Top-ranked U.S. universities, 2020

Sept. 10, 2019
Harvard University tops the rankings determined by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education.

Harvard University is the top U.S. higher education institution, according to the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings 2020.

The Cambridge, Mass., school topped the list for the fourth year in a row. Nine of the top 10 universities in the 2020 rankings were among the top 10 on the 2019 list.

Cornell University, which ranked 11th last year, moved up to ninth on the 2020 list.

The rankings are based on four key measures:

•Resources (e.g., spending per student, student-faculty ratio)

•Engagement (e.g., support for critical thinking, student interaction with teachers)

•Outcomes (e.g., graduation rate, salaries after graduation)

•Environment (e.g., student and faculty diversity)

The rankings apply to Title IV eligible institutions of more than 1,000 students in the United States that award four-year bachelor’s degrees. Online-only students must make up less than 20% of the school’s enrollment.

Here are the top 10 higher education institutions in the United States, as determined by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education.

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