Top 20 Best Public Universities in the US, Ranked by US News
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U.S. News & World Report was criticized for favoring wealthy schools by weighting alumni donations and small class sizes. The new formula examines need-based Pell grant graduation rates and whether graduates earn more than high school graduates.
The school attributed many universities' higher rankings to U.S. News & World Report's change in methodology to give more weight to schools that graduate more diverse students.
KnowInsiders.com presents the Top 20 US public universities, with several notable additions from the previous year.
About the Public Colleges and UniversitiesPublic colleges and universities generally function under the oversight of state governments and receive financial support from a combination of tax revenue and state subsidies. Consequently, these institutions of higher education frequently provide reduced tuition rates to individuals who are residents of the respective states in which they are located. Public schools encompass a wide range of educational institutions, varying from small liberal arts colleges to expansive research-focused establishments. |
Check more: Top 10 Best Public Colleges in the U.S 2024 by Wall Street Journal
Top 20 Best Public Universities in the U.S 2024
1. University of California - Berkeley, CA
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| University of California – Berkeley |
Website: https://www.berkeley.edu/
Location: 110 Sproul Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $15,891/$48,465
Public university Berkeley University was founded in 1868. A 1,232-acre campus, 32,831 undergraduates, and a city setting will be its fall 2022 enrollment. Academic calendars are semester-based. Cal Berkeley ranks 15th in National Universities in Best Colleges 2024. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $15,891 and out-of-state $48,465.
The University of California, Berkeley (Cal) is behind San Francisco Bay. Approximately 95% of Berkeley freshmen live on campus. From political clubs to hang gliding clubs, there are over 1,000 student organizations. Berkeley has a large Greek community and many fraternities and sororities. Berkeley's Golden Bears, known for their rivalry with Stanford University, play in the Pac-12 Conference.
Berkeley has 14 schools and colleges, including graduate and professional schools like the Graduate School of Journalism and Optometry. The esteemed Haas School of Business, Graduate School of Education, College of Engineering, and School of Law offer graduate programs.
Berkeley is famous for liberal student activism. In 1964, Berkeley students staged the Free Speech Movement to protest the administration's political ban. Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, Olympic gold medalist Jonny Moseley, and "Harold and Kumar" actor John Cho are among the notable alumni. During World War II, Professor J. Robert Oppenheimer directed the Manhattan Project's atomic bomb development.
2. University of California - Los Angeles, CA
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| University of California-Los Angeles |
Website: https://www.ucla.edu/
Location: 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $46,326 (out-of-state) and $13,752 (in-state)
Los Angeles' public university was founded in 1919. The urban, 419-acre campus has 32,423 undergraduates (fall 2022). Quarterly academic calendars are used. In Best Colleges 2024, UC Los Angeles ranks 15th in National Universities. In-state tuition and fees are $13,752 and out-state $46,326.
UCLA has the Anderson School of Management, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of Law, and David Geffen School of Medicine, as well as the College of Letters and Sciences. It is five miles from the Pacific Ocean in Westwood, LA. UCLA has prestigious Dentistry and Theater, Film, and Television schools. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a top hospital.
UCLA's Southern California campus is over 400 acres and near the coast. Campus center and residence halls are connected by busy Bruin Walk. UCLA houses students for three years. Over 1,000 student organizations, including media groups and 65 Greek chapters (13% of the student body), are available at the school.
UCLA has male and female teams in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and water polo. Women can compete in beach volleyball, gymnastics, rowing, softball, swimming, and diving, while men play baseball and football. UCLA Bruins water polo is famous in the NCAA Division I Pac-12 Conference.
3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, MI
Website: https://umich.edu/
Location: 500 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $46,326 (out-of-state) $13,752 (in-state)
Public university U of M—Ann Arbor was founded in 1817. The city-based campus has 32,695 undergraduates (fall 2022). It uses a trimester-based academic calendar. Best Colleges 2024 ranks University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 21st nationally. Tuition and fees are $17,786 in-state and $57,273 out-of-state.
Even though Ann Arbor is 45 minutes from Detroit, the university calls it a top college town. Although campus housing is available, freshmen are not required to live there. Students can join over 1,500 student organizations and 62 Greek chapters. Sports are important at Michigan, as shown by the football team's fierce rivalry with Ohio State. Michigan has several top-ranked graduate programs, including the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, College of Engineering, Law School, and Medical School. University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers is a top hospital.
4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC
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| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Website: https://www.unc.edu/
Location: 311 Henry Owl Building, CB#3350, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $39,338 (out-of-state)/$8,998 (in-state)
NC Chapel Hill is a public university founded in 1789. The 729-acre campus has 20,210 undergraduates (fall 2022). Academic calendars are semester-based. North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks #22 in National Universities in Best Colleges 2024. In-state tuition and fees are $8,998 and out-of-state $39,338.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers many student activities. The Daily Tarheel and WXYC, the UNC student newspaper and radio station, are well-known student organizations. Nearly 20% of students are Greek. Chapel Hill, which offers music, dining, and shopping around UNC, is considered one of the best college towns in the nation. Nearly half of undergraduates live in campus apartments or dorms. The Atlantic Coast Conference's North Carolina Tar Heels, one of college basketball's most successful programs, have a longstanding rivalry with Duke University nearby. Former players Michael Jordan and Vince Carter.
The largest of UNC's schools and colleges is the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences. The esteemed Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Government, Education, Law, Medicine, Gillings School of Global Public Health, School of Social Work, and School of Business offer graduate programs. North Carolina law requires 82% of freshman classes to be from the state. UNC alumni include eleventh president James K. Polk, actor Rick Fox, and former senator John Edwards.
5. University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA
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| University of Virginia - Charlottesville |
Website: https://www.virginia.edu/
Location: Charlottesville, VA, 22904
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $58,950 (out-of-state)/ $22,323 (in-state)
The public University of Virginia was founded in 1819. The 1,682-acre campus has 17,496 undergraduates (fall 2022). Academic calendars are semester-based. The 2024 Best Colleges list ranks Virginia 24th among national universities. In-state tuition and fees are $22,323 and out-state $58,950.
Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Insiders call it The University or Mr. Jefferson's University. Most upperclassmen live in off-campus apartments or fraternity and sorority houses because only first-year students must live on campus. Greece is important at UVA, with 35% of students involved. Wahoos or 'Hoos, the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference's Cavaliers, are known for their successful men's and women's lacrosse teams.
UVA's graduate programs include the top-ranked Darden Graduate School of Business, Curry School of Education, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Law, and Medicine. UVA's Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library holds one of 25 original Declaration of Independence copies, a Dunlap Broadside. The campus is called the "grounds," the central quad the "lawn," and students are in their first, second, third, or fourth year, according to school slang. Former US senator Edward Kennedy, journalist Katie Couric, and NFL player Tiki Barber are UVA graduates. Legendary author Edgar Allen Poe left the school after losing his tuition money gambling, but his lawn dorm is still open to the public.
6. University of California - Davis, CA
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| University of California, Davis |
Website: https://www.ucdavis.edu/
Location: 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $46,043 (out-of-state)/ $15,266 (in-state)
U.S. News & World Report's best colleges list increases UC Davis. U.S. News & World Report ranks the university sixth and tied for 28th in 2024. According to university spokeswoman Julia Ann Easley, rankings now place "greater emphasis put on student outcomes." California's UCs did well this year in public university rankings.
In 1905, public UC Davis was founded. Fall 2022 enrollment is 31,532 undergraduates on a 5,300-acre campus. We use quarterly academic calendars. The 2024 Best Colleges list ranks UC Davis #28 in National Universities. The cost is $15,266 in-state and $46,043 out-of-state.
UC Davis, one of ten UC campuses, began as a Berkeley farm school. Airport, fire department, and Eggheads outdoor sculptures are at UC Davis. Sacramento is 15 mi. Campus has over 700 student organizations and 65 fraternities and sororities. All freshmen are housed, but most move off campus or into university apartments after their first year. 25 NCAA Division I teams play for UC Davis, and the Aggie Pack is the nation's largest student organization.
UCD offers many academic programs in its undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools and colleges. Graduate schools of Management, Law, Medicine, Engineering, and Veterinary Medicine are well-regarded. Also notable are the Betty Irene Moore Nursing and Education Schools. Letters and Science, Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Agriculture and Environmental Sciences offer undergraduate programs. Public park UC Davis Arboretum has 100 acres of waterway-side gardens.
7. University of California, San Diego - La Jolla, CA
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| University of California, San Diego |
Website: https://www.ucsd.edu/
Location: 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $48,630 (out-of-state)/ $16,056 (in-state)
San Diego's public university was founded in 1960. 33,096 fall 2022 undergraduates attend the 1,976-acre urban campus. We use quarterly academic calendars. The 2024 Best Colleges ranks UC San Diego #28 in National Universities. Students pay $16,056 in-state and $48,630 out-of-state.
La Jolla's UC San Diego is near the Pacific. Many UCSD Tritons play NCAA Division II sports, mostly in the CCAA. The university has hundreds of student groups and a vibrant Greek community. All first-year students are eligible for two years of guaranteed on-campus housing, but not required. The campus aquarium and Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table test building earthquake resilience.
UCSD has six undergraduate colleges, five graduate/professional schools, and five academic divisions. Highly regarded Jacobs School of Engineering and Medicine. Festivals like the 1980s Sun God Festival at UCSD feature carnival games, student booths, vendors, and famous musicians. The International House, where 350 students from 30 countries live and study, is another UCSD highlight. Mike Judge produced "Office Space" and "King of the Hill." UCSD graduates Guy "Bud" Tribble and Bill Atkinson crafted the first Apple Macintosh computer.
8. University of Florida - Gainesville, FL
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| University of Florida - Gainesville |
Website: https://www.ufl.edu/
Location: 201 Criser Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $28,658 (out-of-state)/ $6,381 (in-state)
The public University of Florida was founded in 1853. The city-based campus has 2,000 acres and 34,552 undergraduate students (fall 2022). Academic calendars are semester-based. In 2024, Best Colleges ranks UF #28 nationally. In-state tuition and fees are $6,381 and out-of-state $28,658.
Gainesville, a college town, is two miles from the university due to its over 50,000 students. Albert and Alberta, the alligator mascots, support the Florida Gators in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference. The Gator football team, which plays in "The Swamp" or Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, is notorious. After freshmen Gators tried the new beverage in 1965, they inspired Gatorade. The largest student-run pep rally in the nation, the Gator Growl, occurs every Homecoming weekend. The school's 60+ fraternities and sororities make up 15% of students. Freshmen are not required to live on campus, but over 75% do. All students can attend Gator Nights on Fridays for free late-night entertainment and snacks.
This university's Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, Warrington College of Business, Levin College of Law, and College of Medicine offer top graduate programs. The university is integrated with Oak Hammock, a retirement community where students can work, intern, and find mentors. Famous home improvement show host Bob Vila, Heisman Trophy winner Steve Spurrier, and late Sens. University of Florida alumni Bob Graham and Connie Mack are notable.
9. University of Texas at Austin - Austin, TX
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| University of Texas at Austin |
Website: https://www.utexas.edu/
Location: Austin, TX, 78705
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $41,070 (out-of-state)/$11,698 (in-state)
Public university UT Austin was founded in 1883. This urban university has a 431-acre campus and 41,309 undergraduates (fall 2022). Academic calendars are semester-based. Best Colleges' 2024 National Universities ranking places UT Austin third. In-state tuition and fees are $11,698, out-of-state $41,070.
The University of Texas at Austin is a major university. The largest of its 13 schools and colleges is the College of Liberal Arts. It also has top graduate programs like McCombs School of Business, Cockrell School of Engineering, and Nursing. UT students can join over 1,000 clubs and organizations and the extensive Greek system. Student-run media outlets abound at the university, and Big 12 Conference Division I sports teams are notoriously competitive. UT offers hundreds of study abroad programs in Spain, Italy, the UK, France, and China, the top five countries. New students need not live on campus.
10. Georgia Institute of Technology - Atlanta, GA
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| Georgia Institute of Technology - Atlanta, GA |
Website: https://admission.gatech.edu/
Location: 225 North Avenue NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $32,876 (out-of-state)/$11,764 (in-state)
A public university, Georgia Tech was founded in 1885. Fall 2022 enrollment on a 400-acre urban campus is 18,415 undergraduates. Semesters govern schooling. Georgia Tech is 33rd in Best Colleges 2024. In-state students pay $11,764 for tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay $32,876.
Georgia Tech in downtown Atlanta has many student activities. Georgia Tech is Georgia's bitter rival in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Ramblin' Wreck, a restored 1930 Model A Ford Sport Coupe, has led the football team onto the field before home games since 1961. Georgia Tech has a small but active Greek community. Freshmen need not live on campus. Georgia Tech has campuses in France, Ireland, Costa Rica, Singapore, and China besides Atlanta and Savannah.
Georgia Tech has 6 colleges. College of Engineering and Scheller College of Business are top graduate schools. Research is extensive at Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech Research Institute conducts government and industry research for the economic development-promoting Georgia Research Alliance. Famous alumni include Bobby Jones, founder of The Masters, and Mike Duke, former Walmart CEO and president. Heisman Memorial Trophy honors Georgia Tech's first full-time football coach. Faculty and staff newspaper is named after Tech Tower's steam whistle, which blows during class and games.
11. University of California, Irvine - Irvine, CA
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| University of California, Irvine |
Website: https://www.uci.edu/
Location: Irvine, CA, 92697
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $47,759(out-of-state)/$15,185 (in-state)
Public UC Irvine was founded in 1965. The suburban campus has 28,661 undergraduates (fall 2022) and 1,475 acres. Quarterly academic calendars are used. Best Colleges ranks UC Irvine #33, National Universities, in 2024. Out-of-state tuition and fees are $47,759, while in-state are $15,185.
The University of California, Irvine, in Orange County, conducts cancer and neuroscience research with the prestigious UC Irvine Medical Center. UC Irvine's Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Paul Merage School of Business offer notable graduate programs. Students can join over 500 student organizations, including nearly 50 fraternities and sororities. Only 5 miles from campus is the Pacific Ocean. The commuter university has on-campus housing. Freshmen are not required to live on campus, but over 3/4 do. Student groups like Anteaters for Recycling and Conservation promote green initiatives at the university, which has been lauded for its sustainability.
12. University of California, Santa Barbara - Santa Barbara, CA
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| UC Santa Barbara |
Website: https://www.ucsb.edu/
Location: Santa Barbara, CA, 93106
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $45,658 (out-of-state)/$14,881 (in-state)
Public university UC Santa Barbara was founded in 1909. The suburban campus has 23,460 undergraduates (fall 2022) and 989 acres. Quarterly academic calendars are used. The 2024 Best Colleges ranking ranks UC Santa Barbara #35 in National Universities. Out-of-state students pay $45,658 for tuition and fees, while in-state students pay $14,881.
100 miles up the coast from Los Angeles, the University of California, Santa Barbara sits on Pacific Ocean cliffs. About 10% of undergraduates are Greek, and over 400 clubs and organizations are available. UCSB has eight residence halls and several university apartment complexes for 30% of students. The NCAA Division I Big West Conference-based UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's and women's soccer teams are famous. Non-varsity students can join ski, snowboard, bike, surf, or rugby clubs.
The largest of UCSB's five schools and colleges is the College of Letters and Science, which serves undergraduate and graduate students. At UCSB, the esteemed College of Engineering offers graduate programs. The Gevirtz Graduate School of Education and Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management are also notable UCSB graduate programs. The College of Creative Studies accepts undergraduates in art, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, computer science, literature, mathematics, music composition, and physics. Michael Douglas and musician Jack Johnson graduated from UCSB.
13. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Champaign, IL
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| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
Website: https://illinois.edu/
Location: 601 E. John Street, Champaign, IL, 61820
In-state and out-state tuition and fees:$36,068 (out-of-state)/$17,572 (in-state)
Public university Illinois Urbana-Champaign was founded in 1867. The city-based campus has 1,783 acres and 35,120 undergraduates (fall 2022). Academic calendars are semester-based. Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranks #35 in National Universities in Best Colleges 2024. In-state tuition and fees are $17,572 and $36,068 out-of-state.
In east-central Illinois' twin cities of Urbana and Champaign, the University of Illinois is just hours from Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. The Fighting Illini play over 20 NCAA Division I varsity sports in the Big Ten Conference. Nearly 25% of students are involved in the university's largest Greek system. More than 1,600 student organizations—including professional, political, and philanthropic clubs—make it easy to find something to do. All freshmen must live on campus.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has 15 colleges and schools. Our College of Engineering, Psychology Department, and School of Information Sciences are nationally ranked. The school's business, education, and law colleges are also respected. Research activity is highest at the University of Illinois, according to the Carnegie Classification. This university provided disability access to all services, curricula, and facilities for the first time. Famous alumni include YouTube co-founder Steve Chen and Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert.
14. University of Wisconsin--Madison, WI
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| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Website: https://www.wisc.edu/
Location: 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI, 53706
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $40,603 (out-of-state)/$11,205 (in-state)
Public university Madison University was founded in 1848. The campus is 936 acres and has 37,230 undergraduates (fall 2022). Academic calendars are semester-based. Best Colleges ranks UW—Madison #35 among National Universities in 2024. Costs are $11,205 in-state and $40,603 out-of-state.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is on Lake Mendota's southern shore in Madison. Wisconsin competes in over 20 NCAA Division I sports in the Big Ten Conference. Students can join nearly 900 campus organizations. Wisconsin's Greek community and social scene helped make it one of the nation's top party schools. Freshmen aren't required to live on campus, but many do. Many residential communities allow students to live and learn with other students and faculty.
The Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs, School of Education, College of Engineering, School of Business, School of Medicine and Public Health, and Law School are top-ranked graduate programs at UW—Madison. The school's community service is based on the "Wisconsin Idea," which holds that education should improve people's lives outside the classroom. Wisconsin educated Dale Chihuly and Joyce Carol Oates. Other notable alumni include Charles Lindbergh, John Muir, Frank Lloyd Wright, and former vice president Dick Cheney.
15. Rutgers University-New Brunswick - Piscataway, NJ
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| Rutgers University--New Brunswick |
Website: https://newbrunswick.rutgers.edu/
Location: 65 Davidson Road, Room 202, Piscataway, NJ, 08854
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $36,001 (out-of-state)/ $17,239 (in-state)
Rutgers University—New Brunswick is public and founded in 1766. The city-based campus has 2,656 acres and 36,344 undergraduate students (fall 2022). Academic calendars are semester-based. Rutgers University—New Brunswick ranks forty in the 2024 Best Colleges National Universities section. Tuition and fees are $17,239 in-state and $36,001 out-of-state.
Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick, the state university of New Jersey's flagship campus, has five smaller campuses with their own identities, student centers, and dining options. Freshmen needn't live on campus. Students can join over 500 clubs and organizations, including 80 fraternities and sororities.
A top graduate program at Rutgers University is the Graduate School of Education. The university awards the most doctorates in America. Public research university Rutgers University has unique organizations like the Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, where students can take practical science courses and volunteer.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights play in the Big Ten. After 20 years in the Big East Conference, Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014 to compete with Maryland—College Park, Iowa, and others. The school offers wrestling, track and field, basketball, football, soccer, tennis, and golf. The men's track team won its first Big East Outdoor Championship in 2005, and the women's basketball team won the WNIT in 2014.
Rutgers was founded in 1766 as Queen's College, a Dutch Reformed Church-affiliated, all-male college. First named Rutgers College in 1825, it became a land-grant institution in 1864. Women were allowed to attend university in 1918. The institution became The State University of New Jersey in the mid-20th century.
16. University of Washington - Seattle, WA
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| University of Washington |
Website: http://www.washington.edu/
Location: Box 355852, Seattle, WA, 98195
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $41,997 (out-of-state)/$12,643 (in-state)
The public University of Washington opened in 1861. In Fall 2022, 36,872 undergraduates attend a 634-acre urban campus. We use quarterly academic calendars. Washington University is #40 in Best Colleges 2024's National Universities. In-state tuition and fees are $12,643, out-state $41,997.
One of the first West Coast public universities was the University of Washington north of Seattle. This cutting-edge research facility receives large federal funding and hosts an annual undergraduate research symposium where students present their projects. This university has the esteemed Michael G. Foster School of Business, Engineering, and Medicine. Although commuter students don't live on campus, the university promotes recycling and energy conservation. Students can join 950 organizations, including 70 sororities and fraternities. Almost 75% of UW graduates stay here.
The university has Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma campuses. The university opened in Seattle in 1861 and Bothell and Tacoma in 1990. All three UW campuses offer undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Explore UW's honors program. Undergraduates can take smaller classes, work on unique projects, and interact more with UW faculty. Students can choose departmental or interdisciplinary honors. The former offers in-depth major study, while the latter is more general. Students with drive can get both honors. Students can apply to the interdisciplinary honors program when applying to UW or after their freshman year. Students apply for departmental honors after majoring.
17. The Ohio State University - Columbus, OH
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| The Ohio State University |
Website: https://www.osu.edu/
Location: 281 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH, 43210
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $36,722 (out-of-state)/$12,485 (in-state)
The public Ohio State University was founded in 1870. 46,123 undergraduates (fall 2022) attend the 1,714-acre campus. Academic calendars are semester-based. Best Colleges 2024 ranks Ohio State 43rd among National Universities. Out-of-state students pay $36,722 for tuition and fees, while in-state students pay $12,485.
OSU offers over 200 undergraduate majors and Personalized Study, which lets students design their own curriculum. The university offers graduate programs through prestigious colleges like the College of Education and Human Ecology, Max M. Fisher College of Business, and College of Medicine. Over 1,000 campus clubs and organizations include 60 fraternities and sororities. They can also volunteer through Pay It Forward. Sports are important to Ohio State University, which plays in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. All freshmen must live on campus except those from Central Ohio who can commute. Study abroad at OSU is available in over 75 countries.
18. Purdue University-Main Campus - West Lafayette, IN
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| Purdue University |
Website: https://www.purdue.edu/
Location: Schleman Hall, 475 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $28,794 (out-of-state)/$9,992 (in-state)
Public university Since 1869, Purdue University—Main Campus has existed. The city-based campus has 2,468 acres and 37,949 undergraduate students (fall 2022). Academic calendars are semester-based. Best Colleges 2024 ranks Purdue University—Main Campus among national universities. In-state tuition and fees are $9,992; out-of-state are $28,794.
West Lafayette is home to Purdue University's main campus and four other campuses in Indiana. Purdue has many clubs and 20% of students are Greek. Performance ensembles include the "All American" Marching Band, six jazz bands, and two symphonies. Men's and women's basketball teams at Purdue are known for dominating the Big Ten Conference. The Purdue Reamer Club maintains The Boilermaker Special, the university's mascot, a railroad locomotive. A third of undergraduates live on campus, even though it's optional.
Many of Purdue's 13 schools and colleges offer undergraduate and graduate programs. The esteemed Krannert School of Management, College of Education, College of Pharmacy, and College of Engineering offer professional and graduate programs. Purdue University's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics is known as the "Cradle of Astronauts." Purdue students often start and end their days by running through one of the five fountains. John Wooden and Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, are alumni.
19. University of Maryland, College Park - College Park, MD
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| University of Maryland, College Park |
Website: https://www.umd.edu/
Location: College Park, MD, 20742
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $40,306 (out-of-state)/$11,505(in-state)
Public university University of Maryland, College Park opened in 1856. Fall 2022 saw 30,353 undergraduates on the 1,340-acre suburban campus. Semesters govern schooling. The 2024 Best Colleges list ranks Maryland, College Park #46 in National Universities. In-state tuition is $11,505 and out-state $40,306.
The University of Maryland offers suburban living near big city experiences due to its location between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. The main campus in College Park, near Washington, D.C., has a metro stop. The 800 campus clubs and organizations include nearly 60 fraternities and sororities. Students, including freshmen, are not required to live on campus. Visit the university's "SEE UMD" website for "Student Entertainment Events" like movie screenings, comedy shows, lectures, and more. Sports are another year-round activity. NCAA Division I Big Ten for Maryland. Testudo, the school mascot, is a state turtle, the Diamondback. Many campus buildings have Testudo sculptures; rubbing their noses before exams is lucky.
A. James Clark School of Engineering, Robert H. Smith School of Business, and University of Maryland offer top education graduate programs. Green energy initiatives like campus-wide composting and becoming carbon neutral by 2050 are well-known at the university. Among Maryland alumni are NASA scientist Charles Bennett, broadcast journalist Connie Chung, "Sesame Street" and "The Muppet Show" creator Jim Henson, and others.
20. Texas A&M University - College Station, TX
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| Texas A&M University |
Website: https://www.tamu.edu/
Location: College Station, TX, 77843
In-state and out-state tuition and fees: $40,607 (out-of-state)/$12,413 (in-state)
The public Texas A&M University opened in 1876. In fall 2022, 57,512 undergraduates will enroll. The city campus is 5,200 acres. Semesters govern schooling. Best Colleges ranks Texas A&M 47th in 2024. Out-of-state tuition is $40,607 and in-state $12,413.
Ready to join Aggies? Every student at central Texas' academic and athletic powerhouse Texas A&M takes the nickname. The coed university, formerly A&M, has many majors and extracurriculars. Close to 60 fraternities and sororities are among 1,000 clubs and organizations available to students. Greek 10% of students. One of the nation's largest intramural sports leagues attracts 25% more students at Texas A&M. The school's collie mascot, Reveille IX, supports NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference varsity teams. A collie named Miss Rev leads the school's Cadet Corps, the nation's largest ROTC program (excluding service academies). Freshmen in Service and Hosting makes volunteering easy for first-year students. The Big Event, the nation's largest student-run volunteer day, lets all students help College Station and Bryan. Over 22,000 Aggies volunteer. Many freshmen live in College Station or Bryan because they're not required to live on campus.
The university's Dwight Look College of Engineering, Mays Business School, and College of Education and Human Development offer top graduate programs. The research university offers Texas' only veterinary medical school and unique courses. The Qatar campus has 500 students. Texas A&M alumni include Reps. Joe Barton and Louie Gohmert and Miss USA Kandace Krueger and Miss Louisiana USA Melissa McConnell.
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