National University Rankings
National University Methodology
Schools in the National Universities category, such as Columbia University and Stanford University, offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master's and Ph.D. programs. These colleges also are committed to producing groundbreaking research.
To see full rankings, SAT/ACT scores, scholarship and grant information, graduation rates, and more, sign up for the U.S. News College Compass!
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $12,923 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $35,801 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 18,523
- Setting:
- city
Riverside, CA
University of California--Riverside is a public institution that was founded in 1954. The school has 31.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at University of California--Riverside is 19:1.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $8,068 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $20,968 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 19,345
- Setting:
- city
Lincoln, NE
The University of Nebraska—Lincoln, or UNL, is a large, public research institution that offers about 150 undergraduate majors. There are more than 400 student organizations to join, as well as a large community of fraternities and sororities.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $7,341 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $18,978 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 21,413
- Setting:
- city
Norman, OK
The University of Oklahoma is a large, public research institution in Norman. Its campus is also home to the National Weather Center, where undergraduates can find research and study opportunities.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $8,396 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $25,238 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 21,214
- Setting:
- urban
Knoxville, TN
The University of Tennessee is a public research institution in Knoxville, one of the state’s largest cities. The UT sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference and traditionally draw large crowds during football season.
- Tuition and fees:
- $34,218 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 9,856
- Setting:
- urban
Chicago, IL
Loyola University Chicago is the largest Jesuit school in the country. The university has two locations in Chicago, known as Lake Shore and Water Tower, as well as an international campus in Rome.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $7,788 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $20,953 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 25,176
- Setting:
- urban
Raleigh, NC
North Carolina State University, known as NC State for short, is the largest four-year college in the state. Students have more than 100 degree programs and more than 400 clubs and organizations to choose from.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $7,482 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $15,592 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 19,334
- Setting:
- suburban
Buffalo, NY
University at Buffalo--SUNY was established in 1846 as a public institution. University at Buffalo--SUNY follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $9,222 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $22,608 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 19,695
- Setting:
- city
Lawrence, KS
A public institution, University of Kansas was founded in 1866. University of Kansas offers a Greek system, where 20.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 13.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $16,424 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $28,884 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 12,609
- Setting:
- rural
Durham, NH
University of New Hampshire has a total undergraduate enrollment of 12,609, with a gender distribution of 45.6 percent male students and 54.4 percent female students. At this school, 59.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 41.0 percent of students live off campus.
- Tuition and fees:
- $38,884 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 6,051
- Setting:
- urban
San Francisco, CA
The University of San Francisco is a Jesuit institution located in the California Bay Area. USF is committed to giving back to the surrounding community and offers service-learning semesters for students interested in volunteer work.
