100+ Best Development Studies colleges in the US [Rankings]

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Development Studies. A graph of 53.9M citations received by 1.7M academic papers made by 1,184 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. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Development Studies

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Development Studies

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Development Studies

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

4. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Development Studies

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

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

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Development Studies

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

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

6. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Development Studies

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

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

7. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Development Studies

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

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

8. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

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

9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Development Studies

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

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

10. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Development Studies

#11 in North America

#13 in the World

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

11. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Development Studies

#12 in North America

#14 in the World

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

12. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Development Studies

#13 in North America

#15 in the World

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

13. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Development Studies

#14 in North America

#16 in the World

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

14. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Development Studies

#15 in North America

#17 in the World

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

15. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Development Studies

#16 in North America

#18 in the World

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

16. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Development Studies

#17 in North America

#19 in the World

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

17. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Development Studies

#19 in North America

#24 in the World

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

18. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Development Studies

#20 in North America

#25 in the World

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

19. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Development Studies

#21 in North America

#26 in the World

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

20. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Development Studies

#22 in North America

#27 in the World

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

21. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Development Studies

#23 in North America

#30 in the World

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

22. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Development Studies

#24 in North America

#33 in the World

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

23. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Development Studies

#25 in North America

#35 in the World

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

24. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Development Studies

#26 in North America

#36 in the World

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

25. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Development Studies

#27 in North America

#37 in the World

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

26. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Development Studies

#28 in North America

#39 in the World

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

27. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#29 in North America

#40 in the World

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

28. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Development Studies

#30 in North America

#42 in the World

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

29. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Development Studies

#31 in North America

#43 in the World

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

30. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Development Studies

#32 in North America

#44 in the World

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

31. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Development Studies

#34 in North America

#46 in the World

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

32. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Development Studies

#35 in North America

#47 in the World

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

33. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Development Studies

#36 in North America

#48 in the World

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

34. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Development Studies

#37 in North America

#49 in the World

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

35. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Development Studies

#38 in North America

#52 in the World

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

36. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Development Studies

#39 in North America

#54 in the World

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

37. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Development Studies

#42 in North America

#59 in the World

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

38. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Development Studies

#43 in North America

#62 in the World

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

39. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Development Studies

#45 in North America

#66 in the World

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

40. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Development Studies

#46 in North America

#68 in the World

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

41. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Development Studies

#47 in North America

#72 in the World

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

42. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Development Studies

#48 in North America

#76 in the World

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

43. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Development Studies

#50 in North America

#80 in the World

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

44. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Development Studies

#52 in North America

#83 in the World

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

45. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Development Studies

#53 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

46. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Development Studies

#54 in North America

#85 in the World

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

47. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Development Studies

#55 in North America

#89 in the World

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

48. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Development Studies

#56 in North America

#93 in the World

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

49. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Development Studies

#57 in North America

#94 in the World

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

50. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Development Studies

#58 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

51. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Development Studies

#59 in North America

#98 in the World

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

52. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Development Studies

#60 in North America

#100 in the World

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

53. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Development Studies

#61 in North America

#105 in the World

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

54. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#62 in North America

#106 in the World

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

55. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Development Studies

#63 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

56. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Development Studies

#64 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

57. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Development Studies

#65 in North America

#113 in the World

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

58. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Development Studies

#66 in North America

#114 in the World

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

59. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Development Studies

#67 in North America

#115 in the World

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

60. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Development Studies

#68 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

61. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#69 in North America

#118 in the World

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

62. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Development Studies

#70 in North America

#120 in the World

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

63. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Development Studies

#71 in North America

#121 in the World

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

64. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Development Studies

#72 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,942
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

65. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Development Studies

#73 in North America

#127 in the World

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

66. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Development Studies

#74 in North America

#128 in the World

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

67. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Development Studies

#76 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

68. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Development Studies

#77 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

69. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Development Studies

#78 in North America

#134 in the World

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

70. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Development Studies

#79 in North America

#135 in the World

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

71. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Development Studies

#80 in North America

#140 in the World

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

72. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Development Studies

#81 in North America

#141 in the World

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

73. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Development Studies

#82 in North America

#142 in the World

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

74. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Development Studies

#83 in North America

#143 in the World

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

75. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Development Studies

#84 in North America

#145 in the World

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

76. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Development Studies

#85 in North America

#146 in the World

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

77. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Development Studies

#87 in North America

#148 in the World

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

78. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Development Studies

#89 in North America

#151 in the World

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

79. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Development Studies

#91 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,261
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1963

80. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Development Studies

#92 in North America

#160 in the World

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

81. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Development Studies

#93 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

82. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Development Studies

#94 in North America

#165 in the World

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

83. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Development Studies

#95 in North America

#171 in the World

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

84. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Development Studies

#96 in North America

#175 in the World

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

85. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Development Studies

#97 in North America

#176 in the World

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

86. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Development Studies

#98 in North America

#177 in the World

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

87. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Development Studies

#99 in North America

#178 in the World

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

88. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Development Studies

#100 in North America

#184 in the World

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

89. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Development Studies

#101 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

90. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Development Studies

#102 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

91. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Development Studies

#105 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

92. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Development Studies

#107 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

93. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Development Studies

#108 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

94. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Development Studies

#109 in North America

#215 in the World

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

95. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Development Studies

#110 in North America

#216 in the World

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

96. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Development Studies

#111 in North America

#217 in the World

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

97. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Development Studies

#112 in North America

#221 in the World

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

98. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Development Studies

#113 in North America

#226 in the World

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

99. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Development Studies

#114 in North America

#229 in the World

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

100. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Development Studies

#117 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

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