Best universities for education studies in the US 2026

By Joy.Hunter@tim…, 24 April, 2026

Top universities in the US for education degrees 2026

US Education Rank 2026	Global Education Rank 2026	University	Overall	Teaching	Research Environment	Research Quality	Industry	International Outlook
1	1	Stanford University	96	97.4	100	97.2	100	69.1
2	2	University of California, Berkeley	94.1	94.9	99.2	94.5	93.5	70.1
3	6	Harvard University	89.8	92.3	100	81.2	77.7	77.5
4	9	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	83.6	86.1	93.8	77.6	89.1	52.6
5	12	University of Pennsylvania	82.1	79.7	90.3	76.7	90.8	76
6	14	University of California, Los Angeles	81.2	80.1	90.8	82.9	69.4	49.4
7	15	Michigan State University	80.5	83.8	87.1	79.1	64.2	54.8
8	17	University of Wisconsin-Madison	79.8	82.2	88.9	70.9	97.9	56.9
9	22	University of Texas at Austin	73.3	75.7	72.1	78.4	85.6	42.5
10	=23	New York University	73.1	74.6	62	82.7	86	67.7
11	27	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	72.2	67.5	77.6	80.8	73.8	39.8
12	28	Johns Hopkins University	70.4	63.8	77.9	69.9	94.3	58.8
13	30	Vanderbilt University	69.9	67	80.6	71	49.2	48.3
14	32	University of Washington	69.3	65.1	70.9	76.5	67.8	55.8
15	35	Penn State (Main campus)	68.2	68	72.8	69.9	70.8	44
16	40	Ohio State University (Main campus)	65.9	63.5	67.2	71.7	68.1	48.6
17	44	Boston College	64.7	64.2	63.5	76.5	23.7	50
18	45	University of Massachusetts	64.6	65.3	54.9	72.9	85.6	56.8
19	=47	Florida State University	64.1	57.9	56	81.7	67	55.7
20	=50	Indiana University	63.2	61.3	57.6	73.7	75.9	46.9
21	52	Purdue University West Lafayette	62.7	59.8	58	71	68	60.5
22	=54	University of Maryland, College Park	62.1	51	61.5	82.2	66.4	35.9
23	58	University of Southern California	61.8	57.1	48.6	85.9	73.1	38.4
24	59	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	61.4	53	65	74.9	61.7	34.8
25	60	University of California, Irvine	61.3	41	62.7	83.3	67.8	58.9
26	62	Northwestern University	61	48.3	63.9	72.3	70.2	58.7
27	64	University of Minnesota	60.8	59.9	60.7	65	89.8	33.7
28	66	University of Florida	60.1	54.9	56.9	73.3	66.3	42.9
=29	=71	University of Georgia (USA)	58.1	50.9	56.3	73.5	58	39.8
=29	=71	University of Virginia (Main campus)	58.1	45.5	53.2	79.2	91.8	35.9
31	=84	Arizona State University (Tempe)	57.1	43.7	56.4	73.2	88.8	41.5
32	87	University of California, San Diego	57	47.7	31.9	90	99.3	50.1
33	88	University of California, Santa Barbara	56.9	43.2	37.8	85.7	83.5	69.5
34	95	University of California, Davis	56	51.9	45.8	72	81.1	41
35	=96	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh campus	55.9	50.5	41.4	75.7	92.4	42.9
=36	101–125	Boston University	51.8–54.7	53	43.5	68.7	37	53.8
=36	101–125	Texas A&M University	51.8–54.7	51.8	50.3	65.3	62	36.8
=36	101–125	University of Colorado Boulder	51.8–54.7	41.9	51.8	71.3	73.9	29.9
=36	101–125	University of Hawai’i at Mānoa	51.8–54.7	51.8	48.7	61.6	40.7	59.5
=40	126–150	Brown University	49.6–51.7	41.4	32.4	78.9	58.9	50.7
=40	126–150	North Carolina State University	49.6–51.7	47.1	37.4	71.7	85.4	33.8
=40	126–150	University of Arizona	49.6–51.7	42.6	40.2	69.3	69.3	34.1
=40	126–150	University of Illinois Chicago	49.6–51.7	41.8	46.9	68	65.5	33.1
=40	126–150	University of Kansas	49.6–51.7	42.7	39.5	67.5	84.6	42.3
=40	126–150	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	49.6–51.7	47	35.6	69.5	67.2	44.4
=46	151–175	University of California, Santa Cruz	47.6–49.2	32.3	28.9	86.9	99.3	34.5
=46	151–175	University of Connecticut	47.6–49.2	31.9	46.4	70.8	47.3	54.6
=46	151–175	University of Iowa	47.6–49.2	43	40.8	66.6	44.8	38.2
=46	151–175	University of Rochester	47.6–49.2	38.6	28.1	80.2	45.3	55.8
50	176–200	University of Delaware	46.7–47.5	31.6	30.2	76.4	99.2	40.4
=51	201–250	George Washington University	43.1–46.6	41.8	26.3	62.6	22	60.9
=51	201–250	Georgia State University	43.1–46.6	38.4	30.1	74.3	39	41.3
=51	201–250	Iowa State University	43.1–46.6	30.7	36.6	68	76.3	30.6
=51	201–250	Temple University	43.1–46.6	32.9	26.4	82	55.6	32
=51	201–250	University at Buffalo	43.1–46.6	35.2	32.6	66.1	67.5	64.4
=51	201–250	University of Houston	43.1–46.6	32.1	27.9	69.2	62.2	51.5
=51	201–250	University of Utah	43.1–46.6	36.7	35	65.6	59.2	27.4
=58	251–300	Florida International University	40.6–43.0	27.8	27.3	71.6	58.3	33
=58	251–300	Mizzou - University of Missouri	40.6–43.0	34.8	26.9	68	67	35.7
=58	251–300	Portland State University	40.6–43.0	29.3	24.7	75.5	27.8	35.1
=58	251–300	Syracuse University	40.6–43.0	32	30.2	59.9	28.7	60.9
=58	251–300	Tufts University	40.6–43.0	27.2	29.5	63.3	65.3	51.3
=58	251–300	University of Central Florida	40.6–43.0	31.2	29.5	67	75.2	30.8
=58	251–300	University of Denver	40.6–43.0	34.4	26.6	68	43.8	46.5
=58	251–300	University of Miami	40.6–43.0	33.6	20.2	70.7	28	45.9
=58	251–300	University of Notre Dame	40.6–43.0	19.6	31.3	73.8	63.2	43.4
=58	251–300	University of South Florida	40.6–43.0	30.6	32.5	64.1	43.9	50.9
=68	301–400	Auburn University	36.3–40.5	33	22.2	55.4	46.6	31.9
=68	301–400	Colorado State University, Fort Collins	36.3–40.5	27.7	20.7	60.1	63	32.9
=68	301–400	Drexel University	36.3–40.5	31.1	19.8	51.5	80.8	42.5
=68	301–400	George Mason University	36.3–40.5	31	22.6	64	34.4	36
=68	301–400	SUNY University at Albany	36.3–40.5	33.4	19.9	66.1	49.9	45.5
=68	301–400	San Diego State University	36.3–40.5	39	24	64.3	28.5	28.7
=68	301–400	Stony Brook University	36.3–40.5	19.1	22.9	73.6	44.6	41.2
=68	301–400	Texas Tech University	36.3–40.5	30.8	19.8	61.4	58.9	40.8
=68	301–400	The University of Alabama	36.3–40.5	32.2	26.9	60.3	25.2	32.9
=68	301–400	The University of Texas at San Antonio	36.3–40.5	33.7	19.4	69.4	35.8	30
=68	301–400	University of Arkansas	36.3–40.5	30.8	32.1	62	27	26.8
=68	301–400	University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus	36.3–40.5	25.1	33.7	62.9	53.1	28.5
=68	301–400	University of Kentucky	36.3–40.5	28.8	26.9	67.1	53.3	39.1
=68	301–400	University of Maryland, Baltimore County	36.3–40.5	30.9	29.3	51.9	60.9	34.5
=68	301–400	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	36.3–40.5	29.6	29	61	34.8	41.5
=68	301–400	University of North Carolina at Charlotte	36.3–40.5	29.6	26.2	64.9	49.9	29.3
=68	301–400	University of Oregon	36.3–40.5	30.5	30.3	54.7	35.1	31.1
=68	301–400	University of South Carolina-Columbia	36.3–40.5	33.3	19.6	67.9	33.9	47.6
=68	301–400	Virginia Commonwealth University	36.3–40.5	34.2	18.4	64.8	63.5	28.5
=68	301–400	Washington State University	36.3–40.5	22	19.9	71	74	46.5
=68	301–400	Worcester Polytechnic Institute	36.3–40.5	34.9	10.4	64.2	67.4	56.3
=89	401–500	Baylor University	32.7–36.2	35.2	16.2	52.2	17.8	27.7
=89	401–500	Central Michigan University	32.7–36.2	31.8	20.5	50.5	39.6	25.2
=89	401–500	Kansas State University	32.7–36.2	35.7	21.1	44.8	33.8	35.5
=89	401–500	Lehigh University	32.7–36.2	30.6	17.2	49.5	61.9	59.3
=89	401–500	Ohio University (Main campus)	32.7–36.2	32.8	15.2	51.6	38.8	36.1
=89	401–500	Oklahoma State University	32.7–36.2	28.9	14.6	57.3	45.8	34.5
=89	401–500	Old Dominion University	32.7–36.2	25	16.4	72.2	20.1	27.5
=89	401–500	SUNY Binghamton University	32.7–36.2	28	26	55.1	41.6	30.4
=89	401–500	Saint Louis University	32.7–36.2	30.6	22	53.1	49.9	35.8
=89	401–500	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	32.7–36.2	17.6	24.2	59.7	46.9	32.3
=89	401–500	University of California, Riverside	32.7–36.2	26.4	16.7	67.3	23.4	41.3
=89	401–500	University of Memphis	32.7–36.2	26.6	15.2	59.8	55.9	29.5
=89	401–500	University of Missouri-Kansas City	32.7–36.2	29.7	15.3	55	46	28.1
=89	401–500	University of Nevada, Las Vegas	32.7–36.2	18.7	18	66	37.5	28
=89	401–500	University of Texas at Dallas	32.7–36.2	28.3	24.1	54.1	46.7	37.6
=89	401–500	Wayne State University	32.7–36.2	29.6	12.6	62.4	42.7	33.3
=89	401–500	William & Mary	32.7–36.2	36	22.5	48.6	22.8	31.7
=106	501–600	Adelphi University	29.0–32.6	23.4	11.9	53.7	17.8	35.3
=106	501–600	American University	29.0–32.6	29.1	14.9	47.3	34.2	29.4
=106	501–600	Florida Atlantic University	29.0–32.6	24.2	17.3	51.1	70.5	32
=106	501–600	Louisiana State University	29.0–32.6	21.7	16.9	57.9	51	36.8
=106	501–600	Mississippi State University	29.0–32.6	23.5	12.6	59.7	56.7	36.4
=106	501–600	New Mexico State University (Main campus)	29.0–32.6	26.3	16	48.5	37.6	28.4
=106	501–600	Northern Illinois University	29.0–32.6	26.3	14.2	55.4	42	38.7
=106	501–600	Southern Illinois University Carbondale	29.0–32.6	24.7	16.8	47.6	54	34.5
=106	501–600	Texas State University	29.0–32.6	22.9	20.4	52.5	35	32.4
=106	501–600	University of Rhode Island	29.0–32.6	21.1	17.6	58.5	24.4	44.5
=106	501–600	University of Texas at Arlington	29.0–32.6	17.7	20.3	54.8	49.6	26.3
=106	501–600	University of Texas at El Paso	29.0–32.6	24.3	20.7	47.1	17.8	29.4
=106	501–600	University of Toledo	29.0–32.6	28.9	19.5	47.5	40.9	36
=106	501–600	University of Wyoming	29.0–32.6	24.1	12.1	54.7	38.7	34.4
=120	601–800	Georgia Southern University	20.1–28.9	20.8	16.2	49.5	22.3	28
=120	601–800	Grand Valley State University	20.1–28.9	20	11.6	41.6	17.8	32.8
=120	601–800	Montana State University	20.1–28.9	20.4	18.2	40.9	50.4	31.5
=120	601–800	Morgan State University	20.1–28.9	25.4	18.7	36.9	17.8	43.5
=120	601–800	Nova Southeastern University	20.1–28.9	26.4	9.8	32.4	41.6	32.6
=120	601–800	Oakland University	20.1–28.9	26.8	11.2	48.6	33.4	29.9
=120	601–800	Pace University-New York	20.1–28.9	21.8	9.5	35.9	23.7	41.9
=120	601–800	Rowan University	20.1–28.9	17.8	11.2	51.1	17.8	34.4
=120	601–800	University of Nebraska Omaha	20.1–28.9	15.3	12.1	49.2	18.3	28.9
=120	601–800	University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	20.1–28.9	30.7	8.7	44.9	17.8	32.5
=120	601–800	Wake Forest University	20.1–28.9	28.3	12.3	46.4	35.5	25.5

Key insights into the top universities for education degrees in the US 2026

The top university for education studies in the US is Stanford University
There are 130 universities from the US ranked in the education studies ranking
The education studies table evaluates schools and colleges across three core disciplines: education studies, teacher training and academic studies in education.
The top features universities from a range of states including California, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Texas and Pennsylvania.

Choosing the right university for education in the US

To become a teacher in the US, you must be licensed by the state in which you want to teach, and most teacher-training courses begin at the postgraduate level. Aspiring teachers will often complete an undergraduate degree in any subject, then enrol in an accredited teacher programme.

However, education can also be studied at many levels beyond teacher training. Education as an academic discipline brings together fields such as sociology, politics, history and psychology to investigate a broad range of education-related problems, from social mobility to international policy. Some universities offer undergraduate education courses as majors or minors.

Choosing where to study education in the US requires considering a range of factors including teaching and research. These rankings provide critical insights based on:

Research environment – focuses on research reputation and productivity
Teaching quality – the student learning experience and faculty strength.
Research quality – influence and innovation in the engineering field.
Industry collaboration – how institutions work with businesses and apply practical knowledge.
International outlook – global diversity of students and faculty.

The table for the best universities for education in the US was derived from data collected for the THE World University Subject Rankings: Education. The results are calculated using 18 performance indicators underlying five metrics. For more insights and a detailed breakdown of our ranking methodology, visit our methodology page. Use the ranking table above to explore the right institution for you.

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Discover the Times Higher Education rankings for the best education degrees in the US 2025. This list of universities reveals the top-ranked 130 institutions for education in the US including education studies, teacher training and academic studies in education offering prospective students insights into the highest-ranking universities in the field.

Universities across the US are evaluated based on teaching, research, and international outlook. Times Higher Education’s respected rankings use a robust methodology, created by the in-house data team, relied upon by students, academics, policymakers, and industry leaders worldwide.

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Best universities in the US for education studies 2026

Top universities in the US for education degrees 2026

Key insights into the top universities for education degrees in the US 2026

Choosing the right university for education in the US

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