuel Merritt University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Oakland, CA. Students from in state pay about $50,138 in tuition and fees. Samuel Merritt University graduates report median early-career earnings of $110,791. Samuel Merritt University students take on a median of $25,000 in debt.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a public school based in University Park, PA. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790.
University Of Notre Dame ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school based in Notre Dame, IN. About 95% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $65,025. Early-career graduates earn a median of $69,494. Graduates carry a median of $19,891 in student loans.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center placed #24 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Located in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,214, while out-of-state students pay about $22,514. Median early-career earnings reach $76,328. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center students take on a median of $24,889 in debt.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. The median student debt is $19,844.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
Explore the rest of the top 20% below:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Boston College | Chestnut Hill, MA |
| 52 | University Of California Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA |
| 53 | University Of The Pacific | Stockton, CA |
| 54 | University Of California Davis | Davis, CA |
| 55 | Gonzaga University | Spokane, WA |
| 56 | New York University | New York, NY |
| 57 | California Institute Of Technology | Pasadena, CA |
| 58 | Southern Methodist University | Dallas, TX |
| 59 | Lehigh University | Bethlehem, PA |
| 60 | Baylor University | Waco, TX |
| 61 | Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA |
| 62 | North Carolina State University At Raleigh | Raleigh, NC |
These graduate schools also performed well in our Best Graduate Schools ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 63 | Boston University | Boston, MA |
| 64 | University Of Florida | Gainesville, FL |
| 65 | Drake University | Des Moines, IA |
| 66 | Marquette University | Milwaukee, WI |
| 67 | San Diego State University | San Diego, CA |
| 68 | Emory University | Atlanta, GA |
| 69 | Villanova University | Villanova, PA |
| 70 | Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem, NC |
| 71 | Northeastern University | Boston, MA |
| 72 | Rutgers University New Brunswick | New Brunswick, NJ |
| 73 | George Washington University | Washington, DC |
| 74 | University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences | Little Rock, AR |
| 75 | Rush University | Chicago, IL |
| 76 | Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA |
| 77 | University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 78 | Ohio State University Main Campus | Columbus, OH |
| 79 | Mayo Medical School | Rochester, MN |
| 80 | Fordham University | Bronx, NY |
| 81 | The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center | Memphis, TN |
| 82 | University Of Georgia | Athens, GA |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Graduate schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
