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 51.1M citations received by 1.66M academic papers made by 1,183 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: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Development Studies

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

3. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Development Studies

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

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: $17,998

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Development Studies

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

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: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

7. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Development Studies

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

8. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

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: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

10. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Development Studies

#11 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

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: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

12. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Development Studies

#13 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

13. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Development Studies

#14 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Development Studies

#15 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

15. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Development Studies

#16 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

16. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Development Studies

#17 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

17. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Development Studies

#18 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

18. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Development Studies

#20 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

19. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Development Studies

#21 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

20. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Development Studies

#22 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

21. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Development Studies

#23 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

22. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Development Studies

#24 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

23. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Development Studies

#25 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

24. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Development Studies

#26 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

25. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Development Studies

#27 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

26. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Development Studies

#28 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

27. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#29 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

28. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Development Studies

#30 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

29. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Development Studies

#31 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

30. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Development Studies

#32 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

31. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Development Studies

#34 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

32. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Development Studies

#35 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

33. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Development Studies

#36 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

34. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Development Studies

#37 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

35. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Development Studies

#38 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

36. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Development Studies

#39 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

37. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Development Studies

#42 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

38. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Development Studies

#43 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

39. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Development Studies

#44 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

40. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Development Studies

#46 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

41. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Development Studies

#47 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

42. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Development Studies

#48 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

43. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Development Studies

#49 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

44. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Development Studies

#51 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

45. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Development Studies

#53 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

46. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Development Studies

#54 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

47. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Development Studies

#55 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

48. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Development Studies

#56 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

49. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Development Studies

#57 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

50. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Development Studies

#58 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

51. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Development Studies

#59 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

52. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Development Studies

#60 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

53. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#61 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

54. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Development Studies

#62 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

55. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Development Studies

#63 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

56. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Development Studies

#64 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

57. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Development Studies

#65 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

58. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Development Studies

#66 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

59. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Development Studies

#67 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

60. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Development Studies

#68 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

61. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Development Studies

#69 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

62. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#70 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

63. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Development Studies

#71 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

64. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Development Studies

#72 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

65. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Development Studies

#73 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

66. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Development Studies

#74 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,877
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

67. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Development Studies

#76 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,667
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

68. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Development Studies

#77 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

69. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Development Studies

#78 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

70. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Development Studies

#79 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

71. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Development Studies

#80 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

72. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Development Studies

#81 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

73. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Development Studies

#82 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

74. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Development Studies

#83 in North America

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

75. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Development Studies

#84 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,590

76. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Development Studies

#85 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

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: $41,028

78. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Development Studies

#88 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

79. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Development Studies

#90 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

80. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Development Studies

#92 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,234
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1963

81. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Development Studies

#93 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 100%

82. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Development Studies

#94 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

83. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Development Studies

#95 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

84. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Development Studies

#96 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

85. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Development Studies

#97 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $51,520

86. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Development Studies

#98 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

87. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Development Studies

#99 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

88. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Development Studies

#100 in North America

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

89. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Development Studies

#101 in North America

#186 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

#103 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,699
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1900

91. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Development Studies

#106 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

92. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Development Studies

#107 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,631

93. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Development Studies

#108 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

94. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Development Studies

#109 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

95. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Development Studies

#110 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

96. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Development Studies

#111 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

97. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Development Studies

#112 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

98. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Development Studies

#113 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 84%

99. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Development Studies

#114 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

100. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Development Studies

#116 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,747
Enrollment: 16,880

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