Last week, CNBC published the results of The Princeton Review's 2026 "Hopes and Worries About Higher Education" survey, revealing the most sought-after universities in the US.
Harvard University reclaimed the top spot on the list of most desired schools, after being surpassed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) last year.
The prestigious Ivy League, comprising eight of the nation's top universities, secured half of the top 10 positions. Only two public institutions, the University of Texas-Austin and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, made the list.
Tuition fees for these institutions for the 2025-2026 academic year ranged from 38,700 USD to 72,500 USD.
| No. | University | US News Ranking | Tuition (USD/year) |
| 1 | Harvard University | 3 | 59,300 |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 2 | 66,700 |
| 3 | Stanford University | 4 | 67,700 |
| 4 | Princeton University | 1 | 68,100 |
| 5 | New York University | 32 | 65,000 |
| 6 | Yale University | 5 | 72,500 |
| 7 | Columbia University | 15 | 70,200 |
| 8 | University of Pennsylvania | 7 | 65,700 |
| 9 | University of Texas-Austin | 30 | 38,700-46,500 |
| 10 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 20 | 64,000 |
Harvard's enduring appeal persists despite ongoing legal battles with the government, which have led to funding cuts, according to Robert Franek, editor-in-chief of The Princeton Review.
Applications to Harvard have soared, pushing its acceptance rate below 4%, a record low. This marks a significant decrease from over 10% two decades ago.
While a school's reputation remains a priority, the survey of 9,400 students and parents highlighted tuition costs as the greatest source of stress. The total annual cost of attendance at some private institutions, including tuition, living expenses, textbooks, and other incidentals, now approaches 100,000 USD.
Experts note that as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the labor market and eliminates many internship opportunities, families are becoming more pragmatic. Instead of choosing a school solely for its name, they are increasingly calculating the return on investment (ROI).
Tricia Scarlata, head of education savings at financial services firm J.P. Morgan, observes that parents are targeting degrees that promise the highest employment rates and earnings for their children after graduation.
"Choosing a university used to be an emotional choice, but now it has become a true financial strategy", Franek concluded.
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The Harvard Business School campus. Photo: Harvard Business School Fanpage |
Khanh Linh
