Scopus & Web of Science Journals: USA

Looking for journals in the USA indexed by Scopus or Web of Science, or titles with a high impact factor? The USA is home to a large proportion of the world’s indexed journals, so the challenge is choosing, not scarcity. Here you will find leading examples, ways to locate Q1 journals in your field, and advice on verifying indexing and steering clear of predatory titles.

Scopus and Web of Science: The Essentials

Scopus, an Elsevier product, is a selective database of citations and abstracts; CiteScore originates there, and the SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) is built on its data. Web of Science, from Clarivate, has a Core Collection that spans ESCI (emerging sources), SCIE (sciences), AHCI (arts and humanities) and SSCI (social sciences), with the Journal Impact Factor appearing in Journal Citation Reports. Both services re-assess their journals, and a title may be dropped. Read Scopus explained and Web of Science explained to go further.

Since so many indexed journals come from the USA, searching by subject is more useful than a country list. Narrow SCImago’s rankings to the United States and your subject category, or browse Journal Citation Reports by category, and read recent articles to test fit. Shortlist a handful of journals and compare their scope statements before you commit to one.

USA Journals Covered by Scopus and Web of Science

Each journal listed below is published in the USA and states, on its own site or via its publisher, that Scopus and/or Web of Science covers it. Cross-check each ISSN in Scopus Sources and the Master Journal List when you choose.

Worthwhile alternatives (their Scopus or Web of Science indexing has not been checked)

Checked 4 October 2026. “Reported” means the journal or publisher says so; we have not independently confirmed it.

Indexing Verification Checklist

1. Get the ISSNPrint and online ISSN, as stated on the official site
2. Scopus SourcesEnter the ISSN and take note of the journal’s status and years of coverage
3. Master Journal ListEnter the ISSN and write down whether SCIE, SSCI, AHCI or ESCI applies
4. Dropped from coverage?Check the Scopus list of discontinued titles
5. Keep the proofScreenshots with dates, for your promotion or grant file

Publishing Beyond the USA

The USA has more indexed national journals than many countries, but for most fields the widest choice is international. When looking abroad, weigh the article processing charge (APC), whether a publisher agreement at your university covers it, and whether a diamond open access journal (free to authors and readers alike) exists in your field — DOAJ lets you filter by “without fees”.

Authors from outside the USA should look at APCs and waivers; US-based researchers should find out whether their library holds publisher agreements and whether federal public access rules apply.

Quartiles, Impact Factor and Top-Tier Journals

Averages at journal level, for instance Impact Factor, CiteScore and SJR, come from separate databases with different time windows and are refreshed annually. Compare like with like — the same metric, category and year — and check any number at its source instead of on a journal's homepage. Regard a figure you cannot trace as unverified.

Researchers in the USA will often find that international journals, rather than local ones, give the highest-impact options in their field. Use subject categories in Journal Citation Reports, Scopus Sources or SCImago to find them, then read recent articles to test the fit. Our guide to selecting high impact factor journals explains the method step by step. Look at the types of studies a journal publishes, since fit matters as much as prestige.

Picking an Indexed Journal for Your Subject

Getting Your Paper Ready for an Indexed Journal

Getting into an indexed journal depends more on fit, clarity and rigour than on the headline metric. Helpful steps include:

• Filter on scope first; the metric comes next.
• Sharpen the framing by stating a clear research question and contribution and by reporting limitations honestly.
• Follow the official template and reference style exactly — it signals care.
• Collaborate with co-authors in your own country or abroad, wherever their expertise adds value; working internationally often increases visibility too.

Frequent Mistakes With Indexed Journals

• Trusting a logo on the journal’s homepage rather than the database record.
• Failing to name the index — “Web of Science” could refer to SCIE, SSCI, AHCI or ESCI.
• Ignoring discontinuation — last year’s indexing might not hold today.
• Picking by metric alone — a paper outside the journal’s scope gets rejected quickly.

Practical Tips for Finding Suitable American Indexed Journals

Journals published in the United States cover almost every field, so the difficulty is selection, not availability. These tips help authors from anywhere narrow the options sensibly and avoid common mismatches.

• Follow the society, not just the publisher. Many respected American journals are run by professional societies. Read the society's mission and membership, since it reveals which methods and questions its journal prefers.
• Check formatting conventions early. American journals often prescribe a particular reference and manuscript style. Set up your document accordingly from the start instead of reformatting everything at the end.
• Look for reporting checklists. Many fields require completed checklists for trials, observational studies or surveys. Download the relevant one early and write your methods so each item can be answered honestly.
• Study the typical article type. Some journals favour short reports, others long original studies. Match your paper to an article type the journal clearly publishes, rather than hoping the editor will make an exception.
• Read the competing interests policy. Funding sources, consultancies and affiliations may need declaring. Prepare a short, accurate statement for every author before you open the submission form.

Select by mission and article type, follow formatting and reporting rules from the beginning, and declare every relevant interest accurately.

Questions Researchers Often Ask

Summary and What to Do Next

In the USA the difficulty lies in picking among numerous indexed journals. Search by subject, read recent articles, verify indexing and select by fit.

1. Find out whether your rule specifically names Web of Science, Scopus, an index or a quartile.
2. Use the tables above and the international databases to build a shortlist for your field.
3. Check each title by its ISSN and keep a record of what you find.
4. Go to the directory of research journals in the USA for titles that are not indexed.

References and Sources

Checked on 4 October 2026. Indexing status can change, so confirm it before submitting.

• SCImago journal rankings — United States
• FTC — OMICS Group case (2019)
• American Economic Review
• Scopus Sources
• Clarivate Master Journal List
• ISSN Portal
• SCImago Journal & Country Rank
• Journal Citation Reports