by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in the United States, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **1618** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 1618 graduate schools across over 20 objective factors 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. You can also browse by degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our tool College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
No school ranked higher than Stanford University this year in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Stanford, CA. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Median early-career earnings reach $100,827. Graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
Johns Hopkins University came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the United States. Based in Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,730. Johns Hopkins University graduates report median early-career earnings of $84,850. Typical student debt is $13,426.
Out of the 1618 graduate schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Northwestern University landed the #3 spot. Located in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $78,551. Graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at Georgetown University earned it the #4 place in the United States. Set in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $68,089 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $79,632. Georgetown University students take on a median of $16,483 in debt.
The strong outcomes at University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #5 place in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. About 96% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $99,682. University Of Pennsylvania students take on a median of $16,155 in debt.
University Of California Berkeley placed #6 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Early-career graduates earn a median of $70,847. The median student debt is $14,238.
University Of Chicago ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $81,002. Graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
Duke University landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Based in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $13,296.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #9 among the best graduate schools in the United States. This public school is set in Atlanta, GA. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $83,560. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus students take on a median of $24,323 in debt.
Santa Clara University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $61,293 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $79,380. Graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans.
Carnegie Mellon University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Carnegie Mellon University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,636. Early-career graduates earn a median of $89,327. The median student debt is $23,529.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #12 position. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. In-state tuition and fees average $62,396. Early-career graduates earn a median of $113,129. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete a degree here.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in St. Louis, MO, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Washington University In St Louis graduates report median early-career earnings of $68,303. Washington University In St Louis students take on a median of $17,553 in debt.
Cornell University placed #14 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit school based in Ithaca, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Median early-career earnings reach $75,976. Typical student debt is $15,005.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill did well this year, earning the #15 position. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public school based in Chapel Hill, NC. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Median early-career earnings reach $61,361. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill students take on a median of $15,117 in debt.
University Of Virginia Main Campus did well this year, earning the #16 position. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public school based in Charlottesville, VA. About 96% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. Graduates go on to earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor did well this year, earning the #17 position. Located in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,254. The median student debt is $19,137.
Dartmouth College landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Located in Hanover, NH, Dartmouth College is a private not-for-profit institution. Dartmouth College graduates 96% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $68,019. Dartmouth College graduates report median early-career earnings of $81,992. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete a degree here.
University Of Notre Dame placed #19 among the best graduate schools in the United States. University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school based in Notre Dame, IN. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Students from in state pay about $65,025 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $69,494. Typical student debt is $19,891.
Rice University placed #20 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Based in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Rice University graduates report median early-career earnings of $75,299. The median student debt is $11,904.
University Of Southern California did well this year, earning the #21 position. Set in Los Angeles, CA, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Southern California posts a six-year graduation rate of 92%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. University Of Southern California graduates report median early-career earnings of $75,677. The median student debt is $15,625.
Vanderbilt University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Located in Nashville, TN, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Early-career graduates earn a median of $77,997. Graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
Yale University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in New Haven, CT. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $67,250. Median early-career earnings reach $74,578. Yale University students take on a median of $14,357 in debt.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Based in Los Angeles, CA, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,833. Graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston placed #25 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Set in Houston, TX, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,748 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,132. Graduates go on to earn a median of $101,165 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $21,988 in student loans.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
Explore the rest of the top 20% below:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 226 | Pacific Northwest University Of Health Sciences | Yakima, WA |
| 227 | University Of Houston | Houston, TX |
| 228 | West Virginia School Of Osteopathic Medicine | Lewisburg, WV |
| 229 | Sewanee The University Of The South | Sewanee, TN |
| 230 | Brigham Young University Provo | Provo, UT |
| 231 | Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA |
| 232 | California State University East Bay | Hayward, CA |
| 233 | Seattle Pacific University | Seattle, WA |
| 234 | Miami University Oxford | Oxford, OH |
| 235 | Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, CA |
| 236 | Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus | Angola, IN |
| 237 | Tulane University Of Louisiana | New Orleans, LA |
| 238 | University At Buffalo | Buffalo, NY |
| 239 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL |
| 240 | Cuny Hunter College | New York, NY |
| 241 | The University Of Texas At Arlington | Arlington, TX |
| 242 | Albert Einstein College Of Medicine | Bronx, NY |
| 243 | University Of Arizona | Tucson, AZ |
These schools also stood out this year:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 319 | Alliant International University | San Diego, CA |
| 320 | California State University Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA |
| 321 | Bethel University Minnesota | Saint Paul, MN |
| 322 | Citadel Military College Of South Carolina | Charleston, SC |
| 323 | Suny At Albany | Albany, NY |
| 324 | Lawrence Technological University | Southfield, MI |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider 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.
