National University Rankings

National University Methodology

Schools in the National Universities category, such as University of Chicago and Stanford University, offer a full range of undergraduate majors, master's, and doctoral degrees. These colleges also are committed to producing ground breaking research.

Tuition and fees:

$38,416 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

6,655

Setting:

urban

Cambridge, MA

Harvard University is a private institution in Cambridge, Mass., just outside of Boston. This Ivy League school is the oldest higher education institution in the country and has the largest endowment of any school in the world.

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Tuition and fees:

$36,640 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

5,113

Setting:

suburban

Princeton, NJ

The ivy-covered campus of Princeton University, a private institution, is located in the quiet town of Princeton, N.J. Princeton was the first university to offer a “no loan” policy to financially needy students, giving grants instead of loans to accepted students who need help paying tuition.

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Tuition and fees:

$38,300 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

5,275

Setting:

urban

New Haven, CT

Yale University, located in New Haven, Conn., offers a small college life with the resources of a major research institution. Yale students are divided into 12 residential colleges that foster a supportive environment for living, learning, and socializing.

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Tuition and fees:

$43,304 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

7,743

Setting:

urban

New York, NY

Columbia University has three undergraduate schools: Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and the School of General Studies. This Ivy League, private school guarantees students housing for all four years on campus in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights neighborhood in New York City.

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Tuition and fees:

$39,201 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

6,602

Setting:

suburban

Stanford, CA

The sunny campus of Stanford University is located in California’s Bay Area, about 30 miles from San Francisco. The private institution stresses a multidisciplinary combination of teaching, learning, and research, and students have many opportunities to get involved in research projects.

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Tuition and fees:

$40,514 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

9,768

Setting:

urban

Philadelphia, PA

Founded by Benjamin Franklin, the University of Pennsylvania is a private institution in the University City neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pa., near Drexel University. Undergraduates can study in four academic departments: Arts and Sciences, Nursing, Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Wharton.

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Tuition and fees:

$36,282 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

951

Setting:

suburban

Pasadena, CA

The California Institute of Technology focuses on science and engineering education and has a low student-to-faculty ratio of 3:1. This private institution in Pasadena, Calif. is actively involved in research projects with grants from NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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Tuition and fees:

$39,212 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

4,232

Setting:

urban

Cambridge, MA

Though the Massachusetts Institute of Technology may be best known for its math, science, and engineering education, this private research university also offers architecture, humanities, management, and social science programs. The school is located in Cambridge, Mass., just across the Charles River from downtown Boston.

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Tuition and fees:

$40,437 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

4,196

Setting:

rural

Hanover, NH

Dartmouth College, a private institution in Hanover, N.H., uses quarters, not semesters, to divide the school year. Among more than 300 student organizations at Dartmouth is the Outing Club, the nation’s oldest and largest collegiate club of its kind, which offers outdoor activities, expeditions, gear rentals, and courses.

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Tuition and fees:

$40,472 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

6,578

Setting:

suburban

Durham, NC

Located in Durham, N.C., Duke University is a private institution that has liberal arts and engineering programs for undergraduates. The Duke Blue Devils sports teams have a fierce rivalry with the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill Tar Heels and are best known for their outstanding men's basketball program.

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Tuition and fees:

$41,091 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

5,066

Setting:

urban

Chicago, IL

The University of Chicago, situated in Chicago’s Hyde Park community, offers a rich campus life in a big-city setting. Since 1987, the private institution has hosted the University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt, a four-day event that is regarded as the largest scavenger hunt in the world.

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Tuition and fees:

$40,247 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

8,536

Setting:

suburban

Evanston, IL

Northwestern University is a private school in Evanston, Ill., about 30 minutes outside of Chicago. Undergraduate students have more than 70 options for majors or can design their own non-traditional degree program.

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Tuition and fees:

$40,680 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

5,932

Setting:

urban

Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University is a private institution in Baltimore, Md. that offers a wide array of academic programs in the arts, humanities, social and natural sciences, and engineering disciplines. The Hopkins Blue Jays men’s lacrosse team is consistently dominant in the NCAA Division I; other sports teams at Hopkins compete at the Division III level.

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Tuition and fees:

$40,374 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

7,046

Setting:

suburban

St. Louis, MO

Students can study architecture, art, arts and sciences, business, and engineering at  Washington University in St. Louis, a private research institution in Missouri. Outside of class, about a quarter of the student body is involved in Greek life.

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Tuition and fees:

$40,820 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

6,244

Setting:

urban

Providence, RI

At Brown University, undergraduate students are responsible for designing their own academic study with more than 70 concentration programs to choose from. Another unique offering at this private, Ivy League institution in Providence, R.I. is the Program in Liberal Medical Education, which grants both a bachelor’s degree and medical degree in eight years.

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Tuition and fees:

$39,666 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

13,931

Setting:

rural

Ithaca, NY

Cornell University, a private school in Ithaca, N.Y., started the country’s first colleges for hotel administration, industrial and labor relations, and veterinary medicine. Cornell now offers a wide variety of undergraduate programs and runs interdisciplinary research centers for nanotechnology, supercomputing, and more.

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Tuition and fees:

$33,771 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

3,319

Setting:

urban

Houston, TX

Rice University is located in the heart of the Museum District in Houston, TX. The private institution has a need-blind admissions policy and meets the full demonstrated need of any accepted student who requires help paying tuition.

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Tuition and fees:

$39,932 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

6,794

Setting:

urban

Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University was established in 1873 as a private institution. Vanderbilt University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.

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Tuition and fees:

$39,919 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

8,372

Setting:

urban

Notre Dame, IN

The University of Notre Dame is a private, independent, Catholic institution in South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame’s athletic teams, known as the Fighting Irish, play in the NCAA Division I and are particularly competitive on the football field.

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Tuition and fees:

$39,158 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

6,980

Setting:

suburban

Atlanta, GA

Students can begin their education at the school's main location in a suburb of Atlanta, known as Emory College, or at Oxford College, a smaller campus about 40 miles away. This private institution offers about 70 majors in the arts and sciences, as well as degrees in business administration and nursing.

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Tuition and fees:

$40,203 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

7,433

Setting:

urban

Washington, DC

Georgetown University is the oldest Catholic university in the country. The school's location in Washington, D.C. gives students many opportunities for internships throughout the nation's capital.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$10,868 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$33,747 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

25,530

Setting:

urban

Berkeley, CA

The University of California—Berkeley overlooks the San Francisco Bay in Berkeley, Calif. Students at this public school have more than 700 organizations to get involved in, including more than 55 fraternity and sorority chapters.

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Tuition and fees:

$41,940 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

6,023

Setting:

urban

Pittsburgh, PA

Carnegie Mellon University, a private institution in Pittsburgh, Pa., is the country’s only school founded by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The school specializes in academic areas including engineering, business, computer science, and fine arts.

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Tuition and fees:

$41,022 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

16,751

Setting:

urban

Los Angeles, CA

Undergraduates study in the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences at the University of Southern California, a private school based in Los Angeles. The USC Trojans compete in the NCAA Division I Pacific-10 Conference and are particularly competitive in football.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$10,781 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$33,660 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

26,687

Setting:

urban

Los Angeles, CA

The University of California—Los Angeles is just five miles away from the Pacific Ocean. The public institution offers more than more than 3,000 courses and more than 130 majors to undergraduate students.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$10,628 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$33,574 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

15,476

Setting:

suburban

Charlottesville, VA

Founded in 1819, University of Virginia is a public institution. University of Virginia follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.

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Tuition and fees:

$39,970 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

4,569

Setting:

suburban

Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest University is a private institution that was founded in 1834. The school has 56.6 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Wake Forest University is 11:1.

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Tuition and fees:

$41,598 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

5,164

Setting:

suburban

Medford, MA

Tufts University was established in 1852 as a private institution. Tufts University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$12,400 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$36,163 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

26,208

Setting:

urban

Ann Arbor, MI

A public institution, University of Michigan--Ann Arbor was founded in 1817. University of Michigan--Ann Arbor offers a Greek system, where 19.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 15.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$6,665 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$25,280 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

17,981

Setting:

suburban

Chapel Hill, NC

University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill has a total undergraduate enrollment of 17,981, with a gender distribution of 41.0 percent male students and 59.0 percent female students. 47.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 53.0 percent of students live off campus.

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Tuition and fees:

$40,542 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

9,171

Setting:

suburban

Chestnut Hill, MA

Founded in 1863, Boston College is a private institution. Boston College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$12,188 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$33,212 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

5,836

Setting:

suburban

Williamsburg, VA

College of William and Mary is a public institution that was founded in 1693. The school has 48.1 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at College of William and Mary is 12:1.

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Tuition and fees:

$38,765 (2009-10)

Enrollment:

21,638

Setting:

urban

New York, NY

New York University was established in 1831 as a private institution. New York University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.

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Tuition and fees:

$40,274 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

3,317

Setting:

suburban

Waltham, MA

A private institution, Brandeis University was founded in 1948.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$8,716 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$26,926 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

13,515

Setting:

urban

Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute of Technology has a total undergraduate enrollment of 13,515, with a gender distribution of 69.7 percent male students and 30.3 percent female students. 60.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 40.0 percent of students live off campus.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$11,306 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$34,185 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

23,143

Setting:

urban

La Jolla, CA

Founded in 1960, University of California--San Diego is a public institution. University of California--San Diego follows a quarter-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.

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Tuition and fees:

$39,780 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

4,809

Setting:

urban

Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University is a private institution that was founded in 1865. The school has 49.2 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Lehigh University is 10:1.

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Tuition and fees:

$40,282 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

5,447

Setting:

suburban

Rochester, NY

University of Rochester was established in 1850 as a private institution. University of Rochester follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$11,984 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$34,863 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

24,655

Setting:

urban

Davis, CA

A public institution, University of California--Davis was founded in 1905.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$11,630 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$34,509 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

19,796

Setting:

suburban

Santa Barbara, CA

University of California--Santa Barbara has a total undergraduate enrollment of 19,796, with a gender distribution of 46.3 percent male students and 53.7 percent female students. 31.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 69.0 percent of students live off campus.

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Tuition and fees:

$37,648 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

4,228

Setting:

urban

Cleveland, OH

Founded in 1826, Case Western Reserve University is a private institution. Case Western Reserve University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.

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Tuition and fees:

$40,680 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

5,659

Setting:

urban

Troy, NY

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private institution that was founded in 1824. The school has 52.6 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 16:1.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$11,913 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$34,792 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

22,226

Setting:

suburban

Irvine, CA

University of California--Irvine was established in 1965 as a public institution. University of California--Irvine follows a quarter-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered most selective.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$8,701 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$25,329 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

29,574

Setting:

urban

Seattle, WA

A public institution, University of Washington was founded in 1861. University of Washington offers a Greek system, where 5.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 6.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$9,418 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$31,218 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

38,168

Setting:

urban

Austin, TX

University of Texas--Austin has a total undergraduate enrollment of 38,168, with a gender distribution of 48.5 percent male students and 51.5 percent female students. 19.7 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 80.3 percent of students live off campus.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$9,050 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$24,300 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

30,343

Setting:

urban

Madison, WI

Founded in 1848, University of Wisconsin--Madison is a public institution. University of Wisconsin--Madison follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$15,250 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$27,114 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

38,630

Setting:

urban

University Park, PA

Pennsylvania State University--University Park is a public institution that was founded in 1855. The school has 30.5 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania State University--University Park is 17:1.

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In-state tuition and fees:

$13,640 (2010-11)

Out-of-state tuition and fees:

$27,782 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

31,477

Setting:

urban

Champaign, IL

University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign was established in 1867 as a public institution. University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.

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Tuition and fees:

$37,836 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

10,370

Setting:

suburban

Coral Gables, FL

A private institution, University of Miami was founded in 1925. University of Miami offers a Greek system, where 14.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 15.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.

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Tuition and fees:

$33,050 (2010-11)

Enrollment:

2,853

Setting:

urban

New York, NY

Yeshiva University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,853, with a gender distribution of 54.1 percent male students and 45.9 percent female students. 78.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 22.0 percent of students live off campus.

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