This article is a complete guide to the 9 best public universities in the USA.
By researching various universities in the USA, I have come to the result that mentions the QS ranking of various universities, acceptance rate, the cost in state and out of state, and rating. This guide will perfectly help you to get the proper insight into the various public universities.
So, let’s get started with the best public universities in the USA.
Top 9 Public Universities In The USA: In A Nutshell (2024)
If you are in a bit of a hurry, you can have a quick review from the following table that mentions the QS world university ranking for each university.
| Sr. No | Top Public Universities in the USA | Location | QS World University Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Michigan State University | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 159 |
| 2. | University of California | Los Angeles, CA | 40 |
| 3. | University of Virginia | Charlottesville, VA | 253 |
| 4. | University of Texas | Austin | 72 |
| 5. | University of Florida | Gainesville, Florida | 188 |
| 6. | Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, Georgia | 80 |
| 7. | University of Washington | Seattle, Washington | 72 |
| 8. | University of California | Berkely | 32 |
| 9. | Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | 129 |
1. Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a huge public university that has an enrollment of more than 38,000 students every year. It ranks at #77 in the edition of best national university colleges.
It is one of the top research institutes in all universities. It offers recognized and ranked undergraduate research, academics, service-learning programs, and suburban college.
It is considered the leader in education among the various public universities. Michigan State University provides more than 200 programs in academics in its 17-degree colleges.
The major studies they provide are on supply chain management, hospitality business, packaging, and communication sciences.
The application fee is $65, and the required GPA is a minimum of 2. And if you are an international student, then you need to clear the TOFEL exam or IELTS exam with the SAT or ACT score.
The acceptance score for the SAT is between 1360 and 1530, and the acceptance score for the is 31 to 35.
| Location | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Acceptance Rate | 76% |
| Overall cost for Out of state | $40,662 |
| Overall cost for in-state | $14,850 |
| Rating | 4.8/5 |
Major Programs Offered:
- Business, marketing, and management.
- Journalism and communication.
- Psychology
- Materials science and engineering.
- Religious studies.
- Music education.
- Biomedical engineering.
- Public relations.
- Computer science.
- Digital storytelling.
- Crop and soil sciences.
- Economic geography.
- African American and African studies programs.
2. University of California – Los Angeles
The University of California Los Angeles, i.e., UCLA, is one of the most popular public universities.
It is a part of the UC system, and it is ranked among the top 10 universities in the world. It is more known for its film, school dentistry, and school of theatre.
The part of the University of California is its selectiveness and also the earned reputation for aiding students in getting the best careers post-graduation.
This university offers more than 125 majors and more than 80- minors i.e, more than 150 graduate programs.
The various degrees range from chemistry, literature, medical, biological engineering, modern languages, media studies, mathematics, psychology, and communication.
UCLA is also well known for its achievements in athletics and various programs. You can prepare for the exams like IELTS, GRE, TOEFL, and GMAT.
| Location | Los Angeles, CA |
| Acceptance Rate | 14% |
| Overall cost for Out of state | $43,022 |
| Overall cost for in-state | $13,268 |
| Rating | 4.8/5 |
Major Programs Offered:
- Computer science.
- Statistics.
- Mathematics.
- Chemical engineering.
- Art studies.
- Communication.
- Languages.
- Psychology.
- Political science and government.
- Anthropology.
- Biochemistry.
- Neuroscience.
- Mechanical engineering.
3. University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is well-known among the best public research universities in the USA.
Admission to the university of Virginia is quite competitive, as it has an acceptance rate of 24%.
The exams accepted by the University of Virginia are ACT, SAT, and language proficiency tests for international students.
The acceptance range for the SAT is 1320- 1510, and for the ACT, the acceptance rate is 30-34.
Along with the SAT and ACT scores, your academic GPA is also considered while screening.
The student-faculty ratio is 7:1. They also offer various online certification programs you can take advantage of.
It is also known for its active and strong athletics department. Moreover, the university maintains the focus on the high academic merit of the student. Also, the universities meet the financial needs of strong students.
So even if you come from a financially unstable background but have all the qualifications that satisfy the requirement of the University of Virginia, then you can easily graduate from the University of Virginia.
| Location | Charlottesville, VA |
| Acceptance Rate | 24% |
| Overall cost for Out of state | $24,726 |
| Overall cost for in-state | $19,698 |
| Rating | 4.6/5 |
Major Programs Offered:
- Economics.
- Liberal arts.
- Management sciences and information systems.
- Biology.
- Psychology.
- English.
- History.
- Systems engineering.
4. University of Texas
The University of Texas is formally known for its research, model programs, and public service.
It has an enrollment of more than 51000 students every year in its various 18 colleges and schools.
It has a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, subject-graduate, and intercollegiate degree programs.
It offers more than 155 undergraduate programs and 139 graduate degree programs.
You need to be perfect with your grades and scores as it is very competitive to get admission into it if you are an out-of-state student.
The SAT range you need is between 1210-1470, and the ACT score you need to achieve is between 26-33.
The student-faculty ratio is 13:1, which is quite good, and the application fee is around $75.
| Location | Austin |
| Acceptance Rate | 32% |
| Overall cost for Out of state | $40,032 |
| Overall cost for in-state | $11,448 |
| Rating | 4.6/5 |
Major Programs Offered:
- Biology
- Information Science
- Liberal Arts and Humanities
- Economics
- Psychology
- Finance
- Electrical Engineering
- Advertising
- Political Science and Government
- Mathematics
5. University of Florida
The University of Florida is one of the most affordable schools among the top public universities in the USA. It has wonderful capped tuition programs that make the university of Florida stand out differently.
Despite its enormous student body, the campus is noted for its sense of camaraderie and close-knit community, which is accentuated by a strong sense of school pride.
Moreover, it has great athletics programs with more than 40 national and international championships in men’s and women’s sports.
The application fee you need to pay is $30. SAT acceptance score is between 1290-1460, and the ACT score you need is between 29-33. Along with these scores, the university also considers the high school GPA during the screening process.
The student-faculty ratio is 11:1. And the best part is they also offer more than 19 online certification programs that you can take advantage of.
| Location | Gainesville, Florida |
| Acceptance Rate | 37% |
| Overall cost for Out of state | $28,658 |
| Overall cost for in-state | $6,380 |
| Rating | 4.7/5 |
Major Programs Offered:
- Biology
- Psychology
- Political Science and Government
- Business
- Mechanical Engineering
- Economics
- Information Science
- Finance
- Public Health
- Exercise Physiology
6. Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Tech, often known as the Georgia Institute of Technology, is well-known for its academic and research programs.
Georgia Tech offers six colleges, including the highly-ranked College of Engineering and Scheller College of Business. The institute is involved in research and undertakes many studies for the government, military, and industry.
The faculty ratio is 12:1, and the application fee is $75. The SAT score you need to achieve is 1370 to 1530 and the ACT score you need is between 31-35 along with the required GPA score.
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Acceptance Rate | 48% |
| Overall cost for Out of state | $31,120 |
| Overall cost for in-state | $12,080 |
| Rating | 4.7/5 |
Major Programs Offered:
- Information Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Business
- Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Computer Hardware Engineering
- Civil Engineering
7. University of Washington
The University of Washington is especially popular for its medical school, computer science, and engineering schools that provide excellent knowledge to students. It is one of the top research universities in the USA.
The huge campus in Seattle has a lot of study places and is surrounded by various activities and programs.
The University of Washington is known for being an intellectually demanding school that attracts outstanding students from all around the world with a wide range of interests.
Despite its vast student body, UW has many little communities to participate in, giving it a more intimate atmosphere. There are also two satellite campuses in Tacoma and Bothell that provide a comparable education at a reduced cost.
The application fee you need to pay is $80, and the SAT range you need to excel in is 1200-1470, as well as the ACT score you need to get admission is between 27-33.
| Location | Seattle, Washington. |
| Acceptance Rate | 56% |
| Overall cost for Out of state | $39,906 |
| Overall cost for in-state | $12,076 |
| Rating | 4.7/5 |
Major Programs Offered:
- Research and Experimental Psychology
- Communications
- Computer Science
- Biology
- Political Science and Government
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Economics
- Finance
- Information Technology
- Public Health
8. University Of California – Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley is widely regarded as one of the world’s best public universities.
The University of California – Berkeley has long been linked with a politically active student body, but they’re also known for having several Nobel laureates on its faculty and several highly regarded programs.
Its faculty members have received 25 Nobel Prizes in disciplines spanning from physics to literature. It is well-known for its high academic standards, diversity, and accessibility to students from all walks of life.
Berkeley is a huge university with a wealth of resources, including a wide range of academic programs to choose from. Forbes presently ranks it as the best college in the United States, public or private.
You will need to pay the application fee of $70. The ACT score you require is 30-35, and the SAT score you need to get admission is between 1310 to 1530.
| Location | Berkely |
| Acceptance Rate | 18% |
| Overall cost for Out of state | $44,115 |
| Overall cost for in-state | $14,361 |
| Rating | 4.6/5 |
Major Programs Offered:
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Cellular Biology
- Political Science and Government
- Electrical Engineering
- Computer and Information Sciences
- Business
- Environmental Science
- Cognitive Science
- Computational and Applied Mathematics
9. Purdue University
Purdue University is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it is famous for its STEM programs and various other areas.
It is ranked in the top 10 Public Universities In the USA by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education in 2022. They are also famous for their elementary education, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine programs.
There are over 100 organizations that offer educational, professional, cultural, and social activities so students can participate in extracurricular activities along with their studies.
It also offers amazing programs so that students can prepare themselves for the competitive job market and outshine personally and academically.
The application fee for Purdue University is $75. To be considered getting admitted to this university, you need to score over 1440 on your SATs and 32 on your ACTs.
| Location | West Lafayette, IN |
| Acceptance Rate | 68.8% |
| Overall cost for Out of State | $28,794 |
| Overall cost for in-state | $9,992 |
| Rating | 4.5/5 |
Major Programs Offered:
- Animation
- Accounting
- Agricultural Education
- Airline Management And Operations
- Cybersecurity
- Biochemistry
- Data Science
- Economic Horrors
- Effects Technical Direction
- Farm Management
- Genetics
- Health and Disease
- Games Development and Design
Helpful Resources For Getting Into Public Universities in the USA
We have compiled a list of helpful resources that you can follow. These will help you to prepare for your admission with the right guidance, tips, and more.
| College Board | Comprehensive resource for college planning | HERE |
| Common App | Streamlined application process for multiple schools | Here |
| Federal Student Aid | Essential for understanding and applying for financial aid | Here |
| College Essay Guy | In-depth guidance on college essays and applications | Here |
Related Read:
Conclusion: Public Universities In The USA (2024)
Wrapping up the article, I have mentioned all the Top Public Universities in the USA. Now it is up to you to select the most suitable one for you.
Do the proper research on the university you are interested in from the above list, apply for the exams that are required, prepare for those exams, consider various factors to apply for that university, and then apply for the university that you are interested in.
Still, if you have any doubts regarding selecting the best suitable university for you, then comment your doubts in the comment section below.
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