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:
- $7,740 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $17,730 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 11,128
- Setting:
- urban
Birmingham, AL
University of Alabama--Birmingham was established in 1969 as a public institution. University of Alabama--Birmingham follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $6,282 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $16,266 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 15,346
- Setting:
- rural
University, MS
The University of Mississippi, better known as Ole Miss, is a large public institution in the college town of Oxford. About 35 percent of the student body is active in Greek life.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $11,168 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $28,194 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 11,760
- Setting:
- suburban
Richardson, TX
University of Texas--Dallas has a total undergraduate enrollment of 11,760, with a gender distribution of 56.0 percent male students and 44.0 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.
- Tuition and fees:
- $29,320 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 5,021
- Setting:
- suburban
Garden City, NY
Founded in 1896, Adelphi University is a private institution. Adelphi University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $12,726 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $20,016 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 18,594
- Setting:
- city
Normal, IL
Located about 130 miles southwest of Chicago, the Illinois State University campus is in the town of Normal. First year students at ISU can take the Learning in Communities seminar, allowing them to attend one of their first college courses in small groups with their peers and learn about each other and the university.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $9,404 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $25,652 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 14,402
- Setting:
- urban
Honolulu, HI
University of Hawaii--Manoa was established in 1907 as a public institution. University of Hawaii--Manoa follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $10,594 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $27,454 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 8,911
- Setting:
- rural
Orono, ME
At the University of Maine, students participate in annual events such as Maine Day, when the school hosts a parade, and then together, everyone helps clean the campus. Notable UMaine alumni include bestselling horror author Stephen King, who wrote Carrie, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $4,278 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $13,428 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 10,163
- Setting:
- suburban
Laramie, WY
At the University of Wyoming, students can study in nearly 200 programs, including those in the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Through this program, students can explore many interesting places and activities in courses such as Alaska Mountaineering, Himalaya Backpacking, and Baja Sea Kayaking.
- Tuition and fees:
- $34,710 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,724
- Setting:
- city
Melbourne, FL
The Florida Institute of Technology originally started as a training facility for space industry professionals and now offers a wide range of degree programs to undergraduates. About half of the student body enrolls in the school’s College of Business.
- Tuition and fees:
- $23,746 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 3,035
- Setting:
- suburban
St Louis, MO
Maryville University of St. Louis is a private institution that was founded in 1872. The school has 67.0 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Maryville University of St. Louis is 12:1.
- 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
Founded in 1897, San Diego State University is 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
A private institution, University of La Verne was founded in 1891. University of La Verne offers a Greek system, where 7.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 2.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- 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
Founded in 1894, University of Massachusetts--Lowell is 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 has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,271, with a gender distribution of 39.0 percent male students and 61.0 percent female students. At this school, 64.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 36.0 percent of students live off campus.
- 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
St. Mary's University of Minnesota is a private institution that was founded in 1912. The school has 61.8 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at St. Mary's University of Minnesota is 16:1.
