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    The 21 Best State Schools in the US

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    This back-to-school season, the cost and value of higher education are top of mind.

    In a time when going to college can put you in hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, and as more tech moguls share that they skipped university altogether, it could be worth considering a public school.

    Every state has some sort of public school system, though they’re not all created equal. Just as private schools have the Ivy League, some state schools stand above the rest — Forbes now releases its own list of “Public Ivies” each year.

    Public schools are also generally cheaper than private schools, especially if you stay in-state. But even paying out-of-state tuition at some public schools can cost half as much as the most expensive colleges charge.

    We used US News & World Report’s 2027 ranking of best national universities to identify the top 21 public schools in the country. The list does not include liberal arts colleges focused on undergraduate education or regional universities with limited doctoral programs, although those are typically private schools.

    Its ranking evaluated over 400 US colleges across multiple metrics, including graduation rates, debt loads, average salaries, and admissions rates, among others, using data reported by schools and third-party sources. For its 2027 list, US News introduced a new “earnings by major” metric.

    College rankings have faced scrutiny over the years, with critics of US News & World Report’s lists arguing that they can pressure schools to perform well on certain metrics to boost their standing. Skeptics have also questioned the ranking methodology, saying it may fail to capture key, less quantifiable factors that add to a school’s quality.

    US News has defended the rankings as a helpful resource, while admitting comparing colleges “can be challenging,” and the lists “don’t capture every nuance.”

    “But we reject our critics’ paternalistic view that students are somehow incapable of discerning for themselves from this information which school is the best fit,” US News & World Report executive chairman and CEO Eric Gertler wrote in 2023 for the Wall Street Journal.

    Here are the 21 highest-ranked public universities in the US, according to US News & World Report’s 2027 rankings.

    19 (tie). College of William & Mary


    The sign for William and Mary college outside the campus in downtown Williamsburg.

    The sign for William and Mary College outside the campus.

    Eli Wilson/iStock

    National ranking: #52 (tie)

    The first school on this list (but not the last) located in Virginia is the College of William & Mary, which is in Williamsburg. It’s named for King William III and Queen Mary II, who ruled England from 1689 to 1702.

    The college itself was founded in 1693, making it the second-oldest college in the US. About 7,000 undergraduates are enrolled.

    It ranked highly for its commitment to teaching undergrads rather than focusing on graduate-level research.

    19 (tie). University of Georgia


    The Arch and entrance to the University of Georgia's North Campus

    The arch entrance to the University of Georgia’s North Campus.

    JENNIFER E. WOLF/iStock

    National ranking: #52 (tie)

    UGA, located in Athens, was chartered by the state in 1785, making it the oldest state-chartered university in the US.

    It has an enrollment of about 32,000 undergraduate students.

    Per US News, UGA has the No. 2 insurance program in the country, which was founded in 1965.

    19 (tie). Virginia Tech


    April 18, 2018: Historic Virginia Tech Polytechnic Institute and State University College campus with Burruss hall facade exterior in spring,

    Virginia Tech Polytechnic Institute and State University College’s Burruss Hall.

    krblokhin/iStock

    National ranking: #52 (tie)

    The town of Blacksburg is home to Virginia Tech, or the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, founded in 1872.

    Virginia Tech has about 31,000 undergraduate students enrolled. It ranks No. 6 for the best industrial/manufacturing engineering program.

    17 (tie). University of Washington


    A scenic view of the University of Washington campus before a college basketball game between the Washington Huskies and the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on February 14, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.

    A scenic view of the University of Washington campus.

    Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

    National ranking: #49 (tie)

    Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is located in the middle of Seattle and has an undergraduate enrollment of about 41,000 students.

    UW has strong nursing (tied for No. 1) and computer science programs (tied for No. 8).

    17 (tie). University of Maryland, College Park


    College Park, Maryland October 27, 2024: Entrance Welcome sign at the University of Maryland College Park, Maryland Campus

    An entrance sign at the University of Maryland, College Park.

    arlutz73/iStock

    National ranking: #49 (tie)

    The College Park campus is the largest in the UMD system, with about 31,000 undergraduate students. It was founded in 1856.

    College Park is just over 8 miles from downtown Washington, DC, and 30 miles from Baltimore, making it a relatively easy commute to either city.

    UMD’s cybersecurity program ranks at No. 8.

    14 (tie). University of California, Santa Barbara


    Architecture at the University of California, Santa Barbara campus in Santa Barbara, California taken on June 17, 2025.

    The architecture at the University of California, Santa Barbara campus.

    Kevin Koeppen Photography/iStock

    National ranking: #44

    Nearly 24,000 undergraduates call UCSB, founded in 1909, home.

    Much can be said about UCSB’s strong academics, but it’s probably most famous for its proximity to the beach, making it a dream school for aspiring surfers everywhere.

    14 (tie). Rutgers University — New Brunswick


    Rutgers University Welcome Sign at the College Avenue Campus in New Brunswick, NJ

    The Rutgers University welcome sign at the College Avenue campus in New Brunswick.

    Hal Goodtree/iStock

    National ranking: #44 (tie)

    Rutgers has three campuses across New Jersey, but the biggest, located in New Brunswick, was ruled its best. It was founded in 1766 as Queen’s College, before getting renamed Rutgers in 1825.

    Approximately 38,000 undergraduates are enrolled at the New Brunswick campus.

    14 (tie). The Ohio State University


    Aerial view of Columbus Ohio stock photo

    An aerial view of OSU.

    espiegle/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    National ranking: #44

    The Ohio State University, or OSU, has an undergraduate enrollment of about 47,000 students. Founded in 1870, it’s located north of downtown Columbus, the Buckeye State’s capital.

    OSU has a well-regarded nursing program (No. 4), accounting program (No. 12), and supply chain/logistics program (No. 5).

    8 (tie). University of Wisconsin — Madison


    Bascom Hall located on the University of Wisconsin, Madison campus in Madison Wisconsin framed by tree and banner.

    A view of Bascom Hall, located on the University of Wisconsin — Madison campus.

    Kevin Koeppen Photography/iStock

    National ranking: #34 (tie)

    UW-Madison’s 939-acre campus, located in the heart of Madison, is home to 39,000 undergraduate students.

    Founded in 1848, it’s ranked in the top 10 for insurance, psychology, marketing, real estate, and computer systems.

    8 (tie). University of Texas at Austin


    University of Texas Darrell Royal Texas Memorial Stadium with long horns logo view, city Austin USA

    The University of Texas Darrell Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.

    Wenling Clark/iStock

    National ranking: #34 (tie)

    UT Austin, founded in 1883, takes up a big chunk of Texas’ capital city — in fact, it’s just a 15-minute walk from campus to see the Lone Star State’s statehouse. It has 43,000 undergraduates.

    Many UT programs are world-renowned, but the Moody College of Communication is among its most famous.

    8 (tie). University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign


    on campus of the University of Illinois.

    On the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

    Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

    National ranking: #34 (tie)

    About 140 miles southwest of Chicago, you’ll find the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the flagship school of the UI system. It was founded in 1867 and has an undergrad population of 37,000.

    UIUC — or, according to a recent branding shift, Illinois — was ranked sixth overall in the nation for its school of engineering, which was founded in 1868, making it one of the oldest schools at the university.

    8 (tie). University of Florida


    The UF Archway known as the UF Arch on Friday, May 3, 2024 at the Heavener Hall at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL.

    The UF Archway, known as the UF Arch, outside Heavener Hall at the University of Florida.

    Matt Pendleton Photography/iStock

    National ranking: #34 (tie)

    Gainesville is home to the University of Florida, founded in 1853. It’s in northern Florida, roughly 110 miles northwest of Orlando.

    There are about 36,000 undergraduate Gators running around the 2,000-acre grounds — and they’re (probably) all powered by Gatorade, the famed sports drink that was created right there on campus by researchers looking to help athletes replenish their electrolytes and stay hydrated.

    8 (tie). University of California, Davis


    The UC Davis logo with a soccer game and bike riders in the background. University of California at Davis. Davis, California. Taken February 2, 2015.

    The UC Davis logo with a soccer game and bike riders in the background.

    Joseph DeSantis/Getty Images

    National ranking: #34 (tie)

    Fun fact: UC Davis is the northernmost undergraduate campus in the University of California system, above both San Francisco and Berkeley.

    It was founded in 1905 and has roughly 32,000 undergraduates.

    UC Davis is tied for No. 2 among universities with the best biological/agricultural engineering programs.

    8 (tie). University of California, Irvine


    A person walks down a campus path amidst a mostly empty University of California-Irvine campus Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.

    A path at the University of California, Irvine campus during autumn.

    Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

    National ranking: #34 (tie)

    UC Irvine, located in Orange County, has an undergraduate population of 30,000.

    The school was founded in 1965 and is best-known for its STEM programs. That, and its mascot, the anteater.

    6 (tie). University of California, San Diego


    The Geisel Library on Gilman Drive in the campus of the University of California, San Diego

    The Geisel Library on the campus of the University of California, San Diego.

    Laser1987/iStock

    National ranking: #29 (tie)

    From the northernmost UC school to the southernmost — UC San Diego, established in 1960, is approximately 30 minutes from the California/Mexico border.

    The university, which has 35,000 undergraduate students, is known for its strong engineering and biotechnology programs.

    6 (tie). Georgia Institute of Technology


    October 29 2020: Georgia Tech logo on the side of a building on campus.

    The Georgia Tech logo on the side of a building on campus.

    CRobertson/iStock

    National ranking: #29 (tie)

    The second Georgia university on the list is located a mile from downtown Atlanta. Georgia Tech was founded in 1885 and has an undergraduate population of about 20,000.

    It was ranked the third-most innovative school, behind MIT and Arizona State.

    5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, US, on Monday, June 16, 2025.

    The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus.

    Bloomberg/Getty Images

    National ranking: #27 (tie)

    UNC-Chapel Hill, located less than 30 miles west of Raleigh, was founded in 1789 and has an undergraduate population of 21,000.

    Besides its famed NCAA basketball team, Chapel Hill has a top 10 business school and nursing school.

    4. University of Virginia


    Garrett Hall at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. This historic Colonial Revival building houses the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and overlooks the university grounds

    Garrett Hall at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.

    Leonid Andronov/Getty Images

    National ranking: #26

    The University of Virginia, or UVA, was founded in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1819. It has about 18,000 undergraduate students.

    In addition to its strong undergraduate programs, the UVA School of Law is the No. 4 law school in the nation, according to US News.

    3. University of Michigan


    A University of Michigan flag on the Michigan Union building at the schools campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan, US, on Monday, July 28, 2025.

    A University of Michigan flag on the Michigan Union building.

    Bloomberg/Getty Images

    National ranking: #25 (tie)

    The University of Michigan, known colloquially as “Michigan,” was founded in Ann Arbor in 1817, which is about 40 miles west of Detroit.

    Michigan has an undergraduate population of 34,000 students. It’s best known for the Ross School of Business, which ranks No. 13 among full-time MBA programs in the US.

    1 (tie). University of California, Los Angeles


    People walk on the plaza outside Royce Hall on the UCLA campus on July 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

    People on the plaza outside Royce Hall on the UCLA campus.

    Mario Tama/Getty Images

    National ranking: #20 (tie)

    UCLA, founded in 1919 and located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, is one of the biggest universities in the UC system, with 33,000 undergraduates and a well-regarded medical school, law school, and public health master’s program.

    It also has just a 9% acceptance rate, making it a highly sought-after acceptance letter.

    In last year’s ranking, UCLA was tied for No. 2, so it got a nice bump for the 2027 rankings.

    1 (tie). University of California, Berkeley


    Berkeley, CA, USA, University of California, Berkeley, Students on Campus

    The University of California, Berkeley campus.

    directphotoorg/iStock

    National ranking: #20 (tie)

    UC Berkeley (or simply Cal) was named by US News & World Report as the other best public school in the US. Founded in 1868, it is the oldest university in the University of California system.

    Its 33,000 undergraduate students call the Bay Area home, and the university has top-five chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, industrial/manufacturing, and materials engineering programs.

    Editor’s note: This story was first published in August 2026. It was updated on September 22, 2026, to reflect the latest US News & World Report rankings.

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