Best Development Studies Universities in the World [2026 Rankings]

1

United States | Massachusetts

Harvard University

For Development Studies

#1 in North America #1 in United States

4% Acceptance

1,489 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1636 Founded

2

United States | Michigan

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

For Development Studies

#2 in North America #2 in United States

16% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1445 Avg SAT

1817 Founded

3

Canada | Ontario

University of Toronto

For Development Studies

#3 in North America #1 in Canada

54% Acceptance

102,431 Enrollment

1827 Founded

4

United States | Maryland

Johns Hopkins University

For Development Studies

#4 in North America #3 in United States

6% Acceptance

6,636 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

5

United States | California

Stanford University

For Development Studies

#5 in North America #4 in United States

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

6

United States | Washington

University of Washington – Seattle

For Development Studies

#6 in North America #5 in United States

39% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1315 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

7

United States | New York State

Columbia University

For Development Studies

#7 in North America #6 in United States

4% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1754 Founded

8

United Kingdom | England

University of Oxford

For Development Studies

#1 in Europe #1 in United Kingdom

22% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1096 Founded

9

United Kingdom | England

University College London

For Development Studies

#2 in Europe #2 in United Kingdom

36% Acceptance

42,000 Enrollment

1826 Founded

10

United States | California

University of California – Berkeley

For Development Studies

#8 in North America #7 in United States

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

11

United States | Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

For Development Studies

#9 in North America #8 in United States

5% Acceptance

1,947 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1740 Founded

12

United States | North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

For Development Studies

#10 in North America #9 in United States

15% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1460 Avg SAT

1789 Founded

13

United States | Illinois

University of Chicago

For Development Studies

#11 in North America #10 in United States

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

14

United States | California

University of California – Los Angeles

For Development Studies

#12 in North America #11 in United States

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

15

United States | Connecticut

Yale University

For Development Studies

#13 in North America #12 in United States

4% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1520 Avg SAT

1701 Founded

16

United States | Minnesota

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

For Development Studies

#14 in North America #13 in United States

80% Acceptance

15,019 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

17

United States | New York State

Cornell University

For Development Studies

#15 in North America #14 in United States

9% Acceptance

16,128 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1865 Founded

18

United States | Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin – Madison

For Development Studies

#16 in North America #15 in United States

45% Acceptance

38,040 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1848 Founded

19

United States | California

University of California – San Francisco

For Development Studies

#17 in North America #16 in United States

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

20

United Kingdom | England

London School of Economics and Political Science

For Development Studies

#3 in Europe #3 in United Kingdom

8% Acceptance

9,218 Enrollment

1895 Founded

21

Australia | Sydney

University of Sydney

For Development Studies

#1 in Oceania #1 in Australia

71% Acceptance

63,602 Enrollment

1850 Founded

22

Australia | Melbourne

University of Melbourne

For Development Studies

#2 in Oceania #2 in Australia

77% Acceptance

77,162 Enrollment

1853 Founded

23

Canada | British Columbia

University of British Columbia

For Development Studies

#18 in North America #2 in Canada

52% Acceptance

71,201 Enrollment

1908 Founded

24

United States | New York State

New York University

For Development Studies

#19 in North America #17 in United States

9% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1520 Avg SAT

1831 Founded

25

United States | Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State University

For Development Studies

#20 in North America #18 in United States

61% Acceptance

42,604 Enrollment

1330 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

26

United States | Massachusetts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

For Development Studies

#21 in North America #19 in United States

5% Acceptance

4,535 Enrollment

1550 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

27

United States | Ohio

Ohio State University

For Development Studies

#22 in North America #20 in United States

61% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1395 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

28

Australia | St Lucia

University of Queensland

For Development Studies

#3 in Oceania #3 in Australia

70% Acceptance

48,771 Enrollment

1909 Founded

29

United Kingdom | England

University of Manchester

For Development Studies

#4 in Europe #4 in United Kingdom

40% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1824 Founded

30

United States | Michigan

Michigan State University

For Development Studies

#23 in North America #21 in United States

85% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

31

United Kingdom | England

University of Cambridge

For Development Studies

#5 in Europe #5 in United Kingdom

21% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1209 Founded

32

United States | Illinois

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

For Development Studies

#24 in North America #22 in United States

42% Acceptance

37,140 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

33

Australia | Clayton

Monash University

For Development Studies

#4 in Oceania #4 in Australia

73% Acceptance

78,000 Enrollment

1958 Founded

34

United States | North Carolina

Duke University

For Development Studies

#25 in North America #23 in United States

6% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1838 Founded

35

United States | Illinois

Northwestern University

For Development Studies

#26 in North America #24 in United States

8% Acceptance

9,399 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

36

United States | Texas

University of Texas at Austin

For Development Studies

#27 in North America #25 in United States

27% Acceptance

43,165 Enrollment

1380 Avg SAT

1883 Founded

37

Netherlands | Amsterdam

University of Amsterdam

For Development Studies

#7 in Europe #1 in Netherlands

51% Acceptance

41,000 Enrollment

1632 Founded

38

United States | New Jersey

Princeton University

For Development Studies

#28 in North America #26 in United States

5% Acceptance

5,813 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1746 Founded

39

United States | Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

For Development Studies

#29 in North America #27 in United States

58% Acceptance

25,900 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1787 Founded

40

Australia | Sydney

University of New South Wales

For Development Studies

#5 in Oceania #5 in Australia

60% Acceptance

63,864 Enrollment

1949 Founded

41

United States | Arizona

Arizona State University – Tempe

For Development Studies

#30 in North America #28 in United States

90% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

970 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

42

United States | New Jersey

Rutgers University – New Brunswick

For Development Studies

#31 in North America #29 in United States

58% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1405 Avg SAT

1766 Founded

43

United States | California

University of Southern California

For Development Studies

#32 in North America #30 in United States

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

44

Canada | Ontario

McMaster University

For Development Studies

#33 in North America #3 in Canada

49% Acceptance

27,965 Enrollment

1887 Founded

45

United States | Florida

University of Florida

For Development Studies

#34 in North America #31 in United States

24% Acceptance

36,573 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

46

United States | Maryland

University of Maryland – College Park

For Development Studies

#35 in North America #32 in United States

45% Acceptance

31,133 Enrollment

1465 Avg SAT

1856 Founded

47

United States | Massachusetts

Boston University

For Development Studies

#36 in North America #33 in United States

11% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

48

United States | California

University of California-San Diego

For Development Studies

#37 in North America #34 in United States

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

49

Australia | Canberra

Australian National University

For Development Studies

#6 in Oceania #6 in Australia

71% Acceptance

31,313 Enrollment

1946 Founded

50

China | Hong Kong

University of Hong Kong

For Development Studies

#1 in Asia #1 in China

17% Acceptance

21,652 Enrollment

1911 Founded

51

United States | Georgia, US

Emory University

For Development Studies

#38 in North America #35 in United States

11% Acceptance

967 Enrollment

1510 Avg SAT

1836 Founded

52

United Kingdom | Scotland

University of Edinburgh

For Development Studies

#8 in Europe #7 in United Kingdom

51% Acceptance

24,409 Enrollment

1583 Founded

53

United States | California

University of California – Davis

For Development Studies

#39 in North America #36 in United States

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

54

Canada | Alberta

University of Alberta

For Development Studies

#40 in North America #4 in Canada

53% Acceptance

31,185 Enrollment

1908 Founded

55

Canada | Quebec State

McGill University

For Development Studies

#41 in North America #5 in Canada

46% Acceptance

37,888 Enrollment

1821 Founded

56

United Kingdom | England

Imperial College London

For Development Studies

#9 in Europe #8 in United Kingdom

41% Acceptance

17,565 Enrollment

1907 Founded

57

Singapore | Singapore City

National University of Singapore

For Development Studies

#2 in Asia #1 in Singapore

20% Acceptance

30,098 Enrollment

1905 Founded

58

United States | Illinois

University of Illinois at Chicago

For Development Studies

#42 in North America #37 in United States

77% Acceptance

22,495 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1858 Founded

59

United Kingdom | England

University of Sheffield

For Development Studies

#10 in Europe #9 in United Kingdom

28% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1905 Founded

60

United Kingdom | England

University of Birmingham

For Development Studies

#11 in Europe #10 in United Kingdom

38% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1900 Founded

61

United States | Tennessee

Vanderbilt University

For Development Studies

#43 in North America #38 in United States

6% Acceptance

7,221 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1873 Founded

62

Australia | Brisbane

Griffith University

For Development Studies

#7 in Oceania #7 in Australia

65% Acceptance

37,426 Enrollment

1971 Founded

63

United Kingdom | England

University of London

For Development Studies

#12 in Europe #11 in United Kingdom

36% Acceptance

50,000 Enrollment

1836 Founded

64

Canada | Ontario

University of Ottawa

For Development Studies

#44 in North America #6 in Canada

47% Acceptance

42,027 Enrollment

1848 Founded

65

United States | Arizona

University of Arizona

For Development Studies

#45 in North America #39 in United States

86% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

66

Belgium | Leuven

Catholic University of Leuven

For Development Studies

#13 in Europe #1 in Belgium

33% Acceptance

62,693 Enrollment

1425 Founded

67

United States | District of Columbia

George Washington University

For Development Studies

#46 in North America #40 in United States

47% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1425 Avg SAT

1821 Founded

68

United Kingdom | England

University of Nottingham

For Development Studies

#14 in Europe #12 in United Kingdom

32% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1948 Founded

69

United Kingdom | England

University of Warwick

For Development Studies

#15 in Europe #13 in United Kingdom

23% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1965 Founded

70

South Africa | Cape Town

University of Cape Town

For Development Studies

#1 in Africa #1 in South Africa

51% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1874 Founded

71

United States | Indiana

Purdue University

For Development Studies

#47 in North America #41 in United States

50% Acceptance

44,819 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

72

United Kingdom | England

University of Bristol

For Development Studies

#16 in Europe #14 in United Kingdom

63% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1909 Founded

73

United Kingdom | England

University of York

For Development Studies

#17 in Europe #15 in United Kingdom

20% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1963 Founded

74

United Kingdom | England

University of Southampton

For Development Studies

#18 in Europe #16 in United Kingdom

32% Acceptance

21,335 Enrollment

1952 Founded

75

United States | Virginia

University of Virginia

For Development Studies

#48 in North America #42 in United States

17% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1819 Founded

76

United Kingdom | England

University of Leeds

For Development Studies

#19 in Europe #17 in United Kingdom

48% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1904 Founded

77

Canada | Alberta

University of Calgary

For Development Studies

#49 in North America #7 in Canada

55% Acceptance

33,000 Enrollment

1966 Founded

78

Netherlands | Rotterdam

Erasmus University Rotterdam

For Development Studies

#20 in Europe #2 in Netherlands

53% Acceptance

18,000 Enrollment

1913 Founded

79

United States | Iowa State

University of Iowa

For Development Studies

#50 in North America #43 in United States

84% Acceptance

22,738 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1847 Founded

80

Denmark | Copenhagen

University of Copenhagen

For Development Studies

#21 in Europe #1 in Denmark

37% Acceptance

33,020 Enrollment

1479 Founded

81

Canada | Ontario

Western University

For Development Studies

#51 in North America #8 in Canada

31% Acceptance

21,836 Enrollment

1878 Founded

82

United States | Utah

University of Utah

For Development Studies

#52 in North America #44 in United States

86% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

83

United States | Rhode Island

Brown University

For Development Studies

#53 in North America #45 in United States

5% Acceptance

7,910 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1764 Founded

84

United States | Texas

Texas A&M University – College Station

For Development Studies

#54 in North America #46 in United States

57% Acceptance

60,710 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

85

Brazil | Sao Paulo

University of Sao Paulo

For Development Studies

#1 in Latin America #1 in Brazil

9% Acceptance

97,964 Enrollment

1827 Founded

86

New Zealand | Auckland

University of Auckland

For Development Studies

#8 in Oceania #1 in New Zealand

73% Acceptance

21,240 Enrollment

1883 Founded

87

Australia | Brisbane

Queensland University of Technology

For Development Studies

#9 in Oceania #8 in Australia

77% Acceptance

38,747 Enrollment

1989 Founded

88

United States | Missouri

Washington University in St Louis

For Development Studies

#55 in North America #47 in United States

12% Acceptance

2,256 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

89

Australia | Geelong

Deakin University

For Development Studies

#10 in Oceania #9 in Australia

69% Acceptance

34,616 Enrollment

1974 Founded

90

China | Beijing

Peking University

For Development Studies

#3 in Asia #2 in China

21% Acceptance

44,730 Enrollment

1898 Founded

91

Netherlands | Utrecht

Utrecht University

For Development Studies

#22 in Europe #3 in Netherlands

22% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1636 Founded

92

United States | California

University of California – Irvine

For Development Studies

#56 in North America #48 in United States

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

93

United States | District of Columbia

Georgetown University

For Development Studies

#57 in North America #49 in United States

13% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1789 Founded

94

United Kingdom | England

University of Sussex

For Development Studies

#23 in Europe #18 in United Kingdom

35% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1961 Founded

95

United States | Colorado

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

For Development Studies

#58 in North America #50 in United States

75% Acceptance

2,256 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1912 Founded

96

China | Hong Kong

Chinese University of Hong Kong

For Development Studies

#4 in Asia #3 in China

20% Acceptance

21,652 Enrollment

1963 Founded

97

United States | New York State

University of Rochester

For Development Studies

#59 in North America #51 in United States

40% Acceptance

6,580 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

98

South Africa | Johannesburg

University of the Witwatersrand

For Development Studies

#2 in Africa #2 in South Africa

34% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1922 Founded

99

United States | Florida

Florida State University

For Development Studies

#60 in North America #52 in United States

24% Acceptance

6,768 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

99 Best Universities in the World for Development Studies

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