Explore the 2018 Best National Universities
See the Top 20 National Universities
National Universities are research institutions that offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, and those leading the 2018 Best Colleges rankings are a mix of public and private schools.
See photos of these top 20 National Universities.
20. Georgetown University (DC)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,453
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $52,300
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 10
More about Georgetown University.
18 (tie). University of Notre Dame (IN)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 8,530
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $51,505
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Notre Dame.
18 (tie). Washington University in St. Louis
Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,540
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $51,533
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 2
More about Washington University in St. Louis.
14 (tie). Brown University (RI)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,926
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $53,419
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Brown University.
14 (tie). Cornell University (NY)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 14,566
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $52,853
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Cornell University.
14 (tie). Rice University (TX)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,893
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $45,608
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Rice University.
14 (tie). Vanderbilt University (TN)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,871
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $47,664
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Vanderbilt University.
11 (tie). Dartmouth College (NH)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,310
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $52,950
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Dartmouth College.
11 (tie). Johns Hopkins University (MD)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,117
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $52,170
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Johns Hopkins University.
11 (tie). Northwestern University (IL)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 8,353
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $52,678
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Northwestern University.
10. California Institute of Technology
Total undergraduate enrollment: 979
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $49,908
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 3
More about Caltech.
9. Duke University (NC)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,609
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $53,744
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 3
More about Duke University.
8. University of Pennsylvania
Total undergraduate enrollment: 10,019
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $53,534
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 5
More about the University of Pennsylvania.
5 (tie). Columbia University (NY)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,113
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $57,208
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Columbia University.
5 (tie). Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,524
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $49,892
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about MIT.
5 (tie). Stanford University (CA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,034
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $49,617
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 3
More about Stanford University.
3 (tie). University of Chicago
Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,941
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $54,825
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about the University of Chicago.
3 (tie). Yale University (CT)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,472
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $51,400
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Yale University.
2. Harvard University (MA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,710
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $48,949
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Harvard University.
1. Princeton University (NJ)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,400
2017-2018 tuition and fees: $47,140
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Princeton University.
Learn More About the Best Colleges Rankings
Explore the complete 2018 Best Colleges rankings to view other exclusive lists, such as A-plus Schools for B Students and Best Value Schools.
Connect with U.S. News Education on Facebook and Twitter to share your thoughts on the rankings with the #BestColleges hashtag.
Briana Boyington is an education digital producer at U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at bboyington@usnews.com.
