Top 10 Universities and Academic Medical Centers Sponsoring H-1B Visas

Mihailo Bozic
Mihailo Bozic
Updated July 21, 2026 · 8 min read

Universities and academic medical centers that sponsor H-1B visas, including Mayo Clinic, University of Michigan, and University of Rochester, are cap-exempt, meaning they can file petitions any time of year and skip the annual lottery, making them among the most reliable H-1B sponsors in the education sector. Migrate Mate ranks these sponsors by 1,625 H-1B approvals in the latest U.S. government disclosure data as of July 21, 2026. For candidates in specialty occupations, a cap-exempt university or academic medical center employer means no lottery risk and no fixed filing window.

Which universities and academic medical centers sponsor the most H-1B visas?

Ranked by H-1B approvals in the latest published U.S. government disclosure data · live open-role counts from Migrate Mate, updated daily

  1. 01
    Mayo Clinic

    Mayo Clinic

    Academic MedicineResearchClinical Care
    255H-1B approvals

    Mayo Clinic had 255 H-1B petitions approved in the last year, the most of any universities and academic medical center on this list. Its current openings concentrate in Healthcare Administration and Nursing. Mayo Clinic operates a nonprofit academic medical center system providing integrated clinical care, research, and medical education.

    Open roles by team

    • Healthcare Administration643
    • Nursing466
    • Patient Services & Wellbeing402
    • Medical Specialists205
    • Physicians188

    +632 roles across other teams

    Open roles at Mayo Clinic748 open
    Research Fellow - Neurology
    Rochester, Minnesota · On-site
    Apply
    Research Fellow
    Rochester, Minnesota · On-site
    Apply
    Registered Nurse
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin · On-site
    Apply
    Registered Nurse - Med/Surg
    Waseca, Minnesota · On-site
    Apply
    Registered Nurse – House Supervisor
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin · On-site
    Apply
    Browse 743 more roles at Mayo Clinic
  2. 02
    University of Michigan

    University of Michigan

    Higher EducationResearchHealth System
    248H-1B approvals

    University of Michigan had 248 H-1B petitions approved in the last year. Its current openings concentrate in Laboratory Research and Research & Academia. The University of Michigan is a public research university offering education, research, and healthcare through its Ann Arbor campus and health system.

    Open roles by team

    • Laboratory Research3
    • Research & Academia2
    • Biotech & Life Sciences2
    • Specialized Engineering2
    • Engineering (Non-Software)2

    +6 roles across other teams

    Open roles at University of Michigan6 open
    Senior Mechanical Engineer
    Ann Arbor, Michigan · Hybrid
    Apply
    Senior Electrical Engineer
    Ann Arbor, Michigan · Hybrid
    Apply
    Open-Rank Tenure-Track Faculty
    Flint, Michigan · Hybrid
    Apply
    Research Assistant in Health Economics and Applied Econometrics
    Ann Arbor, Michigan · On-site
    Apply
    RESEARCH FELLOW
    Ann Arbor, Michigan · On-site
    Apply
    Browse 1 more roles at University of Michigan
  3. 03
    University of Rochester

    University of Rochester

    Higher EducationMedical CenterResearch
    156H-1B approvals

    University of Rochester had 156 H-1B petitions approved in the last year. Its current openings concentrate in Healthcare Administration and Patient Services & Wellbeing. The University of Rochester is a private research university with a medical center providing education, scientific research, and patient care.

    Open roles by team

    • Healthcare Administration184
    • Patient Services & Wellbeing84
    • Nursing73
    • Allied Health38
    • Customer Service & Support31

    +495 roles across other teams

    Open roles at University of Rochester291 open
    Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing
    Rochester, New York · On-site
    Apply
    Critical Care – Adult Clinical Resource Nurse
    Rochester, New York · On-site
    Apply
    Dept. Specialist - Population Health
    Rochester, New York · On-site
    Apply
    LPN
    Pittsford, New York · On-site
    Apply
    Ambulatory GI - Procedure Nurse Navigator
    Rochester, New York · Hybrid
    Apply
    Browse 286 more roles at University of Rochester
  4. Unlock every H-1B job from these sponsors

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  5. 04
    University of Iowa

    University of Iowa

    Higher EducationAcademic MedicineResearch
    150H-1B approvals

    University of Iowa had 150 H-1B petitions approved in the last year. Its current openings concentrate in Healthcare Administration and Nursing. The University of Iowa is a public research university that operates a major academic medical center alongside its colleges and research programs.

    Open roles by team

    • Healthcare Administration69
    • Nursing67
    • Patient Services & Wellbeing64
    • Allied Health19
    • Radiology / Imaging12

    +14 roles across other teams

    Open roles at University of Iowa72 open
    Staff Nurse
    Iowa City, Iowa · On-site
    Apply
    Clinical Pharmacist
    Iowa City, Iowa · On-site
    Apply
    Respiratory Therapist
    Iowa City, Iowa · On-site
    Apply
    Senior Imaging Technologist
    Iowa City, Iowa · On-site
    Apply
    PA/ARNP Hospitalist
    Iowa City, Iowa · On-site
    Apply
    Browse 67 more roles at University of Iowa
  6. 05
    Johns Hopkins University

    Johns Hopkins University

    Higher EducationMedical ResearchPublic Health
    145H-1B approvals

    Johns Hopkins University had 145 H-1B petitions approved in the last year. Its current openings concentrate in Healthcare Administration and Project & Program Management. Johns Hopkins University is a private research university known for its schools of medicine, public health, and engineering.

    Open roles by team

    • Healthcare Administration139
    • Project & Program Management102
    • Project Management93
    • Laboratory Research68
    • Clinical Trials & Medical Research68

    +881 roles across other teams

    Open roles at Johns Hopkins University353 open
    Patient Service Coordinator
    Columbia, Maryland · On-site
    Apply
    Journeyman Electrician
    Baltimore, Maryland · On-site
    Apply
    Research Technologist
    Baltimore, Maryland · On-site
    Apply
    Maintenance Mechanic II
    Baltimore, Maryland · On-site
    Apply
    Associate Athletic Director of Facilities and Events
    Baltimore, Maryland · On-site
    Apply
    Browse 348 more roles at Johns Hopkins University
  7. Editor’s note

    The international office is your real point of contact

    At a university or academic medical center, H-1B petitions run through a central international scholars office, not the hiring department. That is different from a corporate employer, where HR or outside counsel handles it. Ask to be connected to that office early. Because these employers are cap-exempt, they can file as soon as your offer is finalized, so the office's timeline, not a lottery, determines your start.

  8. 06
    Columbia University

    Columbia University

    Higher EducationResearchMedical School
    145H-1B approvals

    Columbia University had 145 H-1B petitions approved in the last year. Its current openings concentrate in Healthcare Administration and Project & Program Management. Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university in New York City offering programs across medicine, law, business, and the arts and sciences.

    Open roles by team

    • Healthcare Administration159
    • Project & Program Management114
    • Human Resources94
    • Patient Services & Wellbeing79
    • Nursing77

    +1,157 roles across other teams

    Open roles at Columbia University449 open
    Senior Contract Specialist
    New York, New York · On-site
    Apply
    Population Health Program Coordinator
    New York, New York · On-site
    Apply
    Bus Svcs Coord, Cred
    New York, New York · On-site
    Apply
    Intermediate Linux Systems Engineer
    Palisades, Texas · On-site
    Apply
    Salesforce Solution Architect
    New York, New York · On-site
    Apply
    Browse 444 more roles at Columbia University
  9. 07
    University of Florida

    University of Florida

    Higher EducationHealth CenterResearch
    144H-1B approvals

    University of Florida had 144 H-1B petitions approved in the last year. Its current openings concentrate in Healthcare Administration and Medical Specialists. The University of Florida is a public land-grant research university with a major academic health center and colleges spanning more than a dozen disciplines.

    Open roles by team

    • Healthcare Administration187
    • Medical Specialists154
    • Physicians147
    • Nursing125
    • Teaching & Instruction92

    +599 roles across other teams

    Open roles at University of Florida366 open
    Digital Content Coordinator
    Gainesville, Florida · On-site
    Apply
    Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Veterinary Neurology
    Gainesville, Florida · On-site
    Apply
    Manager, Health Care Administration
    Jacksonville, Florida · On-site
    Apply
    Pest Management Technician I
    Gainesville, Florida · On-site
    Apply
    Accounting Specialist
    Gainesville, Florida · On-site
    Apply
    Browse 361 more roles at University of Florida
  10. See H-1B jobs from all 10 sponsors and thousands more

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  11. 08
    University of Chicago

    University of Chicago

    Higher EducationResearchMedical School
    140H-1B approvals

    University of Chicago had 140 H-1B petitions approved in the last year. Its current openings concentrate in Project & Program Management and Healthcare Administration. The University of Chicago is a private research university recognized for its academic programs in economics, law, medicine, and the physical and social sciences.

    Open roles by team

    • Project & Program Management43
    • Healthcare Administration38
    • Human Resources27
    • Project Management25
    • Customer Service & Support23

    +411 roles across other teams

    Open roles at University of Chicago135 open
    FinOps Compliance and Data Manager/Coordinator
    Chicago, Illinois · Hybrid
    Apply
    Part-time Lecturer in Spanish
    Chicago, Illinois · On-site
    Apply
    Assistant Director, Careers in Business
    Chicago, Illinois · On-site
    Apply
    Associate Director of Academic Advising & Academic Services
    Chicago, Illinois · On-site
    Apply
    Senior Software Engineer, Backend
    Chicago, Illinois · Hybrid
    Apply
    Browse 130 more roles at University of Chicago
  12. 09
    UT Southwestern Medical Center

    UT Southwestern Medical Center

    Academic MedicineBiomedical ResearchClinical Care
    123H-1B approvals

    UT Southwestern Medical Center had 123 H-1B petitions approved in the last year. Its current openings concentrate in Healthcare Administration and Patient Services & Wellbeing. UT Southwestern Medical Center is an academic medical institution in Dallas delivering patient care, biomedical research, and graduate medical education.

    Open roles by team

    • Healthcare Administration209
    • Patient Services & Wellbeing130
    • Nursing121
    • Allied Health47
    • Project & Program Management35

    +470 roles across other teams

    Open roles at UT Southwestern Medical Center286 open
    Clinical Research Coordinator I
    Dallas, Texas · On-site
    Apply
    Manager Clinical Research
    Dallas, Texas · On-site
    Apply
    Research Assistant I, Biomedical Engineering
    Dallas, Texas · On-site
    Apply
    Oncology Registered Dietitian
    Dallas, Texas · On-site
    Apply
    Manager, Research Programs
    Dallas, Texas · On-site
    Apply
    Browse 281 more roles at UT Southwestern Medical Center
  13. 10
    University of Pittsburgh

    University of Pittsburgh

    Higher EducationHealth SciencesResearch
    119H-1B approvals

    University of Pittsburgh had 119 H-1B petitions approved in the last year. Its current openings concentrate in Teaching & Instruction and Higher Education. The University of Pittsburgh is a public research university with a health sciences division that includes one of the nation's largest transplant programs.

    Open roles by team

    • Teaching & Instruction41
    • Higher Education23
    • Healthcare Administration22
    • Research & Academia20
    • Medical Specialists18

    +113 roles across other teams

    Open roles at University of Pittsburgh64 open
    Post Doctoral Associate
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · On-site
    Apply
    Postdoctoral Associate
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · On-site
    Apply
    Post Doctoral Researcher in Education Policy and Systems Change
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Remote
    Apply
    Faculty Instructor Adjunct Clinical
    Johnstown, Pennsylvania · On-site
    Apply
    Research Instructor
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · On-site
    Apply
    Browse 59 more roles at University of Pittsburgh

How H-1B sponsorship works at a university

H-1B sponsorship starts with the employer, not the candidate. Once you have a job offer, the employer's immigration counsel files a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor, certifying that the role is a specialty occupation and that the offered wage meets the prevailing wage for the location. After the LCA is certified, the employer files Form I-129 with USCIS. Universities and academic medical centers are cap-exempt, so they can file H-1B petitions at any time of year and skip the annual lottery entirely. For a candidate that removes the single biggest source of H-1B uncertainty: you do not need to win a lottery to be sponsored, only to clear the institution's own timeline.

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Universities & Academic Medical Centers Sponsoring H-1B: Frequently Asked Questions

Which universities and academic medical centers sponsor the most H-1B visas?

Mayo Clinic sponsors the most, with 255 H-1B approvals in the last year, followed by University of Michigan (248) and University of Rochester (156). Across the 10 universities and academic medical centers on this list, Migrate Mate tracks 1,625 H-1B approvals in total, based on the latest published U.S. government disclosure data.

Who qualifies for H-1B sponsorship?

To qualify for H-1B sponsorship, you need a job offer from a U.S. employer in a specialty occupation, a role that normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field. Your degree must correspond to the specific position, not just to a broad field. The employer files the petition on your behalf; you cannot self-petition. Universities and academic medical centers are cap-exempt sponsors, so there is no lottery requirement for their candidates.

Are universities exempt from the H-1B lottery?

Yes. Nonprofit universities and their affiliated academic medical centers are cap-exempt, so they can file H-1B petitions at any time of year and do not enter the annual lottery. For a candidate that removes the biggest source of uncertainty: you can be sponsored on the employer's timeline rather than needing to win a lottery for an autumn start.

How do I get H-1B sponsorship from a top sponsor?

Start by securing a job offer from a university or academic medical center that sponsors H-1B visas. Because these employers are cap-exempt, they can file petitions year-round without waiting for the annual lottery window. Your employer's HR or legal team then files a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor, followed by an I-129 petition with USCIS. Selection rules and costs have changed recently, so confirm current requirements directly with your employer before the process begins.