Explore the 10 Top Public National Universities
See the Top Public Schools
The top 10 public National Universities in the 2017 Best Colleges rankings operate under the supervision of state governments and are usually funded in part by tax dollars and state subsidies; these schools in turn offer discounted tuition rates to in-state students.
Explore photos of these top-ranked public universities.
10 (tie). University of California--Davis
Total undergraduate enrollment: 28,384
2016-2017 tuition and fees (in state): $14,046
2016-2017 tuition and fees (out of state): $40,728
More about UC--Davis.
10 (tie). University of California--San Diego
Total undergraduate enrollment: 26,590
2016-2017 tuition and fees (in state): $14,705
2016-2017 tuition and fees (out of state): $41,387
More about UC--San Diego.
10 (tie). University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign
Total undergraduate enrollment: 33,368
2016-2017 tuition and fees (in state): $15,698
2016-2017 tuition and fees (out of state): $31,320
More about the University of Illinois.
10 (tie). University of Wisconsin--Madison
Total undergraduate enrollment: 31,662
2016-2017 tuition and fees (in state): $10,488
2016-2017 tuition and fees (out of state): $32,738
More about UW--Madison.
9. University of California--Irvine
Total undergraduate enrollment: 25,256
2016-2017 tuition and fees (in state): $14,750
2016-2017 tuition and fees (out of state): $39,458
More about UC--Irvine.
8. University of California--Santa Barbara
Total undergraduate enrollment: 20,607
2016-2017 tuition and fees (in state): $14,022
2016-2017 tuition and fees (out of state): $40,704
More about UC--Santa Barbara.
7. Georgia Institute of Technology
Total undergraduate enrollment: 15,142
2016-2017 tuition and fees (in state): $12,212
2016-2017 tuition and fees (out of state): $32,404
More about Georgia Tech.
6. College of William & Mary (VA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,301
2016-2017 tuition and fees (in state): $18,687
2016-2017 tuition and fees (out of state): $41,718
More about William & Mary.
5. University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill
Total undergraduate enrollment: 18,415
2016-2017 tuition and fees (in state): $8,834
2016-2017 tuition and fees (out of state): $33,916
More about UNC--Chapel Hill.
4. University of Michigan--Ann Arbor
Total undergraduate enrollment: 28,312
2016-2017 tuition and fees (in state): $13,856
2016-2017 tuition and fees (out of state): $43,476
More about UM--Ann Arbor.
2 (tie). University of California--Los Angeles
Total undergraduate enrollment: 29,585
2016-2017 tuition and fees (in state): $12,836
2016-2017 tuition and fees (out of state): $39,518
More about UC--Los Angeles.
2 (tie). University of Virginia
Total undergraduate enrollment: 16,736
2016-2017 tuition and fees (in state): $15,722
2016-2017 tuition and fees (out of state): $45,066
More about UVA.
1. University of California--Berkeley
Total undergraduate enrollment: 27,496
2016-2017 tuition and fees (in state): $13,509
2016-2017 tuition and fees (out of state): $40,191
More about UC--Berkeley.
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Farran Powell is an education reporter at U.S. News, covering paying for college and graduate school. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at fpowell@usnews.com.
