Deciding which university is perfect for you can be a difficult task. While some students are attracted to private schools with very niche offerings, others are drawn to public institutions that are typically more affordable and offer a broad range of extracurricular activities.
Below is a list of the top 10 public schools in the United States for the 2015-16 academic year. These schools provide students with the best possible education without the high price tag of a private education. Students graduate from these schools with the knowledge and skills needed to become successful in their future careers.
College Factual’s ranking methodology is highly focused on data related to outcomes, such as loan default rates, graduation rates and average starting salaries of graduates. You can read more about the methodology here.
1. UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY: ANNAPOLIS, MD.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Founded in 1845 by Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, the United States Naval Academy is the top school for students interested in pursuing a leadership position within the United States Navy or Marine Corps. The academy provides students with the opportunity to explore American history, while earning a degree that leads to a commission in the Navy.
The school has a highly diverse student body, small class sizes and most of the faculty teaches full time. The curriculum revolves around providing students with the knowledge and skills to act as an officer within the United States armed forces.
The school blends traditional learning techniques with state-of-the-art technology to prepare students for any obstacles they may face in the future. However, this school is very selective, accepting only about 7% of applicants.
2. UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY: U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, COLO.
The United States Air Force Academy is a military academy for officer candidates in the U.S. Air Force. Founded in 1954, this four-year university opened as an academy for men, but admitted its first female class in 1976.
Cadets at the academy develop leadership skills as they prepare for a career in the armed forces. Graduates of the academy earn a Bachelor of Science degree and are commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. Cadets at the school have the option to study any of the 31 majors, but many choose to focus on science and engineering.
USAFA is considered one of the best public schools due to the strong education provided to future Air Force officers. The academy teaches a variety of skills that must be mastered in order to be successful officers.
3. UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY: WEST POINT, N.Y.
The United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, is a federal service academy. Founded in 1802, the school has a long history of developing cadets into top officers. It is dedicated to providing students with a strong education along with training them for successful careers as Army officers.
The 47-month leader development program mixes academics with physical training to build the foundation for future military leaders. The academy ranks among the top schools in the country due to the excellent academic curriculum combined with the physical and military programs.
The academy is a good choice for cadets due to its small class sizes. It has an excellent student to faculty ratio and students are taught by full-time teachers who have experience as Army officers.
Students interested in attending West Point should be prepared to work hard as they constantly train towards becoming an Army officer. The academy is highly selective and only admits top cadets who display promise in becoming a successful military leader.
Dig deeper into College Factual’s ratings with this interactive tool
4. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES: LOS ANGELES, CALIF.
Founded in 1919, the University of California-Los Angeles has been a pioneer in developing innovative curriculums and helping students realize their potential.
As the largest UC campus by enrollment, the school has an extremely diverse student body. UCLA offers 125 different undergraduate majors to help students find the area that best matches their interests and capabilities. High freshman retention and graduation rates along with the affordable price make this school an excellent value for your money.
Students have access to some of the country’s best professors in the world, and have additional opportunities to get involved in research projects. UCLA is a good choice for any student searching for a quality education.
5. UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.
Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the University of Virginia is a public research university that works to develop the next generation of leaders.
UVA offers 56 undergraduate degree programs spread through 11 different schools. The most popular majors are in the social sciences. The university boasts high freshmen retention and on-time graduation rates, while also providing graduates with excellent earnings boosts.
The school has many top-ranked academic programs, including architecture, foreign languages and linguistics, liberal arts, sciences and humanities, and philosophy and religious studies.
UVA is one of the leading universities for research activities and allows its students to gain hands-on experience assisting faculty members with a variety of projects. The numerous research centers provide a unique arena for these innovative research programs.
UVA is a good choice because it offers a strong education at a reasonable price, making it one of the best values for your money.
6. COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY: WILLIAMSBURG, VA.
Chartered on Feb. 8, 1693 by King William III and Queen Mary II of England, the College of William and Mary is the second-oldest college in the United States.
With three campuses in Williamsburg, Washington and Gloucester Point, Virginia, W&M has the ability to offer academic programs to students all around Virginia. The school has one of the best history programs in the country in addition to other exceptional programs that are often highly ranked.
W&M is a great choice because the school promotes collaborative learning through hands-on experience with professors, made possible by the strong student to faculty ratio. This highly selective college is known to provide a top education.
7. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-BERKELEY: BERKELEY, CALIF.
Founded in 1868, the University of California-Berkeley is a premier public university that provides students with a top education.
The school employs a strong faculty that is dedicated to teaching students the necessary skills to become helpful and effective leaders in their respective fields. The high freshman retention rateand affordable cost make UC Berkeley an excellent value for your money.
Students at this school have the added benefit of taking classes in some of the country’s best academic programs, including biological and biomedical sciences, business, management and marketing, foreign language and linguistics, legal professions, math and physical sciences. These classes are taught by a world-class faculty with the most advanced degrees in their field. Students are given the chance to work closely with these professors on research projects and other opportunities outside the classroom.
UC Berkeley is one of the most selective public universities in the country due to its numerous academic programs that challenge students and develop innovative thinkers and leaders.
8. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-ANN ARBOR: ANN ARBOR, MICH.
Founded in 1817, the University of Michigan is one of the oldest public universities in the country.
The school has maintained a strong history as one of the best higher education institutions. Michigan has 19 schools and colleges that offer over 250 degree programs, including the most prestigious engineering and foreign language and linguistics programs.
In addition to the numerous academic offerings, Michigan provides students with various on-campus clubs and organizations along with events to help create a community feel. The high freshman retention rate shows the dedication Michigan has to providing an inclusive and welcoming campus for all students, highlighted by outstanding academics and a challenging intellectual environment.
Michigan is one of the best values for your money due to the strength of its programs and low net cost.
9. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA-CHAPEL HILL: CHAPEL HILL, N.C.
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill has a long tradition of providing students with rigorous academic programs.
The school offers 78 undergraduate programs with many ranking among the best in the U.S. Some of the most popular majors at the university are social sciences, communications and psychology.
UNC is considered one of the top schools in the country because it challenges students and ensures they enter their career equipped with the proper skills and knowledge to be successful. Small classes, highlighted by a low student to faculty ratio, offer students the opportunity to collaborate with full-time faculty members on a variety of research projects.
In addition to excellent academic programs and research centers, UNC offers its students a variety of resources to assist with classwork or provide a break from academics with clubs and organizations. Thanks to its affordable price and top-quality programs, UNC-Chapel Hill is an excellent value for your money.
10. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO: SAN DIEGO, CALIF.
The University of California-San Diego is one of the world’s leading public research universities.
With six undergraduate colleges and five academic divisions, along with five graduate and professional schools, UC-San Diego offers a diverse list of class offerings that allow students to create the degree program that is right for them.
This university is focused on providing students with a collaborative learning environment that helps foster intellectual curiosity and intuition. With a large percentage of full-time teachers, UC-San Diego ensures students have the opportunity to learn from masters in their field who are dedicated to working closely with the student population.
Along with being a top public institution, UC-San Diego is renowned for having one of the best biological and biomedical sciences majors with the Division of Biological Sciences being the top school for a biology degree in the country. The school also has one of the top ranked mathematics programs.
This highly selective school is a great choice for students who are looking for an exceptional public education.
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