Top Ranked LL.M. Universities in USA 2025
Top LLM Universities in USA
One of the most popular countries for study abroad options for international students, USA is known for its globally renowned universities, including more than 200 top LLM universities. According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, some top LLM universities in USA are Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan and many more. Most of the top LLM universities in USA are located in California, New York Massachusetts and more.
All aspiring candidates are required to appear for English proficiency exams like IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo English Test and other entrance exams such as GRE/GMAT and SAT.
According to the SEVIS Report, there are about 1.08 million international students with active study visas in the US, as of January 2023. The top subjects/industries for LLM graduates in USA are Law, Intellectual pro
Top LLM Universities in USA
One of the most popular countries for study abroad options for international students, USA is known for its globally renowned universities, including more than 200 top LLM universities. According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, some top LLM universities in USA are Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan and many more. Most of the top LLM universities in USA are located in California, New York Massachusetts and more.
All aspiring candidates are required to appear for English proficiency exams like IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo English Test and other entrance exams such as GRE/GMAT and SAT.
According to the SEVIS Report, there are about 1.08 million international students with active study visas in the US, as of January 2023. The top subjects/industries for LLM graduates in USA are Law, Intellectual property, Law firm and more.
Top LLM Universities in USA: Highlights
Generally, the duration of MS course in USA duration of a regular MS course in majority of the top-ranked universities in USA is of one-two years. Usually, there are 3 intakes for university admissions in top LLM universities in USA and these are; Fall, Spring and Summer. Listed below are some of the features of the MS program in the USA:
| PARAMETERS |
STATISTICS |
| Number of LLM universities in USA |
200+ |
| Cost of LLM courses in USA |
Annual tuition fee: INR 25.48 L - 57.83 L Annual living costs: INR 8 L - 34 L |
| Top LLM specializations |
Law, Intellectual Property, Law Firm and more |
| Entrance exams required |
|
| English proficiency exams required |
|
| Work permit required for USA |
OPT (one-year and stay-back permit) |
Top-ranked LLM Universities in USA:
QS World University Rankings is a globally recognized top university ranking body that publishes annual rankings of universities on the basis of eight key indicators like Employability, ROI, Entrepreneurship and Alumni outcomes, Thought leadership, and Class & faculty diversity and new parameters like sustainability, employment outcomes and international research network. There are other renowned ranking bodies like US News and World Report that rank universities on Alumni giving rate average, Class size, Graduation rate performance and more.
Given below is the list of top LLM Universities in USA as mentioned in the prominent rankings:
| University |
QS Global Rankings 2024 |
U.S. News & World Report MBA Rankings for 2023-24 |
| #4 |
#1 |
|
| #5 |
#3 |
|
| #10 |
#4 |
|
| #11 |
#22 |
|
| #12 |
#15 |
|
| #16 |
#11 |
|
| #23 |
#7 |
|
| #33 |
#25 |
|
| #38 |
#31 |
|
| #57 |
NA |
Top LLM Universities in USA: QS World University Rankings
In the QS World University Rankings, it can be observed that Harvard University as well as Stanford University have constantly retained their position in the top 10 universities in USA.
| University |
QS World Ranking 2024 |
QS World Ranking 2023 |
QS World Ranking 2022 |
| #4 |
#5 |
#5 |
|
| #5 |
#3 |
#3 |
|
| #10 |
#27 |
#32 |
|
| #11 |
#10 |
#10 |
|
| #12 |
#13 |
#13 |
|
| #16 |
#18 |
#14 |
|
| #23 |
#22 |
#19 |
|
| #33 |
#25 |
#23 |
|
| #38 |
#39 |
#42 |
|
| #57 |
#50 |
#52 |
Read more:
Top LLM Universities in USA: Admission Requirements
The exact admission requirements for the top LLM universities in USA differ according to university of choice. However, there are some generic entry requirements for admission into best MS universities in USA and they are:
- Academic certificates and mark sheets of 10th, 12th, and undergraduate level
- A Bachelor’s degree
- Foreign transcripts evaluation by the LSAC's LLM Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
- English Proficiency Scores
- Work Experience
Also, while submitting the application for LLM, students must submit some additional documents such as academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, CV/resume, etc.
Check out the table below to have a general idea of the eligibility requirements required to study LLM in a top university in USA.
| University |
English Proficiency Language Score |
Admission Requirements |
| TOEFL: 100.0 & Above IELTS: 7.0-7.5 Duolingo: 125.0 & Above |
SAT: Accepted |
|
| TOEFL: 89.0-110 |
SAT: Accepted |
|
| TOEFL: 90.0 & Above IELTS: 6.5-7.0 |
SAT: Accepted |
|
| TOEFL: 90.0-104.0 IELTS: 7.0 & Above |
SAT: Accepted |
|
| TOEFL: 100.0 & Above IELTS: 7.0 & Above |
SAT: Accepted |
|
| TOEFL: 100.0 & Above IELTS: 7.0 & Above Duolingo: 120.0 & Above |
SAT: Accepted |
|
| TOEFL: 99.0-114.0 IELTS: 6.5-7.5 |
SAT: Accepted |
|
| TOEFL: 84.0-102.0 IELTS: 6.5-7.0 |
SAT: Accepted |
|
| TOEFL: 90.0-110.0 IELTS: 7.0-8.0 |
SAT: Accepted |
|
| TOEFL: 90.0 & Above IELTS: 7.0 & Above |
SAT: Accepted |
Top LLM Universities in USA: Scholarships Offered:
Opting to study abroad is a major step that student take for their career and managing the expenses including the tuition fee and living costs play a deciding factor in this decision. Here is where scholarships dive in and help students study in their dream college by cutting down a portion of their expenses. Here are some scholarships offered by the top LLM universities in USA that are available for international students:
- Narotam Sekhsaria’s Scholarships
- Hani Zeini Scholarship
- Joseph Wharton Fellowship
- Harry and Nisha Arora ’04 MBA Scholarship
- C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad
Top LLM Universities in USA: Visa Requirements
All international students require a USA Student Visa in order to study in a university in USA. All candidates aiming for studying in USA university must follow the proper application process to apply for US Student Visa. Additionally, students are required to pay the visa application fee, as applicable.
Top LLM Universities in USA: Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate and average GPA play a very crucial role when it comes to university admissions and applicants must keep them in mind before applying in a university. Given below are the acceptance rate as well as the average GPA required for top LLM universities in USA:
| University |
Acceptance Rate |
Average GPA |
| 4% |
4.18 GPA |
|
| 3.68% |
3.96 GPA |
|
| 9% |
3.8 GPA |
|
| 6% |
4.48 GPA |
|
| 6% |
3.9 GPA |
|
| 4.46% |
4.14 GPA |
|
| 4.1% |
4.12 GPA |
|
| 20.2% |
3.88 GPA |
|
| 13% |
3.69 GPA |
|
| 5.9% |
4.13 GPA |
Is studying at top LLM universities in USA expensive?
According to the table given below, it can be observed that majority of the top ranked LLM universities in USA have the 1st year tuition fee around 50-60L. Hence, studying here can be considered to be very expensive.
| University |
1st Year Tuition Fees |
Cost of Living (Approximate) |
| INR 58.5 L |
INR 34L |
|
| INR 51.7 L - 55.6 L |
INR 31L |
|
| INR 55.3 L - 58 L |
INR 27L |
|
| INR 22.4 L - 45.2 L |
INR 21L |
|
| INR 30.6 L - 56.6 L |
INR 27L |
|
| INR 38.4 L - 59.4 L |
INR 8L |
|
| INR 60.1 L - 64.3 L |
INR 14L |
|
| INR 38.9 L - 55.8 L |
INR 12L |
|
| INR 56.8 L - 63.2 L |
INR 21L |
|
| INR 18.3 L - 56.8 L |
INR 17L |
Top LLM Universities in USA: Salary
The salary offered by any university determines the Return on Investment (ROI) that students get as a placement offer in return for investing some amount of money to attend a college and eventually, for the completion of a degree. Mentioned below are the average placement salary offered to students at the top universities MS in USA along with the first-year tuition fees.
| University |
1st Year Tuition Fees |
Cost of Living (Approximate) |
| INR 58.5 L |
USD 175,000 |
|
| INR 51.7 L - 55.6 L |
USD 175,000 |
|
| INR 55.3 L - 58 L |
USD 155,000 |
|
| INR 22.4 L - 45.2 L |
USD 87,000 |
|
| INR 30.6 L - 56.6 L |
USD 175,000 |
|
| INR 38.4 L - 59.4 L |
USD 160,000 |
|
| INR 60.1 L - 64.3 L |
USD 175,000 |
|
| INR 38.9 L - 55.8 L |
USD 165,000 |
|
| INR 56.8 L - 63.2 L |
USD 162,500 |
|
| INR 18.3 L - 56.8 L |
USD 160,000 |
Top LLM Universities in USA: Post-work Study Permit
Post-work study permit is one of the most crucial factors for students aiming to pursue higher studies in USA. On the completion of a degree program in the US, international students are permitted Optional Practical Training (OPT), which is a one-year work and stay back permit. OPT is further classified into two types; Pre-Completion OPT and Post-Completion OPT. With the help of OPT, students get the post-study work permit to stay in US for a year after completing their degree program.
Top LLM Universities in USA: A Comparison
Check out a comprehensive comparison of the top MS universities in USA:
| University |
Current Year Ranking (QS Global MBA Rankings 2024) |
Placement Data |
Acceptance Rate |
| Harvard University |
#4 |
USD 175,000 |
4% |
| Stanford University |
#5 |
USD 175,000 |
3.68% |
| University of California, Berkeley (UCB) |
#10 |
USD 155,000 |
9% |
| University of Chicago |
#11 |
USD 87,000 |
6% |
| University of Pennsylvania |
#12 |
USD 175,000 |
6% |
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Top Ranked LL.M. Universities in USA 2025
#1
Guided 4.7K students to USA universities.
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Guided 4.7K students to USA universities.
12.4K+ students got admitted through us.
Guided 4.7K students to USA universities.
We can fast-track your application in a week.
Guided 4.7K students to USA universities.
We can fast-track your application in a week.
Guided 4.7K students to USA universities.
