Which universities are considered the most famous in the United States?

As a high school student considering applying to universities in the U.S., I'm interested in knowing which ones are the most renowned or have the best reputations. I know the Ivy League is famous, but what about other schools?

In addition to the Ivy League institutions (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Brown, and Cornell), there are many highly renowned universities in the United States.

Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology are very well-known, particularly for their strong STEM programs, while University of Chicago and Duke University are renowned for a variety of high-quality programs across different disciplines. Johns Hopkins University is known for its leading programs in Medicine and other health-related fields.

The University of California system also has several prestigious branches, with UC Berkeley and UCLA often singled-out for top-tier programs in numerous areas. Stanford, MIT, Caltech, and the University of Michigan are also internationally recognized, especially for their engineering and technology programs.

For liberal arts colleges, schools like Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, and Pomona are often recognized for their intimate learning environments and rigorous academic programs.

This is not an exhaustive list by any means, and there are many fantastic colleges in the U.S with strong programs, each with their own unique campus culture and strengths. It's important to research each university carefully and understand what it offers in relation to your own academic and personal interests.