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Top Public Schools
National Universities
Public colleges and universities typically operate under the supervision of state governments and
... READ MOREPublic colleges and universities typically operate under the supervision of state governments and are funded, in part, by tax dollars and subsidies from the state. As a result, these universities often offer discounted tuition to residents of their states. Public schools run the gamut from small liberal arts colleges to large research institutions. These are the highest-ranked public colleges and universities in the 2019 Best Colleges rankings, listed according to their ranking category. Read the methodology »
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Here are the best public universities in the U.S.
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University of California--Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
The University of California—Los Angeles is just five miles away from the Pacific Ocean. The public institution offers... Read More
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $41,294
(out-of-state)
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $13,280
(in-state)
- Enrollment
- Enrollment
- 31,002
SAT, GPA and More
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University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
Founded by Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville. It’s referred to among insiders... Read More
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $48,891
(out-of-state)
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $17,350
(in-state)
- Enrollment
- Enrollment
- 16,655
SAT, GPA and More
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University of Michigan--Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI
The university boasts of Ann Arbor, only 45 minutes from Detroit, as one of the best college towns in the U.S. Freshmen... Read More
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $49,350
(out-of-state)
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $15,262
(in-state)
- Enrollment
- Enrollment
- 29,821
SAT, GPA and More
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University of California--Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
Located 100 miles up the coast from Los Angeles, the University of California—Santa Barbara sits atop cliffs overlooking... Read More
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $42,486
(out-of-state)
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $14,472
(in-state)
- Enrollment
- Enrollment
- 22,186
SAT, GPA and More
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University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
The University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill, often referred to as UNC, offers a wide range of student activities... Read More
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $35,169
(out-of-state)
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $8,986
(in-state)
- Enrollment
- Enrollment
- 18,862
SAT, GPA and More
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University of California--Irvine
Irvine, CA
The University of California—Irvine, a research institution in Orange County, specializes in areas such as cancer and... Read More
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $43,530
(out-of-state)
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $15,516
(in-state)
- Enrollment
- Enrollment
- 29,307
SAT, GPA and More
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Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA
Georgia Tech, located in the heart of Atlanta, offers a wide range of student activities. The Georgia Tech Yellow... Read More
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $33,020
(out-of-state)
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $12,424
(in-state)
- Enrollment
- Enrollment
- 15,573
SAT, GPA and More
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University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
The University of Florida is about two miles away from downtown Gainesville, a college town bolstered by the school’s... Read More
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $28,658
(out-of-state)
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $6,381
(in-state)
- Enrollment
- Enrollment
- 35,247
SAT, GPA and More
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College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, VA
The College of William and Mary, located in Williamsburg, Virginia, is the second oldest college in the U.S. King... Read More
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $44,701
(out-of-state)
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $21,830
(in-state)
- Enrollment
- Enrollment
- 6,285
SAT, GPA and More
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University of California--Davis
Davis, CA
The University of California—Davis, one of 10 schools in the University of California system, was originally established... Read More
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $43,458
(out-of-state)
- Tuition
- Tuition and Fees
- $14,463
(in-state)
- Enrollment
- Enrollment
- 30,145
SAT, GPA and More
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