National Universities Rankings

Schools in the National Universities category, such as Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania, offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master's and doctoral programs. These colleges also are committed to producing groundbreaking research.

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Princeton University

Princeton, NJ

#1 in National Universities

Founded in 1746, Princeton University is a private institution. Princeton University follows a Semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered Most selective.

$43,450 Tuition and Fees

5,391 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA

#2 in National Universities

Founded in 1636, Harvard University is a private institution. The school has 74 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Harvard University is 7:1.

$45,278 Tuition and Fees

6,694 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Yale University

New Haven, CT

#3 in National Universities

Founded in 1701, Yale University is a private institution.

$47,600 Tuition and Fees

5,477 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Columbia University

New York, NY

#4 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1754, Columbia University is a private institution. Columbia University follows a Semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered Most selective.

$51,008 Tuition and Fees

6,170 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Stanford University

Stanford, CA

#4 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1885, Stanford University is a private institution. The school has 70.2 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Stanford University is 4:1.

$46,320 Tuition and Fees

7,019 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

#4 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1890, University of Chicago is a private institution. University of Chicago offers a Greek system, where 8 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 12 percent is involved in a fraternity.

$50,193 Tuition and Fees

5,681 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA

#7 in National Universities

Founded in 1861, Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private institution. Massachusetts Institute of Technology follows a 4-1-4-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered Most selective.

$46,704 Tuition and Fees

4,512 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Duke University

Durham, NC

#8 in National Universities

Founded in 1838, Duke University is a private institution. The school has 73 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Duke University is 7:1.

$49,341 Tuition and Fees

6,626 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

#9 in National Universities

Founded in 1740, University of Pennsylvania is a private institution. University of Pennsylvania offers a Greek system, where 30 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 27 percent is involved in a fraternity.

$49,536 Tuition and Fees

9,746 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA

#10 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1891, California Institute of Technology is a private institution. California Institute of Technology follows a Quarter-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered Most selective.

$45,390 Tuition and Fees

983 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD

#10 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins University is a private institution. The school has 71.9 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Johns Hopkins University is 10:1.

$48,710 Tuition and Fees

6,469 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH

#12 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1769, Dartmouth College is a private institution. Dartmouth College offers a Greek system, where 46 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 44 percent is involved in a fraternity.

$49,506 Tuition and Fees

4,289 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

#12 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1851, Northwestern University is a private institution. Northwestern University follows a Quarter-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered Most selective.

$49,047 Tuition and Fees

8,405 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Brown University

Providence, RI

#14 in National Universities

Founded in 1764, Brown University is a private institution. The school has 68.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Brown University is 9:1.

$49,346 Tuition and Fees

6,548 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

#15 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1865, Cornell University is a private institution. Cornell University offers a Greek system, where 27 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 23 percent is involved in a fraternity.

$49,116 Tuition and Fees

14,453 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN

#15 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1873, Vanderbilt University is a private institution. Vanderbilt University follows a Semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered Most selective.

$43,838 Tuition and Fees

6,851 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Washington University in St. Louis

St. Louis, MO

#15 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1853, Washington University in St. Louis is a private institution. The school has 65.9 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Washington University in St. Louis is 8:1.

$48,093 Tuition and Fees

7,401 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Rice University

Houston, TX

#18 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1912, Rice University is a private institution. Rice University offers a Greek system, where 0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 0 percent is involved in a fraternity.

$42,253 Tuition and Fees

3,926 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN

#18 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1842, University of Notre Dame is a private institution. University of Notre Dame follows a Semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered Most selective.

$47,929 Tuition and Fees

8,448 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

University of California--Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

#20 in National Universities

Founded in 1868, University of California--Berkeley is a public institution. The school has 59 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at University of California--Berkeley is 17:1.

$38,140 (out-of-state), $13,432 (in-state) Tuition and Fees

27,126 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Emory University

Atlanta, GA

#21 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1836, Emory University is a private institution. Emory University offers a Greek system, where 28 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 30 percent is involved in a fraternity.

$46,314 Tuition and Fees

7,829 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Georgetown University

Washington, DC

#21 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1789, Georgetown University is a private institution. Georgetown University follows a Semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered Most selective.

$48,611 Tuition and Fees

7,595 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA

#23 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1900, Carnegie Mellon University is a private institution. The school has 64.9 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Carnegie Mellon University is 13:1.

$50,410 Tuition and Fees

6,309 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

University of California--Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

#23 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1919, University of California--Los Angeles is a public institution. University of California--Los Angeles offers a Greek system, where 15 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 15 percent is involved in a fraternity.

$35,631 (out-of-state), $12,753 (in-state) Tuition and Fees

29,633 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA

#23 in National Universities (tie)

Founded in 1880, University of Southern California is a private institution. University of Southern California follows a Semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered Most selective.

$50,210 Tuition and Fees

18,740 Undergraduate Enrollment

SAT, GPA and more

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