Thinking about going to college and need help deciding where to go? Checking up on your alma mater? Find out how the best colleges and universities in the nation stack up. Don’t worry, this isn’t your typical college ranking list. This A-list ranks schools based on three things that matter most to you: Affordability, Academic Quality, and Accessibility. No ivy-league bias here.
View Best Colleges and Universities by US Region
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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
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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
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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
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Brigham Young University, Idaho
Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-Idaho or BYU-I) was founded in 1888 as Ricks College, but became a four-year institution when it became BYU-I in 2001. Since its transition, BYU-I organizes … read more
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Murray State University
Murray State University is a public university located in Murray, Kentucky, with nearly 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students. U.S. News & World Report ranks Murray State as a top tier … read more
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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
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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
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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
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Tennessee Technological University
Tennessee Technological University, or Tennessee Tech, is a public university located in Cookeville, Tennessee, that enrolls approximately 12,000 graduate and undergraduate students. The school … read more
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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
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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
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Weber State University
Weber State University was founded in 1889 as a public university in Ogden, Utah. The school offers technical, liberal arts, and professional certificates in addition to associate, bachelor’s and … read more
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University of Northern Iowa
The University of Northern Iowa, or UNI for short, is a public university located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The University was founded in 1876 and was known as Iowa State Normal School. In 1967, after … read more
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Kansas State University
Kansas State University is a public university located in Manhattan, Kansas. Commonly referred to as K-State, it is the oldest, public institution of higher learning in Kansas. In addition to the … read more
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Boise State University
Boise State University was founded in 1932 by the Episcopal Church as a junior college. It became independent just two short years later, and has been offering bachelor’s and master degrees … read more
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University of Texas, El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), located on the bank of the Rio Grande River in El Paso, Texas, is a component university of the University of Texas System. It was founded in 1914 with the … read more
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University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno is a public university that is located in Reno, Nevada. Established in 1874, the University of Nevada, or Nevada for short, is a land-grant institution that was … read more
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Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. While the university has been in existence since the mid-to-late-1800’s, its official establishment was in … read more
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Indian River State College
Indian River State College (abbreviated IRSC) is a public, four-year, state college located in Fort Pierce, Florida, that offers a large selection of undergraduate degree programs. Most students at … read more
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University of Nevada, Las Vegas
The University of Nevada Las Vegas, more commonly known as UNLV, is a public, research university located in Paradise, Nevada, a suburb of Las Vegas. The school provides bachelor’s, master’s … read more
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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. This … read more
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Appalachian State University
Founded as a teacher’s college by brothers B.B. and D.D. Dougherty in 1899, Appalachian State University (also known as “ASU”, “Appalachian”, “App State” or “App”) is a comprehensive, public … read more
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University of Montana, Missoula
University of Montana, Missoula was labeled the most scenic campus in America by Rolling Stone magazine. The University of Montana (also referred to as “the U”, “U of M”, and “UM”) was founded in 1893 … read more
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Truman State University
Founded in 1867 as the First Missouri Normal School and Commercial College, today it is known as Truman State University, a public, liberal arts and sciences university located in Kirksville, Missouri. Its … read more
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University of Nebraska, Kearney
Founded in 1905 as the Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney (also referred to as “UNK”, the University of Nebraska at Kearney today is a part of the University of Nebraska system. It traces … read more
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Idaho State University
Idaho State University (ISU) was founded in 1901 and is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research and teaching institution. Located in Pocatello, Idaho, USA, this public university attracts students … read more
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New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University, also known as New Mexico State University at Las Cruces and commonly referred to as NMSU, NMSU-Las Cruces, or NM State, is a four-year, state university located in the … read more
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Missouri State University
Formerly Southwest Missouri State University, and presently also known as MSU or Mo State, Missouri State University is a public university located in Springfield, Missouri. Founded in 1905, … read more
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University of Arkansas, Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) was founded as Little Rock Junior College in 1927 by the Little Rock School District. In 1957, it became a private, four-year university and changed its … read more
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University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is commonly referred to as KU. With a student body of more than 29,000 students, it is the largest, public, research university in the state of Kansas. The main campus sits … read more
Most Affordable
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Colleges
| Rank | College Name | Location | In-state Tuition | Out-of-state Tuition | Enrollment | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
31 | Texas A&M University, College Station | College Station, TX | $8,506 | $25,126 | 50,227 | 67% |
32 | Wichita State University | Wichita, KS | $6,927 | $14,961 | 14,893 | 95% |
33 | Washburn University | Topeka, KS | $5,774 | $12,926 | 7,204 | 96% |
34 | Wayne State College | Wayne, NE | $5,574 | $9,774 | 3,555 | 100% |
35 | Marshall University | Huntington, WV | $6,216 | $14,446 | 13,708 | 80% |
36 | Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge | $7,873 | $25,790 | 30,225 | 76% |
37 | Auburn University | Auburn, AL | $9,852 | $26,364 | 25,134 | 77% |
38 | Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, CA | $7,234 | $18,394 | 9,021 | 82% |
39 | Oklahoma State University | Stillwater, OK | $7,441 | $20,026 | 25,544 | 78% |
40 | Southeastern Louisiana University | Hammond, LA | $5,242 | $16,101 | 15,602 | 89% |
41 | Georgia Gwinnett College | Lawrenceville, GA | $5,406 | $14,864 | 9,397 | 91% |
42 | CUNY – College of Staten Island | Staten Island, NY | $6,158 | $15,728 | 14,321 | 100% |
43 | University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | $6,793 | $18,037 | 12,497 | 89% |
44 | Texas Woman’s University | Denton, TX | $7,050 | $17,580 | 15,168 | 86% |
45 | North Dakota State University | Fargo, ND | $7,233 | $17,478 | 14,443 | 84% |
46 | Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau, MO | $6,863 | $12,195 | 11,729 | 97% |
47 | University of Nebraska, Omaha | Omaha, NE | $6,510 | $16,520 | 14,786 | 80% |
48 | Indiana University, Bloomington | Bloomington, IN | $10,209 | $32,350 | 42,133 | 74% |
49 | Evergreen State College | Olympia, WA | $8,395 | $19,561 | 4,509 | 98% |
50 | Fort Hays State University | Hays, KS | $4,320 | $13,680 | 13,310 | 81% |
51 | South Dakota State University | Brookings, SD | $7,708 | $9,790 | 12,583 | 92% |
52 | St. Cloud State University | St. Cloud, MN | $7,472 | $15,114 | 16,457 | 90% |
53 | Virginia Tech | Blacksburg, VA | $10,930 | $25,320 | 31,087 | 70% |
54 | East Tennessee State University | Johnson City, TN | $7,697 | $15,372 | 15,133 | 89% |
55 | Purdue University – West Lafayette | West Lafayette, IN | $9,992 | $28,794 | 39,256 | 61% |
56 | West Virginia State University | Institute, WV | $5,932 | $13,864 | 2,644 | 90% |
57 | Morehead State University | Morehead, KY | $7,498 | $18,746 | 11,172 | 85% |
58 | Cameron University | Lawton, OK | $5,055 | $12,495 | 6,115 | 100% |
59 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI | $12,863 | $33,750 | 48,906 | 71% |
60 | Ohio State University, Columbus | Columbus, OH | $10,037 | $25,757 | 56,387 | 64% |
61 | University of Louisiana, Monroe | Monroe, LA | $5,443 | $14,263 | 8,545 | 91% |
62 | Texas A&M University, Kingsville | Kingsville, TX | $6,940 | $17,470 | 7,234 | 93% |
63 | California State University, Dominguez Hills | Carson, CA | $6,095 | $15,023 | 13,933 | 87% |
64 | Medgar Evers College – City University of New York | Brooklyn, NY | $5,732 | $11,942 | 6,540 | 100% |
65 | Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville | Edwardsville, IL | $9,666 | $20,610 | 14,055 | 82% |
66 | Western Washington University | Bellingham, WA | $8,862 | $19,752 | 14,833 | 80% |
67 | University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | $7,595 | $13,340 | 11,107 | 90% |
68 | University of Houston, Downtown | Houston, TX | $6,267 | $16,887 | 13,916 | 92% |
69 | University of Oregon | Eugene, OR | $9,763 | $29,788 | 24,518 | 74% |
70 | University of Colorado, Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | $8,658 | $18,576 | 10,257 | 92% |
71 | Missouri Southern State University | Joplin, MO | $5,376 | $10,225 | 5,417 | 96% |
72 | Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi | Corpus Christi, TX | $7,668 | $18,198 | 10,508 | 90% |
73 | Brigham Young University – Provo | Provo, UT | $4,850 | $9,700 | 34,409 | 55% |
74 | Missouri University of Science & Technology | Rolla, MO | $9,510 | $24,675 | 7,647 | 90% |
75 | Austin Peay State University | Clarksville, TN | $7,158 | $23,490 | 10,597 | 86% |
76 | Lewis – Clark State College | Lewiston, ID | $5,784 | $16,096 | 4,525 | 99% |
77 | Delta State University | Leveland, MS | $5,724 | $14,820 | 4,763 | 89% |
78 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI | $10,454 | $15,114 | 24,654 | 82% |
79 | University of Wisconsin, Whitewater | Whitewater, WI | $7,578 | $15,151 | 12,028 | 73% |
80 | Chadron State College | Chadron, NE | $5,600 | $9,860 | 2,759 | 100% |
81 | Colorado State University | Fort Collins, CO | $9,313 | $25,166 | 30,647 | 75% |
82 | Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ | $10,002 | $23,654 | 73,378 | 88% |
83 | University of Central Oklahoma | Edmond, OK | $5,092 | $12,767 | 17,211 | 79% |
84 | Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | $7,206 | $17,944 | 9,482 | 82% |
85 | Harris – Stowe State University | St. Louis, MO | $5,110 | $9,648 | 1,716 | 100% |
86 | Sul Ross State University | Alpine, TX | $4,764 | $12,276 | 2,700 | 97% |
87 | California Maritime Academy | Vallejo, CA | $7,956 | $20,604 | 974 | 75% |
88 | Montana State University, Billings | Billings, MT | $5,745 | $17,092 | 5,081 | 97% |
89 | James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA | $9,176 | $23,654 | 19,927 | 64% |
90 | University of Hawaii, Manoa | Honolulu, HI | $9,904 | $27,472 | 20,426 | 81% |
91 | Metropolitan State University | St. Paul, MN | $6,642 | $13,227 | 8,170 | 97% |
92 | University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point | Stevens Point, WI | $7,882 | $15,455 | 9,677 | 75% |
93 | University of Wisconsin, Platteville | Platteville, WI | $7,457 | $15,030 | 8,442 | 80% |
94 | University of Toledo | Toledo, OH | $9,054 | $18,174 | 21,453 | 95% |
95 | The Citadel | Charleston, SC | $12,237 | $31,038 | 3,499 | 80% |
96 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | $6,263 | $28,541 | 49,913 | 44% |
97 | Oregon State University | Corvallis, OR | $8,538 | $23,469 | 26,393 | 79% |
98 | East Central University | Ada, OK | $4,957 | $11,953 | 4,906 | 92% |
99 | Massachusetts Maritime Academy | Buzzards Bay, MA | $7,519 | $23,097 | 1,415 | 77% |
100 | Southwestern Oklahoma State University | Weatherford, OK | $5,175 | $11,535 | 5,106 | 91% |
