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:
- $6,264 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $15,828 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 16,312
- Setting:
- rural
Mississippi State, MS
At Mississippi State University, students value school traditions by participating in The Drill pep rally, and by cheering with Bully, the live bulldog mascot. Notable MSU alumni include bestselling author John Grisham, who earned a degree in accounting.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $8,930 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $21,650 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 15,597
- Setting:
- urban
Louisville, KY
At the University of Louisville in Kentucky, students can participate in Division I sports, Greek life, and more than 250 clubs. The campus is also home to an art museum, planetarium, and Auguste Rodin’s original sculpture of The Thinker.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $9,764 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $20,825 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 10,573
- Setting:
- suburban
Baltimore, MD
University of Maryland— Baltimore County (UMBC) offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and more than 30 graduate programs. Students can have fun outside of academics by participating in about 250 student organizations, pledging with one of the nearly 20 fraternities and sororities, and playing Division I sports
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $7,076 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $18,236 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 26,371
- Setting:
- suburban
San Diego, CA
San Diego State University was established in 1897 as a public institution. San Diego State University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $8,765 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $18,155 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 26,063
- Setting:
- city
Lubbock, TX
Texas Tech University is a large public school in the college town of Lubbock. The Red Raiders sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference and are particularly well known for football and basketball.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $6,212 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $19,000 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 9,586
- Setting:
- rural
Moscow, ID
At University of Idaho in Moscow, students can explore the restaurants and festivals in the city, or get involved with more than 200 clubs and Division I sports on campus. Idaho’s silver-and-gold sports teams are called the Vandals, thanks to an old newspaper account of the 1917 basketball team vandalizing their opponents on the court.
- Tuition and fees:
- $33,350 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,172
- Setting:
- suburban
La Verne, CA
Founded in 1891, University of La Verne is a private institution. University of La Verne follows a 4-1-4-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $6,090 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $18,868 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 22,711
- Setting:
- suburban
Morgantown, WV
A public school in the small city of Morgantown, West Virginia University offers several degrees and is home to the Center for Civic Engagement, which gives class credit for community service. Students can also get involved with Greek life, Division I sports, and more than 300 student organizations.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $11,852 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $18,965 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 11,729
- Setting:
- city
Lowell, MA
University of Massachusetts--Lowell was established in 1894 as a public institution. University of Massachusetts--Lowell follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $7,254 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $17,170 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 11,522
- Setting:
- city
Grand Forks, ND
Located on the eastern edge of the state in the city of Grand Forks, the University of North Dakota (UND) offers nearly 300 academic fields, including a highly ranked rural medicine program. Notable UND alumni include Sally Smith, CEO of the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant franchise.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $5,806 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $14,994 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 29,975
- Setting:
- urban
Tampa, FL
The University of South Florida, or USF, is a large public school that is committed to research. The school has a sizeable commuter population and offers bus transportation and a commuter network to accommodate students who don’t live on campus.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $9,885 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $23,300 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 23,754
- Setting:
- urban
Richmond, VA
Virginia Commonwealth University, or VCU, is a public school in Richmond. Cheering on the school’s Division I sports teams, the VCU Rams, is a popular outlet for students.
- Tuition and fees:
- $31,004 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 4,271
- Setting:
- suburban
La Mirada, CA
Biola University is a private institution that was founded in 1908. The school has 45.7 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Biola University is 14:1.
- Tuition and fees:
- $36,504 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 8,025
- Setting:
- urban
New York, NY
Pace University students can choose from the school’s two campuses: one in the Financial District of New York City, the other in suburban Pleasantville, N.Y. Inside the Actors Studio, a television show on Bravo, is filmed at the school’s urban location.
- Tuition and fees:
- $28,320 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,061
- Setting:
- city
Winona, MN
A private institution, St. Mary's University of Minnesota was founded in 1912. St. Mary's University of Minnesota offers a Greek system, where 3.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 4.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $5,584 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $21,063 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 49,900
- Setting:
- suburban
Orlando, FL
The University of Central Florida is based in Orlando and has regional campuses throughout the middle of the state. The school has more than 350 clubs and organizations for students to consider joining.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $5,931 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $17,078 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 23,279
- Setting:
- city
Logan, UT
Founded in 1888, Utah State University is a public institution. Utah State University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $31,076 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 5,998
- Setting:
- suburban
Azusa, CA
Azusa Pacific University is a private institution that was founded in 1899. The school has 68.6 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Azusa Pacific University is 13:1.
- Tuition and fees:
- $23,740 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,951
- Setting:
- city
Madison, WI
Edgewood College was established in 1927 as a private institution. Edgewood College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $11,153 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $22,844 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 15,000
- Setting:
- rural
Carbondale, IL
A public institution, Southern Illinois University--Carbondale was founded in 1869. Southern Illinois University--Carbondale offers a Greek system, where 7.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 8.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
