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 36.6M citations received by 1.49M academic papers made by 1,135 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: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

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: 74%

3. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Development Studies

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

4. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Development Studies

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

5. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Development Studies

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

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: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

7. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Development Studies

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

8. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Development Studies

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

10. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Development Studies

#11 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

11. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Development Studies

#12 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

12. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Development Studies

#13 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

13. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Development Studies

#14 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

14. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Development Studies

#15 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

15. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Development Studies

#16 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

16. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Development Studies

#17 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

17. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Development Studies

#19 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

18. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Development Studies

#20 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

19. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Development Studies

#21 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

20. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Development Studies

#22 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

21. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Development Studies

#23 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

22. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Development Studies

#24 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

23. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Development Studies

#25 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

24. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#26 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

25. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Development Studies

#27 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

26. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Development Studies

#28 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

27. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Development Studies

#29 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

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: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

29. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Development Studies

#31 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

30. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Development Studies

#32 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

31. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Development Studies

#33 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

32. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Development Studies

#34 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Development Studies

#35 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

34. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Development Studies

#37 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

35. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Development Studies

#38 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

36. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Development Studies

#41 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

37. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Development Studies

#42 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

38. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Development Studies

#43 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

39. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Development Studies

#44 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

40. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Development Studies

#45 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

41. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Development Studies

#46 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

42. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Development Studies

#48 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

43. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Development Studies

#50 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

44. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Development Studies

#51 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

45. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Development Studies

#52 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

46. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Development Studies

#53 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

47. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Development Studies

#54 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

48. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Development Studies

#55 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

49. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Development Studies

#57 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

50. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Development Studies

#58 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

51. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Development Studies

#59 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

52. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#60 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

53. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Development Studies

#61 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

54. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Development Studies

#62 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

55. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Development Studies

#63 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

56. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Development Studies

#64 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

57. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Development Studies

#65 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

58. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Development Studies

#66 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

59. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Development Studies

#67 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

60. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Development Studies

#68 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

61. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Development Studies

#69 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

62. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Development Studies

#70 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

63. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Development Studies

#71 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

64. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Development Studies

#72 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,870
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

65. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Development Studies

#73 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

66. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Development Studies

#74 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

67. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Development Studies

#75 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

68. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Development Studies

#76 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

69. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Development Studies

#77 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

70. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Development Studies

#78 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

71. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Development Studies

#79 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

72. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Development Studies

#80 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

73. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Development Studies

#81 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

74. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Development Studies

#82 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

75. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Development Studies

#83 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

76. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Development Studies

#84 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

77. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Development Studies

#86 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

78. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Development Studies

#88 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

79. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Development Studies

#91 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,253
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1963

80. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Development Studies

#92 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1488
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,559

81. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Development Studies

#93 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

82. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Development Studies

#94 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

83. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Development Studies

#95 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

84. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Development Studies

#96 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

85. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Development Studies

#97 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

86. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Development Studies

#98 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

87. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Development Studies

#99 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

88. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Development Studies

#100 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

89. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Development Studies

#101 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

90. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Development Studies

#102 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

91. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Development Studies

#103 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

92. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Development Studies

#107 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,263

93. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Development Studies

#108 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $35,412

94. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Development Studies

#109 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

95. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Development Studies

#110 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

96. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Development Studies

#111 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

97. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Development Studies

#112 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

98. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Development Studies

#113 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

99. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Development Studies

#114 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

100. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Development Studies

#115 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

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