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!
- Tuition and fees:
- $42,870 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 7,590
- Setting:
- urban
Washington, DC
Georgetown University is the oldest Catholic university in the country. The school's location in Washington, D.C. gives students many opportunities for internships throughout the nation's capital.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $11,767 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $34,645 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 25,885
- Setting:
- urban
Berkeley, CA
The University of California—Berkeley overlooks the San Francisco Bay in Berkeley, Calif. Students at this public school have more than 700 organizations to get involved in, including more than 55 fraternity and sorority chapters.
- Tuition and fees:
- $45,124 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 6,281
- Setting:
- urban
Pittsburgh, PA
Carnegie Mellon University, a private institution in Pittsburgh, Pa., is the country’s only school founded by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The school specializes in academic areas including engineering, business, computer science, and fine arts.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $12,692 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $35,570 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 27,199
- Setting:
- urban
Los Angeles, CA
The University of California—Los Angeles is just five miles away from the Pacific Ocean. The public institution offers more than more than 3,000 courses and more than 130 majors to undergraduate students.
- Tuition and fees:
- $44,463 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 17,414
- Setting:
- urban
Los Angeles, CA
Undergraduates study in the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences at the University of Southern California, a private school based in Los Angeles. The USC Trojans compete in the NCAA Division I Pac-12 Conference and are particularly competitive in football.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $12,006 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $38,018 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 15,762
- Setting:
- suburban
Charlottesville, VA
University of Virginia was established in 1819 as a public institution. University of Virginia follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $43,200 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 4,775
- Setting:
- suburban
Winston-Salem, NC
A private institution, Wake Forest University was founded in 1834. Wake Forest University offers a Greek system, where 42.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 35.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- Tuition and fees:
- $44,666 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 5,194
- Setting:
- suburban
Medford, MA
Tufts University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,194, with a gender distribution of 49.3 percent male students and 50.7 percent female students. At this school, 63.7 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 36.3 percent of students live off campus.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $13,437 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $39,109 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 27,407
- Setting:
- city
Ann Arbor, MI
Founded in 1817, University of Michigan--Ann Arbor is a public institution. University of Michigan--Ann Arbor follows a trimester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $7,694 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $28,446 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 18,430
- Setting:
- suburban
Chapel Hill, NC
University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill is a public institution that was founded in 1789. The school has 32.9 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill is 14:1.
- Tuition and fees:
- $43,878 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 9,088
- Setting:
- suburban
Chestnut Hill, MA
Boston College was established in 1863 as a private institution. Boston College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $41,606 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 22,280
- Setting:
- urban
New York, NY
A private institution, New York University was founded in 1831. New York University offers a Greek system, where 1.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 2.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- Tuition and fees:
- $43,708 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 3,504
- Setting:
- suburban
Waltham, MA
Brandeis University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,504, with a gender distribution of 42.6 percent male students and 57.4 percent female students. At this school, 81.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 19.0 percent of students live off campus.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $13,570 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $36,753 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 6,071
- Setting:
- suburban
Williamsburg, VA
Founded in 1693, College of William and Mary is a public institution. College of William and Mary follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $43,666 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 5,643
- Setting:
- suburban
Rochester, NY
University of Rochester is a private institution that was founded in 1850. The school has 69.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at University of Rochester is 10:1.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $10,098 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $29,402 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 13,948
- Setting:
- urban
Atlanta, GA
Georgia Institute of Technology was established in 1885 as a public institution. Georgia Institute of Technology follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $40,490 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 4,016
- Setting:
- urban
Cleveland, OH
A private institution, Case Western Reserve University was founded in 1826. Case Western Reserve University offers a Greek system, where 32.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 32.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- Tuition and fees:
- $42,220 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 4,869
- Setting:
- city
Bethlehem, PA
Lehigh University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,869, with a gender distribution of 57.5 percent male students and 42.5 percent female students. At this school, 69.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 31.0 percent of students live off campus.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $13,877 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $36,755 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 25,096
- Setting:
- city
Davis, CA
Founded in 1905, University of California--Davis is a public institution. University of California--Davis follows a quarter-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $12,128 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $35,006 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 23,046
- Setting:
- urban
La Jolla, CA
University of California--San Diego is a public institution that was founded in 1960. The school has 37.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at University of California--San Diego is 19:1.
