Some of the top colleges in the country are public schools. With the rising cost of college, public colleges and universities offer a cost-effective option for students. Public colleges provide quality education paired with large and diverse student populations and boast many academic programs and student resources. Known for their student organizations, internship opportunities, and intramural sports, public colleges are filled with opportunities galore.
What is a Public College?
A public college is a school that is partly funded by state government assistance. As a result, tuition tends to be lower compared to private schools. Public colleges usually have larger class sizes, more work-study opportunities, and more major and minor options compared to private colleges.
Best Public Colleges in the US.
Thomas Jefferson founded The University of Virginia. The school had a Board of Visitors that included Jefferson, James Monroe, and James Madison. Well known for its secret societies, the school is also known for their sporting accomplishments. The Cavaliers, who wear orange and blue, have over 30 championship wins.
Location
Charlottesville, VA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
26,082
A public undergraduate school, the United States Naval Academy’s motto, in Latin, is “Ex Scientia Tridens,” or “From Knowledge, Seapower.” It was established in 1845 and saw disruption and riots during the Civil War that almost caused the government to move the school. Today, it has student to faculty ratio of 8 to 1.
Location
Annapolis, MD
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
4,450
Accepting just 18% of applicants, 47% of students accepted to decide to attend the University of Michigan. Computer and Information Sciences, Business Administration and Management, and Economics are the most pursued majors. U of M Ann Arbor is home of the “Big House” – the biggest college football stadium in the US.
Location
Ann Arbor, MI
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
51,225
The University of North at Chapel Hill goes by several different names including UNC, Chapel Hill, and Carolina. It’s a public research university and the flagship of the school system. Enrolling students in 1795, it’s one of the oldest public schools in the country. UNC became coeducational in 1877 and began admitting African-American graduate students in 1951.
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
31,705
The second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, King William III and Queen Mary II founded the aptly named College of William & Mary in 1693. A public research university, alumni have included Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, John Tyler, James Comey, and Jon Stewart. The mascot is the Griffin.
Location
Williamsburg, VA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
9,654
The first class of cadets at the United States Air Force Academy graduated in 1959. This class selected a falcon as their mascot to embody speed, power, and courage – all characteristics incoming cadets will need to demonstrate. The Academy accepts 14% of applicants, and 94% of students will stay at the school after they complete their first year.
Location
USAF Academy, CO
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
4,085
“Scientiæ Cedit Mare,” or “the sea yields to knowledge,” is the motto of the United States Coast Guard Academy. It was founded in 1876 and is the smallest of the five academies for service in the United States. The most popular major is Political Science and Government, General, but Oceanography, Business Administration and Management, and Mechanical Engineering are also top choices.
Location
New London, CT
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
1,037
The University of California in Los Angeles, a public land-grant research university, is the second-oldest branch of the school system. Its motto is “fiat lux,” or “let there be light.” Famous alumni have included Sean Astin, Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Morhaime, Jim Morrison, and Troy Aikman. It has an acceptance rate of 9%.
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
46,430
Part of the Southeastern Conference, the University of Florida has a wide variety of sports from football to gymnastics and has 552 athletes. The team members are known as the Gators and wear orange and blue uniforms. Just 24% of students are accepted, 43% of which will go on to attend the following fall.
Location
Gainesville, FL
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
55,211
The United States Military Academy is also known as West Point or the Academy. Only 14% of applicants will receive acceptance letters, but 76% of these students will go on to attend. Their motto is Duty • Honor • Country. The entire site of the school is a national landmark and includes historic sites, a museum, and more.
Location
West Point, NY
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
4,393
A majority of incoming students attending University of Maryland at College Park are from Maryland, New York, and New Jersey. It’s often called a “Public Ivy,” because of its comparable education to Ivy League schools, and has extremely high research activity. Computer Science is the most popular major.
Location
College Park, MD
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
40,792
Also referred to as Georgia Tech, this public research university was founded in 1885 as part of the Reconstruction plans post Civil War. At first, it only offered degrees in Mechanical Engineering. In 1901, it would also offer Chemical, Civil, and Electrical Engineering. Today, the top two majors are Computer and Information Sciences, General, and Mechanical Engineering.
Location
Atlanta, GA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
45,296
Also known as UT Austin, UT, or Texas, the University of Texas at Austin was founded in 1883, but the first mention of it can be traced back to 1827. Famous alumni include Wes Anderson, James Baker, Matthew McConaughey, and Neil deGrasse Tyson. The two most popular majors at UT are Biology/Biological Sciences and Psychology.
Location
Austin, TX
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
52,384
The University of Wisconsin - Madison was the first public university in the state as it was founded when Wisconsin received statehood in 1848. Their motto is “Numen Lumen” or “Divine Light.” It’s also the largest employer in the state as it has over 24,200 faculty and staff. There are more than 140 undergraduate majors available to those attending.
Location
Madison, WI
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
48,956
The University of California – Berkeley was the state’s first land-grant university and the first campus in the school system. The California Golden Bears, competing in the Pac-12 conference, have won over 100 national championships. With a first year retention rate of 96%, 81% will go on to graduate within 4 years, 93% within 6.
Location
Berkeley, CA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
45,307
A land-grant research university, Ohio State is known as a Public Ivy. Getting its start in 1870, it was originally known as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College. The Buckeyes take part in the Big Ten Conference and are well known for their football program. With 989 athletes, other popular sports at the school include track, baseball, ice hockey, and fencing.
Location
Columbus, OH
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
60,540
New Brunswick is one of the regional campuses of Rutgers University, and the oldest of the three. The school has 19 undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, with a high number of undergraduates majoring in Computer and Information Sciences, General, Psychology, and Finance. They have an acceptance rate of 65%.
Location
New Brunswick, NJ
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
50,637
The University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign is a public land-grant research university. It was one of 37 universities that came out of the Morrill Land-Grant Act. When the school opened, there were only 77 students and 2 faculty members. Today, 67,400 apply each year to Urbana, 44% of which are accepted.
Location
Champaign, IL
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
56,916
Pitt is a research university with a 50% acceptance rate. Students can apply any time as the school operates on a rolling admissions policy. University of Pittsburg just launched the Pitt Finish Line Grant, a one-time, nonrenewable need-based grant. The top 3 majors at Pitt include Research and Experimental Psychology, Registered Nursing, and Biology/Biological Sciences.
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
33,767
The University of Connecticut campus is 4,400 acres and just 90 minutes from Boston. It was founded in 1881 and originally known as the Storrs Agricultural School. The school accepts 54% of applicants. UConn is considered a “Public Ivy” and has produced famous scholars, actors, authors, inventors, and entrepreneurs.
Location
Storrs, CT
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
27,003
The North Carolina State University at Raleigh is part of the largest university system in the Carolinas: the Research Triangle with Duke University and University of North Carolina. Also known as NC State, the school has a student to faculty ratio of 16 to 1 and a first year retention rate of 94%. A whopping 83% of the incoming class calls North Carolina home.
Location
Raleigh, NC
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
36,700
Part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, Binghamton University sees most of its incoming students come from the home state, though many will also come from New Jersey. The Bearcats compete in sports such as Baseball, Soccer, and Lacrosse. Baxter the Bearcat is their mascot.
Location
Binghamton, NY
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
18,312
The University of Georgia has an acceptance rate of 37% and many students will go on to major in Biology/Biological Sciences, Psychology, and Finance. It’s one of the oldest public schools in the United States (founded in 1785). This Public Ivy university has quite a few famous alumni graduates including state governors, football players, scientists, Pulitzer Prize winners, and more.
Location
Athens, GA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
40,607
The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities campus is actually made up of two locations, 3 miles apart: Minneapolis and Falcon Heights. Also known as U of M or Minnesota, their motto is “Commune vinculum omnibus artibus” or “A common bond for all the arts.” It’s the largest and oldest school in the University of Minnesota system and actually got its start in 1851, before Minnesota was even a state.
Location
Minneapolis, MN
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
54,955
Florida State University was founded in 1851 and today is well known for its sports programs. Athletes are known as the Seminoles and the team has won 21 national athletic championships. Florida State has a 94% first year retention rate and a majority of first-time students come from its home state.
Location
Tallahassee, FL
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
44,161
Public vs. Private Colleges
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a college, and the argument of private vs public is one of them!
- Class Size. Public institutions tend to have larger class sizes than private counterparts. This can make you “one among many”, so paying attention and being proactive with professors is important.
- Financial aid and cost may also come into play for your college decision. While public colleges may have less in terms of endowment for their students, they typically have lower tuition rates than their private colleges making them a more affordable option for some. Public schools also tend to have more work-study opportunities.
- Expanse of Majors. Education opportunities also vary from public to private. Public schools often offer more majors, minors, and programs but don’t have as many research opportunities as private universities. Considering your goals, intended major, and education needs for your intended career after graduation is a must.
- Clubs and Extracurriculars. Public schools, along with often larger student bases, tend to offer more and diverse clubs and extracurricular activities. So you’ll most likely find something for you!
Public and private schools can have small or large campuses. And both types of institutions can offer amazing education, resources, and career opportunities to their students. Understanding the differences between public and private schools though can help you make the best decision for your future, finances, and education.
Is one of these amazing public colleges or universities right for you? Use our College Match Tool today for FREE to see what colleges are a top fit for you.
Methodology
Colleges are ranked based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, endowment per student, and other data as reported via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the most recently available enrollment year. Some colleges may have been excluded from rankings based on certain criteria, including specialization and classification. Learn about our full methodology.
