Stanford University

The Top 20 Best Research Schools In The U.S.

Calling all students! Washington Monthly just released its Best Colleges for Research ranking, highlighting 139 American universities that spend over $100 million annually to drive innovation, train talent, and boost the economy, especially as federal research funding faces major cuts.

Why give the rankings consideration? If you’re choosing a school, those with strong research ecosystems offer early exposure to breakthrough ideas, hands-on collaboration with faculty and industry, and access to deeper, cross-disciplinary learning.

These institutions tend to be better resourced, more globally connected, and more attractive to employers looking for grads who can think beyond the textbook. Being in a research-rich environment puts you closer to the frontier of innovation, and often, to a wider pool of job opportunities.

The ranking uses four metrics: total research spending, number of STEM PhDs, major faculty awards, and faculty elected to national academies.

THE TOP 20 RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES IN THE U.S.

Some of the Poets&Quants top undergraduate business schools this year, like Berkeley Haas (No. 7), Wharton (No. 9), and Michigan Ross (No. 10), are within the universities that made the list. Stanford took the top spot thanks to its faculty accolades and academy memberships, while Johns Hopkins spent the most on research – $3.66 billion. Michigan awarded the most STEM PhDs, and Caltech, despite spending the least, ranked high due to stellar faculty scores. Private universities took the top five places, and the majority of the top 20 universities – 12 – were private.

Regionally, the East and West Coasts each claim four schools in the top 10, while the Midwest and South have one apiece. Zooming out to the top 20, the East leads with seven schools, followed by the West with six, the Midwest with four, and the South with three.

Next Page: Study show what new graduates are missing according to employers.

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