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.
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- 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
Founded in 1954, University of California--Riverside is a public institution. University of California--Riverside follows a quarter-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- 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 is a public institution that was founded in 1846. The school has 33.1 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at University at Buffalo--SUNY is 15:1.
- 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
University of Kansas was established in 1866 as a public institution. University of Kansas follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- 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
A public institution, University of New Hampshire was founded in 1866. University of New Hampshire offers a Greek system, where 9.5 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 7.3 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- 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.
- Tuition and fees:
- $38,320 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 3,883
- Setting:
- city
Stockton, CA
The University of the Pacific is a private college in Stockton, Calif. The school’s picturesque campus has been featured in films including All the King’s Men, Porgy & Bess, and Flubber.
- Tuition and fees:
- $37,093 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,714
- Setting:
- urban
Chicago, IL
The Illinois Institute of Technology, a private university in Chicago, provides a variety of options for students interested in the sciences. IIT offers a wide range of engineering degree programs, as well as degrees in architecture, political science, and more.
- Tuition and fees:
- $32,035 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 6,175
- Setting:
- urban
St. Paul, MN
University of St. Thomas was established in 1885 as a private institution. University of St. Thomas follows a 4-1-4-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $38,610 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 3,018
- Setting:
- rural
Potsdam, NY
Clarkson University is a private institution in northern New York, where students can attend several annual events, get involved with Greek life, and explore numerous varsity and recreational sports. Off campus, Clarkson students can discover the nearby Adirondack Mountains and Lake Placid, drive an hour to Canada, or take a day trip to New York City.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $12,590 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $25,910 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 7,465
- Setting:
- city
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey—Newark is located in the largest city in the state. More than 60 percent of students complete majors in the Newark College of Arts and Sciences.
- Tuition and fees:
- $33,400 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 7,843
- Setting:
- suburban
Dayton, OH
Located about an hour away from both Cincinnati and the Ohio state capital of Columbus, the University of Dayton is a private school that encourages its students to practice their Catholic faith on campus. Students can also get involved in more than 200 organizations, the campus radio and television stations, and Division I varsity sports.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $9,310 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $28,660 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 20,623
- Setting:
- city
Eugene, OR
University of Oregon students have a variety of extracurricular options to choose from, including joining fraternities and sororities, cheering on the Ducks athletic teams, and checking out local art performances. More than 20 percent of students participate in Greek life.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $10,168 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $26,352 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 22,556
- Setting:
- city
Columbia, SC
At the University of South Carolina, freshmen students are eased into college life through University 101, a transition program pioneered at the school. The Columbia campus is the flagship location for the University of South Carolina system.
- Tuition and fees:
- $36,820 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 3,633
- Setting:
- urban
Washington, DC
The Catholic University of America is the national university of the Catholic Church. With the school’s location in downtown Washington, D.C., students have easy access to national landmarks.
- Tuition and fees:
- $30,034 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 5,677
- Setting:
- urban
Pittsburgh, PA
Duquesne University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,677, with a gender distribution of 43.3 percent male students and 56.7 percent female students. At this school, 56.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 44.0 percent of students live off campus.
- Tuition and fees:
- $22,683 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 7,164
- Setting:
- urban
Washington, DC
Howard University is a historically black college located in Washington, D.C. Despite its urban setting, students are permitted to bring cars to campus—though freshmen may not apply for on-campus parking.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $13,353 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $27,258 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 5,731
- Setting:
- rural
Houghton, MI
Located on Lake Superior’s Keweenaw Peninsula, the Michigan Technological University campus is in the small town of Houghton, about 100 miles north of the Wisconsin border. Students at Michigan Tech have many opportunities to conduct research and participate in annual events such as the Snow Carnival.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $10,035 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $26,231 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 30,665
- Setting:
- city
Tucson, AZ
The University of Arizona offers its students a wide variety of ways to get involved, from joining the ZonaZoo cheering section at Wildcats sports games to checking out the burgeoning Greek scene with more than 30 fraternities and sororities.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $9,350 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $23,666 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 5,672
- Setting:
- rural
Missouri University of Science & Technology largely focuses on engineering and science degrees. Engineering majors include aerospace, mining, petroleum, nuclear, and more.
- Tuition and fees:
- $37,846 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 7,081
- Setting:
- urban
New York, NY
New School has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,081, with a gender distribution of 28.4 percent male students and 71.6 percent female students. At this school, 20.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 80.0 percent of students live off campus.
