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. This list ranks **892** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 892 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.
The best graduate school for you depends on what you want to study. Drill down 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? Check out College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Leading the list is Georgetown University, our #1 graduate school in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Washington, DC. About 95% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $68,089 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $79,632. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at Northwestern University, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,322. Northwestern University graduates report median early-career earnings of $78,551. Typical student debt is $16,616.
Out of the 892 graduate schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Duke University landed the #3 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Durham, NC. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Duke University graduates report median early-career earnings of $83,388. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete a degree here.
Stanford University came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the United States. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school based in Stanford, CA. About 92% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $100,827. Stanford University students take on a median of $10,492 in debt.
Out of the 892 graduate schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Roseman University Of Health Sciences landed the #5 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Henderson, NV. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,900. Early-career graduates earn a median of $108,809. Typical student debt is $27,448.
University Of Chicago placed #6 among the best graduate schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. About 96% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Median early-career earnings reach $81,002. University Of Chicago students take on a median of $15,854 in debt.
University Of Pennsylvania placed #7 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Located in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $99,682. The median student debt is $16,155.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,214, with out-of-state students paying around $22,514. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,328 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,889 to complete a degree here.
Harvard University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Cambridge, MA, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Harvard University graduates report median early-career earnings of $95,207. Harvard University students take on a median of $16,616 in debt.
University Of California Berkeley ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Berkeley, CA. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,847. University Of California Berkeley students take on a median of $14,238 in debt.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #11 in this year's ranking. 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,790. Median early-career earnings reach $68,303. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete a degree here.
Rice University landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Based in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $75,299. Typical student debt is $11,904.
University Of Southern California placed #13 among the best graduate schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Los Angeles, CA. About 92% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. University Of Southern California graduates report median early-career earnings of $75,677. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete a degree here.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $62,396. Graduates go on to earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete a degree here.
Johns Hopkins University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. Johns Hopkins University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,730. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $84,850. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete a degree here.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #16 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Set in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Graduates go on to earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Carnegie Mellon University students take on a median of $23,529 in debt.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #17 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Set in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $20,778.
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Houston, TX. Students from in state pay about $15,748 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $43,132. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $101,165. The median student debt is $21,988.
Vanderbilt University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Nashville, TN, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Early-career graduates earn a median of $77,997. Graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #20 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Set in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,254 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #21 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Based in Charlottesville, VA, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $69,126. The median student debt is $18,627.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates report median early-career earnings of $86,770. The median student debt is $23,258.
Cornell University landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Set in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Cornell University graduates report median early-career earnings of $75,976. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete a degree here.
The University Of Texas Medical Branch placed #24 among the best graduate schools in the United States. The University Of Texas Medical Branch is a public school based in Galveston, TX. Students from in state pay about $12,402 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,011. Graduates go on to earn a median of $79,793 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #25 among the best graduate schools in the United States. Set in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
To learn more about the graduate schools below, just click on their names:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 126 | Mayo Medical School | Rochester, MN |
| 127 | Samford University | Birmingham, AL |
| 128 | California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA |
| 129 | University Of Connecticut | Storrs, CT |
| 130 | Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY |
| 131 | West Coast University Center For Graduate Studies | Los Angeles, CA |
| 132 | Marquette University | Milwaukee, WI |
| 133 | Seattle University | Seattle, WA |
| 134 | Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ |
These graduate schools also performed well in our Best Graduate Schools ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 160 | University Of Scranton | Scranton, PA |
| 161 | Simmons College | Boston, MA |
| 162 | Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans | New Orleans, LA |
| 163 | University Of New Hampshire School Of Law | Concord, NH |
| 164 | California State University Long Beach | Long Beach, CA |
| 165 | University Of Kansas | Lawrence, KS |
| 166 | Bradley University | Peoria, IL |
| 167 | University Of Richmond | University of Richmond, VA |
| 168 | Suffolk University | Boston, MA |
| 169 | Pacific University | Forest Grove, OR |
| 170 | Tulane University Of Louisiana | New Orleans, LA |
| 171 | University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus | Norman, OK |
| 172 | San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA |
| 173 | Temple University | Philadelphia, PA |
| 174 | University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | Dallas, TX |
| 175 | Adelphi University | Garden City, NY |
| 176 | University Of St Thomas Minnesota | Saint Paul, MN |
| 177 | George Fox University | Newberg, OR |
| 178 | Duquesne University | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 179 | Alliant International University | San Diego, CA |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs 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.
