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:
- $12,006 (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.
- Tuition and fees:
- $44,475 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 5,322
- Setting:
- city
Troy, NY
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was established in 1824 as a private institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.
- 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
A public institution, University of California--Santa Barbara was founded in 1909. University of California--Santa Barbara offers a Greek system, where 13.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 8.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- 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
University of Wisconsin--Madison has a total undergraduate enrollment of 30,367, with a gender distribution of 48.5 percent male students and 51.5 percent female students. At this school, 24.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 76.0 percent of students live off campus.
- 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
Founded in 1965, University of California--Irvine is a public institution. University of California--Irvine follows a quarter-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $39,654 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 10,509
- Setting:
- suburban
Coral Gables, FL
University of Miami is a private institution that was founded in 1925. The school has 51.7 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at University of Miami is 11:1.
- 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
Pennsylvania State University--University Park was established in 1855 as a public institution. Pennsylvania State University--University Park follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- 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
A public institution, University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign was founded in 1867. University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign offers a Greek system, where 21.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 21.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- 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
University of Texas--Austin has a total undergraduate enrollment of 38,437, with a gender distribution of 48.7 percent male students and 51.3 percent female students. At this school, 19.4 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 80.6 percent of students live off campus.
- 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
Founded in 1861, University of Washington is a public institution. University of Washington follows a quarter-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $36,500 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,786
- Setting:
- urban
New York, NY
Yeshiva University is a private institution that was founded in 1886. The school has 69.9 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Yeshiva University is 6:1.
