The Best Colleges and Universities in the nation are here. Look no further than the A-List which ranks schools based on Academic Quality, Accessibility (acceptance rate, enrollment size), and Affordability (out-of-state tuition).
*Data gathered in 2014. Tuition is out-of-state tuition.
A List: Academic Quality ★ Affordability ★ Accessibility + Enrollment
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming (or UW), located in Laramie, Wyoming, is a land-grant university that offers more than 190 undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. In addition to its main … read more
University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (also known as University of Illinois, U of I, UIUC, and Illinois) is a public, four-year university that offers a wide range of undergraduate and … read more
University of Wisconsin-Madison
The University of Wisconsin-Madison (commonly referred to as UW-Madison and locally as Wisconsin or simply Madison) is a four-year, research university in Madison, Wisconsin that offers an … read more
University of Colorado – Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder (also known as CU-Boulder, CU, or Boulder) is the flagship, research university of the University of Colorado system and is located in Boulder, Colorado. The … read more
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma (OU), located in Norman, Oklahoma, is a public, research university. The coeducational school was established in 1890, 17 years before Oklahoma became an official State. … read more
Brigham Young University-Provo
Brigham Young University (BYU) is located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church. It is the third largest … read more
Texas A&M University-College Station
Texas A&M University (A&M standing for "Agriculture and Mechanical"), College Station, is the flagship institution among 11 more universities in the Texas A&M University System (see list below). … read more
Kansas State University
Located in Manhattan, Kansas and commonly referred to as K-State, Kansas State University is the oldest public institution of higher learning in Kansas. K-State was originally titled Kansas State … read more
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology is a public research university located in Ames, Iowa. Commonly known as Iowa State University (ISU), the school is a land and space-grant … read more
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is the oldest public university in the state. Commonly referred to as UI or just Iowa, it is a research university that offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional … read more
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University, also known as SDSU, is the state’s largest university, with a student population of 12,583. The main campus is located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota, and … read more
University of Utah
The University of Utah is a public, research university located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Also known as the U of U, The U, or Utah, it is the state’s flagship institution for higher education, with … read more
University of South Dakota
Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, the University of South Dakota is the State’s flagship university. With a student population of over 10,000, the Coyotes, as they are known and represented, … read more
Utah State University
Utah State University (USU) is a public research university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and … read more
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, locally referred to as U of M, is a publicly funded and operated research university with campuses in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. U of M is one of … read more
University of Florida
The University of Florida, locally referred to as U of F, UF or just Florida, is a public, four-year university whose main campus is in Gainesville, Florida. U of F is a land-grant university … read more
University of Missouri-Columbia
The University of Missouri, Columbia, is a public, research university located in Columbia, Missouri. Also known as Mizzou, Missouri or MU, it is the largest institution of higher education in the … read more
Indiana University-Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington (often called "IU" or "Indiana") is the flagship campus for the Indiana University system. Located in the city of Bloomington (population just over 80,000), the … read more
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas (referred to as "KU") has a student body of more than 29,000 students, making it the largest public research university in the state of Kansas.
The main campus sits atop … read more
University of Washington
The University of Washington, often referred to as UW, UDub, or simply Washington, is a public research university located in Seattle, Washington. It is a Public Ivy League institution and a … read more
University of Georgia
University of Georgia is commonly known as UGA, U Georgia or Georgia. It is the state’s largest public research university and commonly ranks among the top 200 universities globally. The main … read more
Ohio State University-Columbus
Ohio State University, Columbus, also known as Ohio or OSU, is a public, four-year university and research institution located in Columbus, Ohio. OSU was founded as the Ohio Agricultural and … read more
University of California-Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley, more commonly referred to as UC Berkeley, or just Berkeley, is one of California’s top public research universities. In fact, research is a core pillar of … read more
Arizona State University
With an established reputation created and cultivated since its founding in 1885, Arizona State University (ASU) boasts an expansive student body of undergraduate (the largest in the nation) and … read more
University of Alabama-Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) offers some of the best undergraduate and graduate degree programs available in the South. The UAB Health System, one of the best medical education … read more
University of Maryland-College Park
The University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) is a public, liberal arts university located just outside of Washington, D.C., in Maryland, but within the capital beltway. It was established in … read more
Virginia Tech
More commonly known as Virginia Tech, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is the largest university in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with a 2,600-acre main campus located in the … read more
West Virginia University
West Virginia University (WVU) is a public research university located in Morgantown, West Virginia. In addition to its central campus in Morgantown, the university also has campuses in Montgomery … read more
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire combines the living and learning environment of a New England liberal arts college with the breadth, spirit of discovery, and civic commitment of a land-grant … read more
Rutgers, New Brunswick
The Rutgers Brunswick/Piscataway Campus is unique from the other Rutgers campuses–it is the largest and most comprehensive. This specific campus offers 19 schools for those students that are getting undergraduate, graduate, or professional degrees.
| Rank | College Name | In-state Tuition | Out-of-state Tuition | Enrollment | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
31
|
University of Montana | $6,330 | $23,146 | 14,946 | 96% |
|
32
|
North Dakota State University | $7,660 | $18,242 | 14,443 | 84% |
|
33
|
University of Delaware | $12,342 | $30,692 | 21,856 | 63% |
|
34
|
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $8,374 | $33,624 | 29,278 | 27% |
|
35
|
Mississippi State University | $6,772 | $16,960 | 20,365 | 71% |
|
36
|
Ohio University | $10,536 | $19,500 | 27,402 | 73% |
|
37
|
University of Texas-Austin | $9,798 | $34,722 | 52,186 | 40% |
|
38
|
Louisiana State University | $8,750 | $26,467 | 30,225 | 75% |
|
39
|
Colorado State University | $9,897 | $26,077 | 30,659 | 77% |
|
40
|
Oklahoma State University | $7,442 | $20,027 | 25,708 | 76% |
|
41
|
Auburn University – Main | $10,200 | $27,384 | 25,134 | 83% |
|
41
|
Florida State University | $6,507 | $21,673 | 40,695 | 57% |
|
43
|
Oregon State University | $8,276 | $23,540 | 26,363 | 79% |
|
44
|
Washington State University | $12,428 | $25,510 | 27,679 | 82% |
|
45
|
University of Pittsburgh | $17,772 | $28,168 | 28,769 | 55% |
|
46
|
Georgia Institute of Technology | $11,394 | $30,698 | 21,557 | 41% |
|
47
|
University of Nebraska-Lincoln | $8,060 | $21,388 | 24,207 | 64% |
|
47
|
University of Nevada-Reno | $6,415 | $20,325 | 18,227 | 84% |
|
49
|
University of Arizona | $10,581 | $28,379 | 40,223 | 78% |
|
50
|
University of California-Los Angeles | $12,702 | $35,580 | 39,945 | 20% |
|
51
|
Binghamton University-SUNY | $8,619 | $20,259 | 15,308 | 42% |
|
52
|
Miami University-Oxford | $14,287 | $30,394 | 17,683 | 67% |
|
53
|
University of Connecticut | $12,700 | $32,880 | 25,483 | 54% |
|
54
|
Clemson University | $13,382 | $30,816 | 20,768 | 57% |
|
55
|
North Carolina State University-Raleigh | $8,296 | $23,551 | 34,340 | 47% |
|
56
|
Pennsylvania State University-University Park | $17,502 | $30,452 | 45,783 | 56% |
|
57
|
Illinois State University | $12,830 | $20,420 | 20,706 | 69% |
|
58
|
University at Buffalo-SUNY | $8,426 | $20,366 | 28,952 | 57% |
|
59
|
Purdue University-West Lafayette | $10,002 | $28,804 | 40,393 | 60% |
|
60
|
University of Vermont | $16,226 | $37,874 | 13,098 | 78% |
|
61
|
Bowling Green State University | $10,726 | $18,034 | 17,286 | 73% |
|
62
|
Michigan State University | $13,200 | $34,980 | 48,783 | 69% |
|
63
|
University of Cincinnati | $11,000 | $26,334 | 33,347 | 73% |
|
64
|
University of Kentucky | $10,616 | $22,888 | 28,034 | 69% |
|
65
|
University of Massachusetts-Amherst | $13,258 | $28,813 | 28,236 | 63% |
|
66
|
Western Michigan University | $10,685 | $24,917 | 24,598 | 83% |
|
67
|
Texas Tech University | $9,308 | $20,168 | 32,467 | 66% |
|
68
|
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $13,977 | $41,811 | 43,426 | 33% |
|
68
|
Kent State University | $10,012 | $17,972 | 28,602 | 83% |
|
70
|
University of Alabama-Huntsville | $9,158 | $21,232 | 7,636 | 81% |
|
71
|
University of South Carolina – Main | $11,158 | $29,440 | 31,288 | 64% |
|
72
|
University of Tennessee | $11,246 | $29,696 | 29,833 | 73% |
|
73
|
University of Virginia | $12,998 | $42,184 | 23,907 | 30% |
|
73
|
Yeshiva University | $38,730 | $38,730 | 6,740 | 82% |
|
75
|
SUNY – College of Environmental Science and Forestry | $7,303 | $16,953 | 2,255 | 51% |
|
76
|
University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa | $9,826 | $24,950 | 33,503 | 57% |
|
77
|
University of North Dakota | $7,508 | $17,794 | 15,250 | 71% |
|
78
|
University of Arkansas | $8,210 | $20,300 | 24,537 | 59% |
|
79
|
University of California-Davis | $13,896 | $36,774 | 32,354 | 41% |
|
80
|
University of Massachusetts-Lowell | $12,447 | $19,560 | 16,294 | 64% |
|
81
|
University of Oregon | $9,918 | $30,888 | 24,518 | 74% |
|
82
|
University of California-Santa Barbara | $13,746 | $36,624 | 21,927 | 40% |
|
83
|
University of Illinois-Chicago | $13,640 | $26,030 | 27,875 | 71% |
|
84
|
University of Louisville | $10,432 | $24,320 | 21,239 | 71% |
|
84
|
Stony Brook University-SUNY | $8,430 | $21,850 | 23,946 | 40% |
|
86
|
University at Albany-SUNY | $8,527 | $20,167 | 17,312 | 56% |
|
87
|
University of California-San Diego | $13,302 | $36,180 | 28,294 | 37% |
|
88
|
University of Mississippi | $7,096 | $19,144 | 18,794 | 59% |
|
89
|
University of Idaho | $6,784 | $20,314 | 12,420 | 65% |
|
90
|
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $12,251 | $24,874 | 18,847 | 79% |
|
91
|
University of Maine-Orono | $10,604 | $28,484 | 10,901 | 83% |
|
92
|
Missouri University of Science & Technology | $9,537 | $25,404 | 7,645 | 82% |
|
93
|
University of St. Thomas | $34,442 | $34,442 | 10,289 | 86% |
|
94
|
University of Denver | $42,090 | $42,090 | 11,656 | 77% |
|
95
|
Loyola University Chicago | $37,412 | $37,412 | 15,720 | 91% |
|
96
|
University of Rhode Island | $12,506 | $28,072 | 16,451 | 76% |
|
97
|
University of Pennsylvania | $47,668 | $47,668 | 24,725 | 12% |
|
98
|
University of California-Irvine | $14,757 | $37,635 | 27,479 | 41% |
|
98
|
University of North Carolina-Charlotte | $6,179 | $18,708 | 26,232 | 63% |
|
100
|
University of South Florida | $6,410 | $17,325 | 41,116 | 45% |
