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The US is home to some of the most prolific universities in the world. The recently released QS University World Rankings by Subject 2020 features 212 US universities, with this year’s subject rankings covering 48 different subjects.
Read on as we reveal which US universities ranked highest in each of the 48 subjects covered in this year’s rankings…
Accounting & Finance
Harvard University takes the top spot in accounting and finance both in the US and the world. Harvardachieved perfect scores on three of the four indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation and H-index. There are 71 top accounting and finance schools in this year’s rankings located in the US, including 16 in the world top 50.
Agriculture & Forestry
Over to agriculture and forestry, where we find 65 US universities in this year’s ranking, with an impressive 18 of these in the top 50 worldwide. The University of California, Davis bags the top spot in the US for agriculture and forestry, in second place worldwide and earning near perfect scores both in the academic reputation and the H-index indicators.
Anatomy & Physiology
Stanford University is the best school in the US for anatomy and physiology, ranking third in the world, closely followed by John Hopkins University in fourth. There are currently 30 anatomy and physiology universities located in the US, and 16 of these are in the world top 50 for the subject.
Anthropology
35 of the world’s best anthropology universities are situated in the US, including 19 in the world top 50. Harvard University, top in the country, ranks third in the world, earning a perfect score in employer reputation. Closely following Harvard is University of California, Berkley (UCB) in fourth place (shown above).
Archaeology
52 of the world’s top archaeology schools are located in the US, including 16 in the world top 50. Harvard University offers the top archaeology program in the US, in fifth place worldwide.
Architecture
With 38 of the best architecture schools located in the US, there are plenty of options to choose from, especially since 12 of these are in the world top 50. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) rises one place this year to take the top spot for architecture globally, with a perfect score in academic reputation.
Art & Design
Anyone interested in art and design might want to take a look at one of the 39 top arts and design schools in the US. 16 of these can be found in the world top 50, including the top ranking school in US, the Parsons School of Design at The New School, in third place worldwide.
Arts and Humanities
Out of 98 arts and humanities schools in the US, 16 are in the top 50 in the world. Harvard University (shown above)is in second place worldwide, earning a perfect score for employer reputation and is the top US arts and humanities university.
Biological Sciences
Of the 133 biological sciences schools located in the US, 22 are in the world top 50, with Harvard University and MIT ranking in first and second respectively.
Business & Management Studies
Harvard University takes the top spot, ranking first in the world for business and management studies. 12 further US universities can also be found in the world top 50. Overall there are 102 US business and management universities in the rankings this year.
Civil and Structural Engineering
MIT is the top US university to study civil and structural engineering, with a perfect score in the academic reputation indicator. The US has 33 ranked civil and structural engineering courses in all, with eight of these in the world top 50.
Chemistry
The US is home to 117 of the world’s best chemistry schools, with 18 of these in the world top 50. MIT is the world’s top university to study chemistry, closely followed by Harvard University, rising one place this year to second.
Classics & Ancient History
10 classics and ancient history universities are located in the US, including Harvard University, in first place in the US, despite falling four places in the subject rankings to joint 9thin the world this year.
Communication & Media Studies
Of the 60 communications and media studies schools in the US, 22 are located in the world top 50. The University of Southern Californiacomes out on top in the US in second place worldwide, after rising one place in the rankings this year. Consequently, Stanford Universityloses its top spot this year after falling two places to fourth.
Computer Science & Information Systems
104 of the world’s top universities for computer science and information systems can be found in the United States. 21 of these are in the world top 50, including MIT in first place and Stanford University (shown above) in second place.
Dentistry
The University of Michigan – Ann Arbor is the third best dentistry university in the world and the top in the US, rising two places in the subject rankings this year. There are also 11 other excellent dentistry universities in the US.
Development Studies
There are 22 US development studies schools in the ranking, with 10 featuring in the worldwide top 50. Harvard University comes out on top, in third place worldwide after dropping one spot this year.
Earth & Marine Sciences
MIT offers the best earth and marine sciences program of the 52 offered in the US. MIT ranks second in the world rankings for earth and marine sciences this year, earning near perfect scores in the academic reputation and employer reputation indicators.
Economics & Econometrics
The top economics school in the US is Harvard University, ranking first in the world for economics and econometrics and scoring full marks in the academic reputation, employer reputation and H-index. There are currently 103 US schools featuring in this year’s rankings for economics and econometrics, with 21 of these in the world top 50.
Education
The US is home to 79 top schools offering education courses. 18 of these are in the world top 50, with Harvard University once again coming out on top, in joint second place worldwide.
Electrical & Electronic Engineering
81 of the world’s best electrical and electronic engineering universities are located in the US. Of these, 15 are in the world top 50, with MIT the best electric and electronic engineering school in the world this year, scoring full marks in the academic reputation and the employer reputation indicators.
Engineering and Technology
MIT (shown above) is the best engineering and technology school of the 91 in the US featured this year, with a perfect score in the academic reputation indicator. There are 25 others in the world top 100.
English Language & Literature
If English is your passion, you’ll be pleased to know that 81 of the world’s top English language and literature universities are located in the US, with Harvard University at the top, in third place worldwide.
Environmental Sciences
Out of 92 US universities in the rankings this year, 17 are in the worldwide top 50, including top ranking environmental sciences school this year, Stanford University.
Geography
The top university for geography in the US is the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), in fourth place worldwide. 32 other top geography universities are located in the US.
History
Harvard University ranks the highest of the 47 history schools in the US in the rankings, placing top in the world for its history course, with perfect scores in the employer reputation and the H-index indicators.
Hospitality and Leisure Management
There are 12 top hospitality and leisure management schools in the US, with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in the top spot in the US again this year, retaining its spot in second place worldwide. All of the hospitality and leisure management schools in the US place in the top 50 worldwide.
Law
Whether it’s Legally Blonde which made you want to study law at Harvard, or its its first-place position in the world rankings for law, Harvard University has a lot to offer law students. Harvard earns perfect scores in academic reputation, employer reputation and the H-index. Outside of Harvard University, there are 47 further top law schools to choose from in the US, including 14 in the world top 50.
Library & Information Management
19 US universities offering library and information management courses feature in the global rankings, all of which are featured in the world top 50. Of these, the top performing university is the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in fourth worldwide, after climbing one place this year.
Life Sciences and Medicine
Of the 128 ranked US universities offering life sciences and medicine courses, 22 are found in the world top 50. Harvard University ranks in first place this year for life sciences and medicine, remaining in first place worldwide.
Linguistics
There are 63 universities in the US offering some of the world’s top linguistics courses, with 18 of these in the world top 50. In the US, and in the world, MITonce again holds the title of the world’s best linguistic course.
Materials Science
MIT is the best university to study materials science according to the recently released QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020. There are 85 other notable universities in the US, including 17 in the world top 50.
Mathematics
91 of the world’s best mathematics schools are located in the US, includingMITin first place worldwide. There are 20 further US universities featuring in the world top 50.
Out of 87 mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering universities in the ranking, 15 are found in the United States. Pennsylvania State University(shown above) enters the world top 50 this year, in 45th place, after climbing six places. MIT is the top university for mechanical engineering this year, earning perfect scores in the academic reputation and employer reputation indicators.
Medicine
Harvard University is the best of the 111 ranked universities in the US to study medicine, with perfect scores in academic reputation and employer reputation pushing it to first place in the world.
Mineral & Mining Engineering
There are currently seven mineral and mining engineering universities in the US, all ranking in the world top 50. The Colorado School of Mines is on top, in first place in the world, scoring full marks in the academic reputation indicator.
Natural Sciences
There are 101 universities in the US offering natural science courses in the rankings this year. 19 of these are in the world top 50, with MIT in first place worldwide for its natural science course.
Nursing
Out of 30 nursing schools in the US, 17 can be found in the worldwide top 50, including new entry to the top 50 this year, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, in joint 49thplace. The top ranking university for nursing is the University of Pennsylvania in first place worldwide.
Performing Arts
25 of the world’s top performing arts schools are located in the US, with 15 of these in the world top 50. The Julliard School (shown above) is the top school to study performing arts, with near perfect scores in the academic reputation and the employer reputation indicators. New York University (NYU) also performs well, with a perfect score in the employer reputation indicator.
Pharmacy & Pharmacology
Harvard University is once again the top university in the US, this time for pharmacy and pharmacology. Overall there are 64 ranked pharmacy and pharmacology schools in the US, including 13 in the world top 50.
118 of the top physics and astronomy universities in the world are located in the US, with 18 of these in the worldwide top 50. MIT is the top ranked university to study physics and astrology globally, with a perfect score in the academic reputation and employer reputation indicators.
Politics & International Studies
Harvard University is the best of the 44 universities for politics and international studies in the US, placing first in the world. Princeton Universityalso performs well this year, stealing joint second place after rising five places in the rankings this year.
Psychology
23 of the US’ 91 top psychology universities can be found in the world top 50, including the top-ranking psychology university in the world this year, Harvard University.
Social Policy & Administration
29 of the world’s top social policy and administration schools are found in the US. The best of these is, once again, Harvard University, rising one place this year to first worldwide. 14 of these schools are in the world top 50, including Princeton University, which climbs an incredible 18 places this year to 25th.
Social Sciences and Management
15 of the 91 social sciences and management universities in the US are ranked in the world top 100. Harvard University comes out on top as the best social sciences and management school in the world in 2020.
Sociology
Harvard University is the best of the 60 universities ranked for sociology in the world, with perfect scores in the academic reputation and employer reputation indicators. A further 17 US universities can be found in the world top 50. One notable entry is MIT, which drops 11 places this year, yet still clings onto the top 50, in 50thplace.
Sports-related Subjects
20 excellent universities offer sports-related courses this year in the US, including the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (shown above), which is top in the US for its sports programs, coming 12th worldwide.
Statistics & Operational Research
There are 50 top statistics and operational research universities in the US this year, with 22 of these in the world top 50. MIT is the best university to study statistics in the US, with a perfect score in the academic reputation indicator.
Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies
28 of the top universities in the world to study theology, divinity and religious studies are located in the US, with 17 of these in the worldwide top 50. The University of Notre Dameovertakes Harvard University this year, rising one place to take the top spot in the world.
At a glance: top universities in the US
University
Amount of number one ranks for the US in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020
As Content Editor for TopUniversities.com and TopMBA.com, Chloe creates and publishes a wide range of articles for universities and business schools across the world. Chloe has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Reading and grew up in Leicestershire, UK.
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Top Universities in the US by Subject
Chloe Lane
Updated Apr 25, 2020Save
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Table of contents
Table of contents
The US is home to some of the most prolific universities in the world. The recently released QS University World Rankings by Subject 2020 features 212 US universities, with this year’s subject rankings covering 48 different subjects.
Read on as we reveal which US universities ranked highest in each of the 48 subjects covered in this year’s rankings…
Accounting & Finance
Harvard University takes the top spot in accounting and finance both in the US and the world. Harvardachieved perfect scores on three of the four indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation and H-index. There are 71 top accounting and finance schools in this year’s rankings located in the US, including 16 in the world top 50.
Agriculture & Forestry
Over to agriculture and forestry, where we find 65 US universities in this year’s ranking, with an impressive 18 of these in the top 50 worldwide. The University of California, Davis bags the top spot in the US for agriculture and forestry, in second place worldwide and earning near perfect scores both in the academic reputation and the H-index indicators.
Anatomy & Physiology
Stanford University is the best school in the US for anatomy and physiology, ranking third in the world, closely followed by John Hopkins University in fourth. There are currently 30 anatomy and physiology universities located in the US, and 16 of these are in the world top 50 for the subject.
Anthropology
35 of the world’s best anthropology universities are situated in the US, including 19 in the world top 50. Harvard University, top in the country, ranks third in the world, earning a perfect score in employer reputation. Closely following Harvard is University of California, Berkley (UCB) in fourth place (shown above).
Archaeology
52 of the world’s top archaeology schools are located in the US, including 16 in the world top 50. Harvard University offers the top archaeology program in the US, in fifth place worldwide.
Architecture
With 38 of the best architecture schools located in the US, there are plenty of options to choose from, especially since 12 of these are in the world top 50. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) rises one place this year to take the top spot for architecture globally, with a perfect score in academic reputation.
Art & Design
Anyone interested in art and design might want to take a look at one of the 39 top arts and design schools in the US. 16 of these can be found in the world top 50, including the top ranking school in US, the Parsons School of Design at The New School, in third place worldwide.
Arts and Humanities
Out of 98 arts and humanities schools in the US, 16 are in the top 50 in the world. Harvard University (shown above) is in second place worldwide, earning a perfect score for employer reputation and is the top US arts and humanities university.
Biological Sciences
Of the 133 biological sciences schools located in the US, 22 are in the world top 50, with Harvard University and MIT ranking in first and second respectively.
Business & Management Studies
Harvard University takes the top spot, ranking first in the world for business and management studies. 12 further US universities can also be found in the world top 50. Overall there are 102 US business and management universities in the rankings this year.
Civil and Structural Engineering
MIT is the top US university to study civil and structural engineering, with a perfect score in the academic reputation indicator. The US has 33 ranked civil and structural engineering courses in all, with eight of these in the world top 50.
Chemistry
The US is home to 117 of the world’s best chemistry schools, with 18 of these in the world top 50. MIT is the world’s top university to study chemistry, closely followed by Harvard University, rising one place this year to second.
Classics & Ancient History
10 classics and ancient history universities are located in the US, including Harvard University, in first place in the US, despite falling four places in the subject rankings to joint 9thin the world this year.
Communication & Media Studies
Of the 60 communications and media studies schools in the US, 22 are located in the world top 50. The University of Southern California comes out on top in the US in second place worldwide, after rising one place in the rankings this year. Consequently, Stanford University loses its top spot this year after falling two places to fourth.
Computer Science & Information Systems
104 of the world’s top universities for computer science and information systems can be found in the United States. 21 of these are in the world top 50, including MIT in first place and Stanford University (shown above) in second place.
Dentistry
The University of Michigan – Ann Arbor is the third best dentistry university in the world and the top in the US, rising two places in the subject rankings this year. There are also 11 other excellent dentistry universities in the US.
Development Studies
There are 22 US development studies schools in the ranking, with 10 featuring in the worldwide top 50. Harvard University comes out on top, in third place worldwide after dropping one spot this year.
Earth & Marine Sciences
MIT offers the best earth and marine sciences program of the 52 offered in the US. MIT ranks second in the world rankings for earth and marine sciences this year, earning near perfect scores in the academic reputation and employer reputation indicators.
Economics & Econometrics
The top economics school in the US is Harvard University, ranking first in the world for economics and econometrics and scoring full marks in the academic reputation, employer reputation and H-index. There are currently 103 US schools featuring in this year’s rankings for economics and econometrics, with 21 of these in the world top 50.
Education
The US is home to 79 top schools offering education courses. 18 of these are in the world top 50, with Harvard University once again coming out on top, in joint second place worldwide.
Electrical & Electronic Engineering
81 of the world’s best electrical and electronic engineering universities are located in the US. Of these, 15 are in the world top 50, with MIT the best electric and electronic engineering school in the world this year, scoring full marks in the academic reputation and the employer reputation indicators.
Engineering and Technology
MIT (shown above) is the best engineering and technology school of the 91 in the US featured this year, with a perfect score in the academic reputation indicator. There are 25 others in the world top 100.
English Language & Literature
If English is your passion, you’ll be pleased to know that 81 of the world’s top English language and literature universities are located in the US, with Harvard University at the top, in third place worldwide.
Environmental Sciences
Out of 92 US universities in the rankings this year, 17 are in the worldwide top 50, including top ranking environmental sciences school this year, Stanford University.
Geography
The top university for geography in the US is the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), in fourth place worldwide. 32 other top geography universities are located in the US.
History
Harvard University ranks the highest of the 47 history schools in the US in the rankings, placing top in the world for its history course, with perfect scores in the employer reputation and the H-index indicators.
Hospitality and Leisure Management
There are 12 top hospitality and leisure management schools in the US, with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in the top spot in the US again this year, retaining its spot in second place worldwide. All of the hospitality and leisure management schools in the US place in the top 50 worldwide.
Law
Whether it’s Legally Blonde which made you want to study law at Harvard, or its its first-place position in the world rankings for law, Harvard University has a lot to offer law students. Harvard earns perfect scores in academic reputation, employer reputation and the H-index. Outside of Harvard University, there are 47 further top law schools to choose from in the US, including 14 in the world top 50.
Library & Information Management
19 US universities offering library and information management courses feature in the global rankings, all of which are featured in the world top 50. Of these, the top performing university is the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in fourth worldwide, after climbing one place this year.
Life Sciences and Medicine
Of the 128 ranked US universities offering life sciences and medicine courses, 22 are found in the world top 50. Harvard University ranks in first place this year for life sciences and medicine, remaining in first place worldwide.
Linguistics
There are 63 universities in the US offering some of the world’s top linguistics courses, with 18 of these in the world top 50. In the US, and in the world, MITonce again holds the title of the world’s best linguistic course.
Materials Science
MIT is the best university to study materials science according to the recently released QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020. There are 85 other notable universities in the US, including 17 in the world top 50.
Mathematics
91 of the world’s best mathematics schools are located in the US, includingMITin first place worldwide. There are 20 further US universities featuring in the world top 50.
Testimonials
Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering
Out of 87 mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering universities in the ranking, 15 are found in the United States. Pennsylvania State University (shown above) enters the world top 50 this year, in 45th place, after climbing six places. MIT is the top university for mechanical engineering this year, earning perfect scores in the academic reputation and employer reputation indicators.
Medicine
Harvard University is the best of the 111 ranked universities in the US to study medicine, with perfect scores in academic reputation and employer reputation pushing it to first place in the world.
Mineral & Mining Engineering
There are currently seven mineral and mining engineering universities in the US, all ranking in the world top 50. The Colorado School of Mines is on top, in first place in the world, scoring full marks in the academic reputation indicator.
Natural Sciences
There are 101 universities in the US offering natural science courses in the rankings this year. 19 of these are in the world top 50, with MIT in first place worldwide for its natural science course.
Nursing
Out of 30 nursing schools in the US, 17 can be found in the worldwide top 50, including new entry to the top 50 this year, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, in joint 49thplace. The top ranking university for nursing is the University of Pennsylvania in first place worldwide.
Performing Arts
25 of the world’s top performing arts schools are located in the US, with 15 of these in the world top 50. The Julliard School (shown above) is the top school to study performing arts, with near perfect scores in the academic reputation and the employer reputation indicators. New York University (NYU) also performs well, with a perfect score in the employer reputation indicator.
Pharmacy & Pharmacology
Harvard University is once again the top university in the US, this time for pharmacy and pharmacology. Overall there are 64 ranked pharmacy and pharmacology schools in the US, including 13 in the world top 50.
Philosophy
There are 48 philosophy universities in the United States, including 15 in the worldwide top 50. This year, New York University (NYU) overtakes Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick and University of Pittsburgh to bag the top spot.
Physics & Astronomy
118 of the top physics and astronomy universities in the world are located in the US, with 18 of these in the worldwide top 50. MIT is the top ranked university to study physics and astrology globally, with a perfect score in the academic reputation and employer reputation indicators.
Politics & International Studies
Harvard University is the best of the 44 universities for politics and international studies in the US, placing first in the world. Princeton Universityalso performs well this year, stealing joint second place after rising five places in the rankings this year.
Psychology
23 of the US’ 91 top psychology universities can be found in the world top 50, including the top-ranking psychology university in the world this year, Harvard University.
Social Policy & Administration
29 of the world’s top social policy and administration schools are found in the US. The best of these is, once again, Harvard University, rising one place this year to first worldwide. 14 of these schools are in the world top 50, including Princeton University, which climbs an incredible 18 places this year to 25th.
Social Sciences and Management
15 of the 91 social sciences and management universities in the US are ranked in the world top 100. Harvard University comes out on top as the best social sciences and management school in the world in 2020.
Sociology
Harvard University is the best of the 60 universities ranked for sociology in the world, with perfect scores in the academic reputation and employer reputation indicators. A further 17 US universities can be found in the world top 50. One notable entry is MIT, which drops 11 places this year, yet still clings onto the top 50, in 50thplace.
Sports-related Subjects
20 excellent universities offer sports-related courses this year in the US, including the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (shown above), which is top in the US for its sports programs, coming 12th worldwide.
Statistics & Operational Research
There are 50 top statistics and operational research universities in the US this year, with 22 of these in the world top 50. MIT is the best university to study statistics in the US, with a perfect score in the academic reputation indicator.
Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies
28 of the top universities in the world to study theology, divinity and religious studies are located in the US, with 17 of these in the worldwide top 50. The University of Notre Dameovertakes Harvard University this year, rising one place to take the top spot in the world.
At a glance: top universities in the US
University
Amount of number one ranks for the US in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020
Harvard University
22
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
15
Stanford University
2
University of California, Davis (UCD)
2
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
2
University of Notre Dame
1
University of Pennsylvania
1
The Colorado School of Mines
1
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
1
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
1
University of California, Berkley (UCB)
1
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As Content Editor for TopUniversities.com and TopMBA.com, Chloe creates and publishes a wide range of articles for universities and business schools across the world. Chloe has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Reading and grew up in Leicestershire, UK.
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