Best American Universities That Are Under 50 Years Old

While "top colleges" lists tend to be filled with centuries-old institutions of higher education, there are certainly deserving younger schools that get overlooked.

list uses the same determinants as their annual World University Rankings — research, citations, teaching, international outlook, and innovation — but with a reduced weighting of indicators concerning reputation.


This year's list is dominated by schools from Asia and Europe, but the United States has the third highest representation of any country, with eight of its universities included in the rankings.

#1 University of California, Irvine

University of California, Irvine

THE Ranking: 5

Year Founded: 1965

The top American university on THE's list, the University of California, Irvine often finds itself sharing space on academic rankings with much older institutions. The school offers highly regarded programs in a range of subjects, including criminology, literary criticism, and organic chemistry.

#2 University of California, Santa Cruz

University of California, Santa Cruz

THE Ranking: 11

Year Founded: 1965

Since its inception, the University of California, Santa Cruz has emphasized a commitment to a liberal education, with a residential college system and, until recently, professor-written narrative evaluations in lieu of grades. UCSC is known for some of the school's quirkier traits, from student-elected mascot Sammy the Banana Slug to the library's recent Grateful Dead archive.

#3 University of Texas at Dallas

University of Texas at Dallas

THE Ranking: 15

Year Founded: 1969

Originally founded as a research extension of Texas Instruments, the University of Texas at Dallas has established itself as one of the top academic institutions in the Lone Star State. The school has maintained its roots in technology, and hosts a well regarded space sciences program.

#4 University of Illinois at Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago

THE Ranking: 19

Year Founded: 1982

Although the youngest American school on THE's list, the University of Illinois at Chicago has existed in various forms since the 19th century. UIC is the largest university in Chicago and counts about 10% of Chicagoans with a college degree as alumni.

#5 George Mason University

George Mason University

THE Ranking: 59

Year Founded: 1972

Originally founded in the 1950s as a branch of the University of Virginia, George Mason has distinguished itself through strong academics, particularly in economics. The university barreled into the public eye with an unexpected Final Four run in the 2006 NCAA basketball tournament.

#6 University of Maryland, Baltimore County

 University of Maryland, Baltimore County

THE Ranking: 60

Year Founded: 1966

An honors institution in the University System of Maryland, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County has been lauded for its charismatic president and commitment to undergraduate research. The university prides itself on a strong chess team, and offers scholarships to Grand Masters around the world. 

#7 University of Texas at San Antonio

University of Texas at San Antonio

THE Ranking: 70

Year Founded: 1969

Currently in the middle of a nine year strategic plan, the University of Texas at San Antonio is concurrently emphasizing academics and student life. The university ranks high nationally in the number of degrees it awards to Hispanic students and has been designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

#8 Florida International University

Florida International University

THE Ranking: 84

Year Founded: 1965

With almost 50,000 students and over a billion dollar annual budget, Florida International University is currently one of largest schools in the country.Notably, FIU is the youngest American university with a Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society chapter.