Brandwave

Globally sought US universities:Which brands are most popular in search?

In August 2026, Harvard University was the most searched among globally sought US universities worldwide, with an estimated 1.8M branded searches and 22% estimated Share of Search within this set. Worldwide · English terms: these are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.

Share of Search, August 2026
  1. Harvard University22%
  2. Stanford University12%
  3. Columbia University8.1%
  4. New York University7%
  5. UCLA6.8%
  6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology4.8%
  7. University of Pennsylvania4.6%
  8. Princeton University4.4%
  9. Yale University4.4%
  10. UC Berkeley4.3%
  11. +7 more

Follow globally sought US universities and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand in this set →

Share of SearchLeaderboard

Selective, internationally recognized universities in the United States, compared through worldwide branded search interest using English-curated terms. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide, by month

Share of Search by month for Harvard University, Stanford University, Columbia University, New York University, UCLA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, Yale University, UC Berkeley, Brown University, Cornell University, Duke University, University of Chicago, Caltech, Northwestern University. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of search table
MonthHarvard UniversityStanford UniversityColumbia UniversityNew York UniversityUCLAMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPrinceton UniversityYale UniversityUC BerkeleyBrown UniversityCornell UniversityDuke UniversityUniversity of ChicagoCaltechNorthwestern UniversityJohns Hopkins University
Oct 202519.5%12%7.2%6.3%9%3.9%5%3.9%5.9%3.8%3.9%3.9%3.9%3.8%2.8%3.9%1.4%
Nov 202520.2%12.2%8.2%6.3%8.4%3.9%4.6%3.7%5.5%4.4%3.7%3.7%3.7%3.4%3.2%3.7%1.3%
Dec 20258.1%6%4%3.5%3.4%1.9%2.8%1.8%2.7%1.8%54.6%1.8%2.2%1.5%1.6%1.8%0.66%
Jan 202620.3%13.5%6.7%6.8%6.9%4.1%5.7%3.7%5.5%4.4%4.5%3.7%3.7%2.9%3.2%3%1.3%
Feb 202620.2%13.4%7.4%6.5%7.6%3.7%4.5%4%6%4.1%4%4%4%3.2%2.9%2.7%1.5%
Mar 202619.7%11.8%7.2%6.3%9%3.6%5.9%3.9%4.8%4.7%3.2%3.9%4.8%3.9%2.8%3.2%1.2%
Apr 202618.3%13.5%7.4%6.1%9.3%4.2%4.9%4.1%5%4.9%4.1%3.3%4.1%3.3%3.5%2.7%1.2%
May 202619.2%14.2%7.8%6.4%8%4.3%4.8%4.3%5.2%4.2%3.5%3.5%3.5%3.4%3%3.5%1.3%
Jun 202620.9%12.7%7.6%6.7%6.5%4.6%4.3%4.2%5.1%4.1%4.2%4.2%3.4%3.1%3.6%3.4%1.3%
Jul 202622.1%13.5%8.1%6.2%5.6%4.9%4.6%3.6%5.4%4.3%3.6%3.6%3.6%3.3%3.3%3%1.3%
Aug 202622%12%8.1%7%6.8%4.8%4.6%4.4%4.4%4.3%3.6%3.6%3.6%3.3%3.1%3%1.3%
Sep 2026—————————————————

This month’s ranking, August 2026

  1. 1.Harvard University

    22%

    held 1st · 1.8M estimated branded searches · +21.9% vs prior month · -0.1 points

  2. 2.Stanford University

    12%

    held 2nd · 1M estimated branded searches · +8.9% vs prior month · -1.5 points

  3. 3.Columbia University

    8.1%

    held 3rd · 673K estimated branded searches · +22.4% vs prior month · 0 points

  4. 4.New York University

    7%

    held 4th · 587K estimated branded searches · +38.8% vs prior month · +0.8 points

  5. 5.UCLA

    6.8%

    held 5th · 565K estimated branded searches · +48.6% vs prior month · +1.2 points

  6. 6.Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    4.8%

    moved from 7th to 6th · 398K estimated branded searches · +20.1% vs prior month · -0.1 points

  7. 7.University of Pennsylvania

    4.6%

    moved from 8th to 7th · 381K estimated branded searches · +22.5% vs prior month · 0 points

  8. 8.Princeton University

    4.4%

    moved from 13th to 8th · 368K estimated branded searches · +49.6% vs prior month · +0.8 points

  9. 9.Yale University

    4.4%

    moved from 6th to 9th · 368K estimated branded searches · 0% vs prior month · -1 points

  10. 10.UC Berkeley

    4.3%

    moved from 9th to 10th · 362K estimated branded searches · +22.3% vs prior month · 0 points

  11. 11.Brown University

    3.6%

    moved from 10th to 11th · 301K estimated branded searches · +22.4% vs prior month · 0 points

  12. 12.Cornell University

    3.6%

    moved from 11th to 12th · 301K estimated branded searches · +22.4% vs prior month · 0 points

  13. 13.Duke University

    3.6%

    moved from 12th to 13th · 301K estimated branded searches · +22.4% vs prior month · 0 points

  14. 14.University of Chicago

    3.3%

    moved from 15th to 14th · 275K estimated branded searches · +22% vs prior month · 0 points

  15. 15.Caltech

    3.1%

    moved from 14th to 15th · 262K estimated branded searches · +16% vs prior month · -0.2 points

  16. 16.Northwestern University

    3%

    held 16th · 246K estimated branded searches · +22.4% vs prior month · 0 points

  17. 17.Johns Hopkins University

    1.3%

    held 17th · 110K estimated branded searches · +21.5% vs prior month · 0 points

Compare search popularity between leading brands

Which brand is most popular in search among globally sought US universities worldwide?

In August 2026, Harvard University was the most searched among globally sought US universities worldwide, with an estimated 1.8M branded searches and 22% estimated Share of Search within this set. Stanford University is in 2nd place, 10 percentage points behind at 12% Share of Search.

Global globally sought US universities, last 12 months ending September 2026
BrandShare of SearchPeakLowRank
Harvard University19.5% → 22%22.1%Jul 20268.1%Dec 20251st
Stanford University12%14.2%May 20266%Dec 20252nd
Columbia University7.2% → 8.1%8.2%Nov 20254%Dec 20254th → 3rd
New York University6.3% → 7%7%Aug 20263.5%Dec 20255th → 4th
UCLA9% → 6.8%9.3%Apr 20263.4%Dec 20253rd → 5th
Massachusetts Institute of Technology3.9% → 4.8%4.9%Jul 20261.9%Dec 202513th → 6th
University of Pennsylvania5% → 4.6%5.9%Mar 20262.8%Dec 20257th
Princeton University3.9% → 4.4%4.4%Aug 20261.8%Dec 202512th → 8th
Yale University5.9% → 4.4%6%Feb 20262.7%Dec 20256th → 9th
UC Berkeley3.8% → 4.3%4.9%Apr 20261.8%Dec 202514th → 10th
Brown University3.9% → 3.6%54.6%Dec 20253.2%Mar 20268th → 11th
Cornell University3.9% → 3.6%4.2%Jun 20261.8%Dec 20259th → 12th
Duke University3.9% → 3.6%4.8%Mar 20262.2%Dec 202510th → 13th
University of Chicago3.8% → 3.3%3.9%Mar 20261.5%Dec 202515th → 14th
Caltech2.8% → 3.1%3.6%Jun 20261.6%Dec 202516th → 15th
Northwestern University3.9% → 3%3.9%Oct 20251.8%Dec 202511th → 16th
Johns Hopkins University1.4% → 1.3%1.5%Feb 20260.66%Dec 202517th

Each finding as a sentence

  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Harvard University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide increased from 19.5% to 22%.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Columbia University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide increased from 7.2% to 8.1%.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, New York University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide increased from 6.3% to 7%.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, UCLA’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide decreased from 9% to 6.8%.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide increased from 3.9% to 4.8%.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Yale University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide decreased from 5.9% to 4.4%.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Northwestern University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide decreased from 3.9% to 3%.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Harvard University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 22.1% in July 2026 and was lowest at 8.1% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Stanford University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 14.2% in May 2026 and was lowest at 6% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Columbia University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 8.2% in November 2025 and was lowest at 4% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, New York University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 7% in August 2026 and was lowest at 3.5% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, UCLA’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 9.3% in April 2026 and was lowest at 3.4% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 4.9% in July 2026 and was lowest at 1.9% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, University of Pennsylvania’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 5.9% in March 2026 and was lowest at 2.8% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Princeton University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 4.4% in August 2026 and was lowest at 1.8% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Yale University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 6% in February 2026 and was lowest at 2.7% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, UC Berkeley’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 4.9% in April 2026 and was lowest at 1.8% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Brown University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 54.6% in December 2025 and was lowest at 3.2% in March 2026.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Cornell University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 4.2% in June 2026 and was lowest at 1.8% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Duke University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 4.8% in March 2026 and was lowest at 2.2% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, University of Chicago’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 3.9% in March 2026 and was lowest at 1.5% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Caltech’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 3.6% in June 2026 and was lowest at 1.6% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Northwestern University’s estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide peaked at 3.9% in October 2025 and was lowest at 1.8% in December 2025.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Columbia University rose from 4th to 3rd among globally sought US universities worldwide.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, New York University rose from 5th to 4th among globally sought US universities worldwide.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, UCLA fell from 3rd to 5th among globally sought US universities worldwide.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Massachusetts Institute of Technology rose from 13th to 6th among globally sought US universities worldwide.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Princeton University rose from 12th to 8th among globally sought US universities worldwide.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Yale University fell from 6th to 9th among globally sought US universities worldwide.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, UC Berkeley rose from 14th to 10th among globally sought US universities worldwide.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Brown University fell from 8th to 11th among globally sought US universities worldwide.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Cornell University fell from 9th to 12th among globally sought US universities worldwide.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Duke University fell from 10th to 13th among globally sought US universities worldwide.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, University of Chicago rose from 15th to 14th among globally sought US universities worldwide.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Caltech rose from 16th to 15th among globally sought US universities worldwide.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Northwestern University fell from 11th to 16th among globally sought US universities worldwide.
  • Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University held steady: their estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.

How did search popularity change for globally sought US universities worldwide in August 2026?

  1. In August 2026, Princeton University overtook Brown University to rank 8th among globally sought US universities worldwide, at 4.4%.

  2. In August 2026, UCLA gained estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide, from 5.6% to 6.8%.

  3. In August 2026, New York University gained estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide, from 6.2% to 7%.

  4. In August 2026, Stanford University lost estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide, from 13.5% to 12%.

  5. In August 2026, Yale University lost estimated Share of Search among globally sought US universities worldwide, from 5.4% to 4.4%.

  6. In August 2026, Massachusetts Institute of Technology rose from 7th to 6th among globally sought US universities worldwide.

  7. In August 2026, University of Chicago rose from 15th to 14th among globally sought US universities worldwide.

  8. In August 2026, University of Pennsylvania rose from 8th to 7th among globally sought US universities worldwide.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

See your own brand in this picture

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to your campaigns, spend and outcomes, so you can see what moved your numbers, not just that they moved.

Start your marketing record