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2021 Best Colleges in the United States for Students from Japan

449 Colleges
$53,043 Avg Tuition & Fees*
79% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

Quality BadgeInternational students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its Best Colleges for Japanese Students ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

We analyzed 449 colleges and universities across the United States to determine which were the best for Japanese students. Our ranking methodology focuses a number of different objective factors - such as the overall quality of the school, number of total international students at the school, and the percentage of international students on campus - to make this determination.

Get more details on our ranking methodology.

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Top Colleges in the U.S. for Students from Japan

See which schools came out on top of our ranking:

1

Our analysis found Columbia University in the City of New York to be the best school for Japanese students in this year’s ranking. This large private not-for-profit school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 2,654 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 34.9% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at Columbia are China, India, and South Korea.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Columbia University in the City of New York Report

2

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Southern California helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for Japanese students. USC is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5,745 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.

International students make up 22.5% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as China, India, and South Korea come to USC to study.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on University of Southern California

3

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of California - Los Angeles helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for Japanese students. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10,102 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.

Of the total number of students at the school, 13.8% are international. Students studying at UCLA come from such countries as China, South Korea, and India.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on University of California - Los Angeles

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #4 on our 2021 Best Colleges for Japanese students list. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10,523 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 16.2% are international. Students from as far away as China, South Korea, and India come to UC Berkeley to study.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read More…

5

Out of the 449 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Boston University landed the #5 spot on the list. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 4,788 students in 2020-2021.

Around 24.6% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as China, India, and South Korea come to Boston U to study.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Boston University Report

6

New York University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Japanese Students ranking, coming in at #6. NYU is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,752 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 27.6% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at NYU come from such countries as China, India, and South Korea.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full New York University Report

7

University of Pennsylvania ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges for Japanese Students list. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 3,499 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 19.5% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at UPenn are China, India, and South Korea.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read More…

8
Harvard crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

With a ranking of #8, Harvard University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Japanese Students. Harvard is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,618 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.

International students make up 22.9% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at Harvard are China, Canada, and India.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Harvard University

9

Carnegie Mellon University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Japanese Students ranking. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 1,953 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Around 37.1% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at Carnegie Mellon are China, India, and South Korea.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read More…

10

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges for Japanese Students list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the large public school handed out 9,144 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 13.9% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as China, India, and South Korea come to U-M to study.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Report

11

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Japanese Students ranking, coming in at #11. University of California - San Diego is a large public school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 9,086 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 21.4% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at UCSD are China, India, and South Korea.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of California - San Diego Report

12

With a ranking of #12, Massachusetts Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Japanese Students. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts that handed out 1,249 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 29.1% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as China, India, and Canada come to MIT to study.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Massachusetts Institute of Technology

13

University of Chicago landed the #13 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Japanese Students. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 2,163 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 26.6% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at UChicago are China, India, and South Korea.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.

Read full report on University of Chicago

14

Cornell University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges for Japanese Students list. Cornell is located in Ithaca, New York and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,287 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.

Around 21.8% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as China, India, and Canada come to Cornell to study.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read More…

15

Stanford University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Japanese Students ranking. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 1,511 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 23.9% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at Stanford come from such countries as China, India, and Canada.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read More…

16

With a ranking of #16, Northeastern University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Japanese Students. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 4,358 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 29.2% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as China, India, and Taiwan come to Northeastern to study.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read More…

17

Soka University of America came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Japanese Students ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Aliso Viejo, California, and it awarded 85 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 48.4% are international. Students from as far away as Japan, Nepal, and India come to Soka University to study.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Soka University of America

18
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

With a ranking of #18, Duke University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Japanese Students. Duke is located in Durham, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,319 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.

International students make up 18.3% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as China, India, and South Korea come to Duke to study.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Duke University Report

19

Northwestern University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Colleges for Japanese Students list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 2,722 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

International students make up 16.3% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at Northwestern come from such countries as China, India, and South Korea.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Northwestern University Report

20
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT

Yale University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Japanese Students ranking. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and it awarded 1,431 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 21.1% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at Yale are China, Canada, and India.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Yale University Report

21

University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Japanese Students. UW Seattle is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9,451 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.

International students make up 16.2% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as China, India, and South Korea come to UW Seattle to study.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on University of Washington - Seattle Campus

22
Georgetown crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Georgetown University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges for Japanese Students list. Georgetown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 2,120 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 17.7% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at Georgetown come from such countries as China, India, and South Korea.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Georgetown University

23

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Japanese Students ranking, coming in at #23. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 9,414 students in 2020-2021.

Around 10.0% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at UMN Twin Cities are China, India, and South Korea.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Report

24

University of California - Davis ranked #24 on this year’s Best Colleges for Japanese Students list. University of California - Davis is a large public school located in Davis, California that handed out 9,846 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 17.5% are international. Students from as far away as China, India, and South Korea come to UC Davis to study.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of California - Davis Report

25

University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #25 on this year’s Best Colleges for Japanese Students list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 9,926 students in 2020-2021.

International students make up 13.2% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as China, India, and South Korea come to UW - Madison to study.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Report

Rest of the Top 50 Best Colleges for Japanese students

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Princeton Crest
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey
27
28
29
Michigan State Crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
30
31
Brown Crest
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island
32
33

34
Emory Crest
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

35
Johns Hopkins Crest
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland
36
37
University at Buffalo Crest
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
38
Syracuse Crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York
39
40
41
University of Rochester Crest
University of Rochester
Rochester, New York
42
43
Tufts Crest
Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts

44

45
UO Crest
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
46
Babson College Crest
Babson College
Wellesley, Massachusetts
47
48
SUNY Stony Brook Crest
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, New York
49
GWU Crest
George Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia
50
UD Crest
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware

Rest of the Top 15% Best Colleges in the United States for International Students

To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:

RankCollegeLocation
51Ohio State University - Main CampusColumbus, OH
52University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC
53University of Maryland - College ParkCollege Park, MD
54Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL
55Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH
56University of South Florida - Main CampusTampa, FL
57University of Virginia - Main CampusCharlottesville, VA
58Pennsylvania State University - University ParkUniversity Park, PA
59University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL
60Texas A&M University - College StationCollege Station, TX
61University of Massachusetts AmherstAmherst, MA
62Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN
63William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA
64Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR
65University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI
RankCollegeLocation
66University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT
67University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN
68Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CA

Honorable Mentions

These schools also performed well in our Best Colleges for Japanese Students ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
69Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, IA
70Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA
71Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY
72University of FloridaGainesville, FL
73Brigham Young University - ProvoProvo, UT
74DePauw UniversityGreencastle, IN
75Rice UniversityHouston, TX
76Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN
77California State University - Long BeachLong Beach, CA
78Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, CT
79American UniversityWashington, DC
80University of DenverDenver, CO
81San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CA
82Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MA
83The New SchoolNew York, NY
RankCollegeLocation
84Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX
85North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, NC
86Berklee College of MusicBoston, MA
87Fordham UniversityBronx, NY
88Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OH
89University of ArizonaTucson, AZ
90University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO

More Rankings >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*Avg Tuition and Fees and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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