Just like private universities and colleges, public universities offer their own unique experience. Our list of the 20 best public universities includes a few of the largest undergraduate schools in the country. 

Should You Apply to a Public University?

A large school experience may be just what you are looking for. While it generally means larger class sizes, it also means a wider variety of courses, extracurricular activities, and a diversity of people and perspectives. Public universities have large alumni networks for internship opportunities and connections for jobs after graduation. These institutions have graduated astronauts, Academy Award winners, extraordinary entrepreneurs, and business leaders. 

By their nature, public universities are research institutions and many have teaching hospitals. They are on the cutting edge of extraordinary discoveries. If you are interested in research, look at the opportunities offered for undergraduates. Most of these opportunities are for graduate students, however, some of the schools on our list are promoting out-of-class, hands-on research for undergraduates. If research is really important to you, take a look at private undergraduate colleges. It’s not uncommon for students to be authors on articles or papers at smaller private colleges. This can open many doors for graduate school. 

Large public universities are known for their athletic programs. For these schools, sports play a large role in student life as an athlete or spectator. Division I athletic teams in basketball and football are often the most well-known for their success, history, and game-day traditions. There’s something special about being a part of a university in this way. 

As far as cost is concerned, public universities are most competitive if you apply to schools in your state. After all, they are largely supported by your state government and being a resident has its privileges. This means that public universities will charge much higher tuition costs to students who do not live in their state. Most of the schools on this list receive thousands more applications than they can admit and getting accepted is often more competitive.

Private colleges and universities may also have special scholarships for students in-state, but residency does not play the same role as it does for public universities. Private schools can lower that sticker price dramatically due to generous financial aid packages that can make the cost to attend lower than a public university. 

Because both public and private universities have their pros and cons, you’ll want to consider fit when deciding which colleges to apply to—that is how a school aligns with your needs overall – academically, socially, and financially. 

20 Best Public Universities

1. University of Michigan 

Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Acceptance Rate: 23%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1400-1500/32-35

Undergraduate Enrollment: 31,329

The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor is one of the nation’s finest public universities by any measure. From academics to student life, athletics to world-class research, their alumni go onto some of the best companies and graduate schools in the nation—no wonder they keep singing Hail to the Victors. The Wolverines have a rich athletic tradition and are consistently among the top sports teams in the country as members of the Big Ten (B1G).  

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Location: Chapel Hill, NC

Acceptance Rate: 23%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1350-1500/29-34

Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,395

Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill has the distinction of being the first public university in the United States and remains an outstanding institution of higher education. From the beautiful campus to the town of Chapel Hill, UNC–Chapel Hill offers students an extraordinary educational experience. The UNC Tarheels are a powerhouse in men’s Division I college basketball. 

3. University of Virginia

Location: Charlottesville, VA

Acceptance Rate: 24%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: UVA is test-optional for the upcoming enrollment cycle

Undergraduate Enrollment: 18,066

The University of Virginia was founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819 and this rich history is evident today. It is often ranked as the most beautiful campus in the U.S. as well as one of the nation’s major public research universities. From the arts to advances in medicine, UVA lives up to its reputation of excellence. 

4. University of California, Berkeley

Location: Berkeley, CA

Acceptance Rate: 16%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1330-1530/29-35

Undergraduate Enrollment: 31,780

The University of California at Berkeley is arguably one of the finest public universities in the world. Its faculty have won 25 Nobel Prizes in fields ranging from physics to literature. It is well-known for its rigorous academic standards, diversity, and accessibility for students from wide-ranging backgrounds. 

5. University of California, Los Angeles

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Acceptance Rate: 12%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1360-1550/29-32

Undergraduate Enrollment: 31,636

Located near the California coast and in one of the world’s most recognizable cities, it’s no wonder that UCLA receives more applications than any other college in the country. UCLA is part of the UC System, a collection of ten campuses offering undergraduate and graduate classes across the state of California with more than 280,000 students enrolled, employing more than 227,000 faculty and staff, and with two million alumni living and working around the world.

6. College of William & Mary

Location: Williamsburg, VA

Acceptance Rate: 38%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1300-1490/30-34

Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,256

Founded by King William III and Queen Mary II of England in 1693, William & Mary is the second-oldest college in the U.S. and the first (and only) American institution of higher education to receive a coat of arms from the College of Heralds. William & Mary is one of the 15 colleges known as a “public Ivy,” and a leading research university offering more than 40 graduate and professional programs. 

7. University of Florida

Location: Gainesville, FL

Acceptance Rate: 37%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1330-1470/30-34

Undergraduate Enrollment: 34,931 

A top-rated public research university with a total enrollment of more than 50,000 students, the University of Florida offers a rigorous academic program with a strong athletic tradition. Engineering, business, law, and medicine are among the most popular Gator majors. Florida has an impressive student athletics program with more than 40 national championships in men’s and women’s sports. 

8. Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)

Location: Atlanta, GA

Acceptance Rate: 21%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1370-1530/31-35

Undergraduate Enrollment: 16,551

While Georgia Tech offers a wide variety of majors—from analytics to urban design—the school is best known for its engineering program. Students graduate in five years earning their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in their field of specialty. Located in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia Tech is an integral part of the city, actively involved in research and consulting. 

9. University of Texas at Austin

Location: Austin, TX

Acceptance Rate: 32%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1210-1470/26-33

Undergraduate Enrollment: 40,048

The saying goes “everything is big in Texas,” and that’s true at UT Austin—it has the tenth-largest undergraduate enrollment in the U.S.; it’s home to the seventh-largest library in the country (it holds almost 10 million volumes); and its eight-foot, 44-inch wide, 500-pound, near-century-old Big Bertha drum (dubbed “the world’s largest drum”) features prominently at home football games. 

10. University of Georgia

Location: Athens, GA

Acceptance Rate: 48%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1220-1400/27-32

Undergraduate Enrollment: 26,765

Founded in 1785, the University of Georgia is one of the oldest public schools in the nation and the country’s first state-chartered university. Athens is considered one of the best university towns in the U.S. UGA is a “public ivy” – a public university with academics on par with private universities. The Bulldogs compete in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and are well-known for excellent  baseball, basketball, football, track and field teams. 

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