100 Best colleges for Advertising in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Advertising. A graph of 9.59M citations received by 338K academic papers made by 649 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Advertising

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Advertising

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

3. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Advertising

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

4. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Advertising

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

5. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Advertising

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

6. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Advertising

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

7. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Advertising

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

8. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Advertising

#9 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

9. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Advertising

#10 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

10. University of Texas at Austin

For Advertising

#11 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

11. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Advertising

#12 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

12. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Advertising

#13 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

13. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Advertising

#14 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

14. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Advertising

#15 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

15. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Advertising

#16 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

16. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Advertising

#17 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

17. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Advertising

#18 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

18. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Advertising

#19 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

19. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Advertising

#20 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

20. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Advertising

#21 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

21. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Advertising

#22 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

22. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Advertising

#23 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

23. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Advertising

#24 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

24. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Advertising

#26 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

25. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Advertising

#27 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

26. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Advertising

#28 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

27. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Advertising

#29 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

28. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Advertising

#30 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

29. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Advertising

#31 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

30. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Advertising

#32 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

31. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Advertising

#33 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

32. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Advertising

#34 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

33. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Advertising

#35 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

34. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Advertising

#36 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

35. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Advertising

#37 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

36. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Advertising

#38 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

37. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Advertising

#39 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

38. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Advertising

#40 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

39. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Advertising

#41 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

40. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Advertising

#42 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

41. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Advertising

#43 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

42. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Advertising

#44 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

43. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Advertising

#45 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

44. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Advertising

#46 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

45. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Advertising

#47 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

46. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Advertising

#49 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

47. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Advertising

#50 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

48. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Advertising

#51 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

49. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Advertising

#52 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

50. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Advertising

#53 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

51. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Advertising

#54 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

52. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Advertising

#55 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

53. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Advertising

#57 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

54. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Advertising

#58 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

55. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Advertising

#59 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

56. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Advertising

#60 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

57. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Advertising

#61 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 88%

58. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Advertising

#63 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

59. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Advertising

#64 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

60. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Advertising

#65 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

61. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Advertising

#67 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

62. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Advertising

#68 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

63. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Advertising

#69 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

64. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Advertising

#70 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

65. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Advertising

#71 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

66. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Advertising

#72 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

67. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Advertising

#73 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

68. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Advertising

#74 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

69. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Advertising

#75 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

70. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Advertising

#78 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

71. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Advertising

#79 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

72. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Advertising

#80 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

73. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Advertising

#81 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

74. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Advertising

#82 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

75. University of North Texas

For Advertising

#83 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 90%

76. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Advertising

#84 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

77. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Advertising

#85 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

78. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Advertising

#86 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

79. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Advertising

#88 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

80. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Advertising

#90 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

81. Villanova University

Pennsylvania | Villanova

For Advertising

#91 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1453
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,201

82. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Advertising

#92 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

83. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Advertising

#93 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

84. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Advertising

#94 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

85. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Advertising

#96 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

86. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Advertising

#97 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 85%

87. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Advertising

#98 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

88. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Advertising

#99 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

89. University of Nevada - Las Vegas

Nevada | Las Vegas

For Advertising

#100 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 94%

90. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Advertising

#101 in North America

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

91. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Advertising

#102 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

92. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Advertising

#103 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

93. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Advertising

#104 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

94. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Advertising

#106 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

95. DePaul University

Illinois | Chicago

For Advertising

#107 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $34,135

96. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Advertising

#108 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

97. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Advertising

#109 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

98. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Advertising

#110 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

99. Kent State University at Kent

For Advertising

#111 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%

100. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Advertising

#112 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

The best cities to study Advertising in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Stanford, Ann Arbor, Berkeley, and Los Angeles.