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:
- $44,475 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 5,322
- Setting:
- city
Troy, NY
A private institution, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was founded in 1824. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a Greek system, where 16.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 30.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $13,671 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $36,549 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 18,620
- Setting:
- suburban
Santa Barbara, CA
University of California--Santa Barbara has a total undergraduate enrollment of 18,620, with a gender distribution of 47.6 percent male students and 52.4 percent female students. At this school, 33.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 67.0 percent of students live off campus.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $10,384 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $26,634 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 30,367
- Setting:
- city
Madison, WI
Founded in 1848, University of Wisconsin--Madison is a public institution. University of Wisconsin--Madison follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $14,090 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $36,968 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 22,004
- Setting:
- suburban
Irvine, CA
University of California--Irvine is a public institution that was founded in 1965. The school has 47.0 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at University of California--Irvine is 19:1.
- Tuition and fees:
- $39,654 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 10,509
- Setting:
- suburban
Coral Gables, FL
University of Miami was established in 1925 as a private institution. University of Miami follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $16,444 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $28,746 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 38,954
- Setting:
- city
University Park, PA
A public institution, Pennsylvania State University--University Park was founded in 1855. Pennsylvania State University--University Park offers a Greek system, where 13.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 15.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $14,428 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $28,570 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 32,256
- Setting:
- city
Champaign, IL
University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign has a total undergraduate enrollment of 32,256, with a gender distribution of 55.0 percent male students and 45.0 percent female students. At this school, 1.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 50.0 percent of students live off campus.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $9,792 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $33,060 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 38,437
- Setting:
- city
Austin, TX
Founded in 1883, University of Texas--Austin is a public institution. University of Texas--Austin follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $10,574 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $28,058 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 29,017
- Setting:
- urban
Seattle, WA
University of Washington is a public institution that was founded in 1861. The school has 34.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at University of Washington is 13:1.
- Tuition and fees:
- $36,500 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,786
- Setting:
- urban
New York, NY
Yeshiva University was established in 1886 as a private institution. Yeshiva University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $42,994 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 18,140
- Setting:
- urban
Boston, MA
A private institution, Boston University was founded in 1839. Boston University offers a Greek system, where 7.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 3.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- Tuition and fees:
- $45,240 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 8,338
- Setting:
- urban
New Orleans, LA
Tulane University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,338, with a gender distribution of 42.4 percent male students and 57.6 percent female students. At this school, 44.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 56.0 percent of students live off campus.
- Tuition and fees:
- $42,772 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 3,474
- Setting:
- suburban
Malibu, CA
Founded in 1937, Pepperdine University is a private institution. Pepperdine University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $5,656 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $27,933 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 32,598
- Setting:
- suburban
Gainesville, FL
University of Florida is a public institution that was founded in 1853. The school has 45.0 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at University of Florida is 21:1.
- Tuition and fees:
- $39,736 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 12,913
- Setting:
- urban
Boston, MA
Northeastern University was established in 1898 as a private institution. Northeastern University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $10,037 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $25,445 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 42,916
- Setting:
- urban
Columbus, OH
A public institution, Ohio State University--Columbus was founded in 1870. Ohio State University--Columbus offers a Greek system, where 6.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 6.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- Tuition and fees:
- $41,732 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 8,427
- Setting:
- urban
New York, NY
Fordham University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,427, with a gender distribution of 47.4 percent male students and 52.6 percent female students. At this school, 49.2 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 50.8 percent of students live off campus.
- Tuition and fees:
- $41,750 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 6,221
- Setting:
- city
Dallas, TX
Founded in 1911, Southern Methodist University is a private institution. Southern Methodist University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $39,004 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 14,671
- Setting:
- city
Syracuse, NY
Syracuse University is a private institution that was founded in 1870. The school has 61.2 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Syracuse University is 16:1.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $8,908 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $27,287 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 26,775
- Setting:
- suburban
College Park, MD
University of Maryland--College Park was established in 1856 as a public institution. University of Maryland--College Park follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
