College Research

CollegesRankingsMajors

2025-26 Rankings

Top Public Universities

Our rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics including academic selectivity, institutional resources, and tuition costs.

Note: Tuition costs shown for public universities reflect in-state tuition rates.

University of Michigan - Taubman College
#1
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MIPublic

16%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$32,782/yr

SAT RANGE

1360-1530

GRADUATION RATE

94%

"Michigan equips driven undergrads with Big Ten scale and research muscle in a walkable college town that punches above its weight."

ME Homepage | George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
#2
14%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$23,866/yr

SAT RANGE

1370-1540

GRADUATION RATE

92%

"Where relentless Yellow Jackets engineer the future in the heart of booming Atlanta, trading sleep for breakthroughs."

The Rotunda (University of Virginia) - Wikipedia
#3
University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VAPublic

17%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$33,921/yr

SAT RANGE

1410-1540

GRADUATION RATE

93%

"Thomas Jefferson's Rotunda-centered vision where ambitious students swear by an ironclad Honor Code amid Virginia's rolling hills."

Stunning facade of Powell Library at UCLA in Los Angeles showcasing exquisite Romanesque architecture.
#4
University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CAPublic

9%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$29,933/yr

SAT RANGE

1330-1530

GRADUATION RATE

94%

"Sun-drenched Bruin hub fuses blockbuster film dreams with biotech breakthroughs in bustling Westwood."

UC leads American public research universities in global impact, new  rankings show | University of California
#5
11%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$35,314/yr

SAT RANGE

1350-1510

GRADUATION RATE

94%

"Public research powerhouse born from 1868 merger, fueling Silicon Valley brains and Free Speech legacy."

W&M Rankings | W&M at a Glance | About W&M | William & Mary
#6
College of William and Mary

Williamsburg, VAPublic

34%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$33,616/yr

SAT RANGE

1400-1530

GRADUATION RATE

91%

"America's second-oldest college blends colonial ghosts with preppy rigor in history-soaked Williamsburg."

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2026) - All You Need to Know  BEFORE You Go (with Reviews)
#7
15%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$20,823/yr

SAT RANGE

1390-1530

GRADUATION RATE

92%

"At UNC Chapel Hill, you'll join America's first public university, where Tar Heel spirit ignites fierce academics amid pine-scented walks and basketball fever in the Research Triangle."

Programs & Courses | University of Florida
#8
University of Florida

Gainesville, FLPublic

24%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$16,597/yr

SAT RANGE

1320-1480

GRADUATION RATE

90%

"Florida's massive flagship where gator football roars blend with powerhouse engineering, agriculture, and business programs in humid Gainesville."

San Diego
#9
27%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$30,534/yr

SAT RANGE

1340-1540

GRADUATION RATE

90%

"Sunny La Jolla's research powerhouse where biotech breakthroughs happen amid ocean breezes and eucalyptus groves."

Front view of Santa Barbara Museum of Art with trees framing the entrance.
#10
University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CAPublic

33%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$31,843/yr

SAT RANGE

1290-1520

GRADUATION RATE

88%

"Where Gauchos bike to class past palm trees and crashing waves, blending beach bonfires with breakthrough science at a sun-drenched UC powerhouse."

Apply to North Carolina State University
#11
42%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$20,867/yr

SAT RANGE

1300-1470

GRADUATION RATE

85%

"Join the rowdy Wolfpack for hands-on engineering and ag innovation smack in the Research Triangle's tech boom."

The University of Texas Tower against a clear blue sky in Austin, Texas.
#12
27%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$26,526/yr

SAT RANGE

1250-1510

GRADUATION RATE

84%

"Burnt-orange behemoth fueling ambitious minds amid Austin's live music throb and tech surge."

SUNY Binghamton University: Ranking, Fees, Admission
#13
Binghamton University

Vestal, NYPublic

39%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$26,420/yr

SAT RANGE

1340-1500

GRADUATION RATE

84%

"Binghamton University delivers Ivy-level ambition and outcomes at a fraction of the price, turning Tri-State grinders into global achievers."

Home | The Graduate School
#14
University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MDPublic

45%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$26,034/yr

SAT RANGE

1400-1530

GRADUATION RATE

85%

"At UMD, you dive into a massive public research engine fueled by DC's orbit, where Terps grind through Big Ten rivalries and quantum breakthroughs amid suburban sprawl."

UC Irvine School of Law and School of Physical Sciences Announce  Scholarship Initiative – UC Irvine Law News
#15
29%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$30,555/yr

SAT RANGE

1270-1490

GRADUATION RATE

86%

"UC Irvine drops you into a meticulously planned Orange County oasis where anteaters lead the charge in bio-tech breakthroughs and sun-drenched study sessions."

University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA)
#16
58%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$33,380/yr

SAT RANGE

1280-1460

GRADUATION RATE

84%

"Pitt delivers gritty urban ambition in the City of Bridges, where you'll tackle world-class research amid Pittsburgh's steel-forged revival."

Category:University of Wisconsin-Madison - Wikimedia Commons
#17
45%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$21,406/yr

SAT RANGE

1380-1520

GRADUATION RATE

89%

"At UW-Madison, you'll dive into a massive lakeside research engine fueled by Badger loyalty, where Big Ten weekends collide with cutting-edge labs in America's quirkiest state capital."

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
#18
42%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$28,562/yr

SAT RANGE

1310-1520

GRADUATION RATE

87%

"Engineer the next big thing at this Midwest research behemoth, where massive scale delivers top-tier opportunities amid Big Ten roars and relentless winters."

Campus of the University of Washington - Wikipedia
#19
39%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$29,594/yr

SAT RANGE

1330-1510

GRADUATION RATE

85%

"Nestle into Seattle's tech-fueled, rain-soaked embrace at this massive public powerhouse where you'll code breakthroughs amid evergreen forests and coffee-fueled all-nighters."

Mines Academy at Red Rocks Community College | Red Rocks Community College
#20
Colorado School of Mines

Golden, COPublic

61%
Acceptance Rate
TOTAL COST

$35,352/yr

SAT RANGE

1320-1480

GRADUATION RATE

85%

"Nestled in Colorado's foothills, Mines turns dirt-under-the-nails miners into tomorrow's energy and materials innovators."