These 25 public schools, eight in California, give the private elites a run for their money. Their students have strong academic outcomes, high salaries and less debt.
Aspublic universities brace for the impact of slashed research funding and future enrollment declines, they’re still doing the bulk of the work of educating America’s students, and doing it at a lower price than their private counterparts. Last spring, 5.3 million students were studying for their bachelor’s degrees at four-year public colleges, more than twice the 2.4 million studying for a bachelor’s at private, nonprofit colleges, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center estimates. During the 2024-25 academic year, state public universities charged an average sticker price of $11,610 in tuition and fees for in-state undergraduates and $30,780 for out-of-staters, compared with the $43,350 tuition and fees sticker price at private nonprofits, according to data from the College Board. After grant aid, food, dorms and the rest are taken into account, in-state public college undergraduates had an average net cost of attendance of $20,780, compared to an average net cost of $36,150 at private not-for-profit colleges. (Keep in mind, however, that in some cases, depending on family income and the wealth and generosity of an institution, a private college can end up being cheaper. )
Ivy League and other elite private universities have grabbed the most headlines as the President Donald Trump’s Administration has frozen their research grants, launched myriad investigations and sought changes to policies his administration considers too woke.
While it may not get the attention Trump’s war on Harvard does, top state universities have themselves become Trump targets. For example, the Department of Education’s Office of General Counsel is investigating the University of California-Berkeley (at #5, it’s the highest-ranking public school on Forbes’ top 500 list) for its partnership with China’s Tsinghua University, alleging that university officials didn’t disclose funding from foreign sources. The Trump administration has also suspended $584 million in research grants at the University of California-Los Angeles (#15) over claims it failed to combat antisemitism and allowed transgender athletes to compete in sports and has demanded a $1 billion settlement from the school. Former University of Virginia (#34) President James Ryan stepped down in June amid intense political pressure over the university’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies. George Mason University (#114) President Gregory Washington has faced similar scrutiny, but remains in office (and just had his contract renewed by the university’s Board of Visitors).
Indeed, public universities are navigating a complex set of challenges, from federal and state political pressure and funding cutbacks to the coming demographic cliff, as the number of high school graduates declines steadily over the next decade. Financial pressures from shifts in higher education enrollment have already led multiple states to merge or shut down campuses in their public university systems. For example, Penn State University (whose main campus ranked #338) announced plans in May to close seven branch campuses after the 2026-27 academic year, and the University System of Georgia approved a plan in April for Georgia Southern University (#448) to absorb East Georgia State College. Public college systems must also navigate cuts in federal loans for graduate students that were passed by the Republican Congress in July and kick in next year.
Through it all, state universities continue to have plenty of appeal. Beyond the low tuition, students flock to their state universities for their urban campuses, D1 sports programs and massive, loyal alumni networks, to name just a few public school draws.
But not all public colleges are created equal. As part of our annual Forbes Top Colleges list, we identified the 25 public universities that rise above the rest. To determine our top 25, we measured public schools against each other using the same ranking methodology we use to determine the top 500—a formula that prioritizes high alumni salaries, great academic outcomes (including for low-income students) and strong returns on students’ investment. About 25% of students at this year’s top 25 public colleges took out federal loans, and about 22.5% received Pell grants for those from lower income families.
All federal data is from the 2023-24 academic year, the latest made available by the Department of Education. The following 25 schools educated a combined 749,310 undergraduates and are spread across 14 states, with nine colleges on the West Coast, four in the Midwest, 10 in the South and two in the Northeast. Here’s a closer look at Forbes’ top 25 public colleges.
The University of California-Berkeley earned the top spot for public colleges again this year, ranking fifth overall on Forbes’ top 500 schools. Graduates earn a median income of $90,900 after three years, which rises to $170,100 20 years out—the highest median salary of the top 25 publics. The urban campus, which enrolled 34,306 undergraduates in 2023, attracts students for its social sciences, computer and information sciences and engineering majors. More than 500 UC Berkeley graduates went on to earn a PhD within the past three years, the highest number of any public college on the top 25 list.
The University of California-Los Angeles is a massive draw—it received 145,058 applications (the most in the nation) and admitted 13,660 students for its fall 2025 freshman class, for an acceptance rate of 9.4%. Almost two thirds of those admitted were California residents. The university offers more than 130 undergraduate majors and 90 graduate programs, with popular majors including social sciences, biological and biomedical sciences, psychology and mathematics. Graduates earn $149,200, 20 years out.
At the University of California-San Diego, 33% of undergraduates are Pell grant recipients, the second-highest percentage of the top 25 public colleges. The southernmost of the University of California’s campuses, the school enrolled 34,808 undergraduates in 2023, about the same as UC Berkeley and UCLA. Students earn a median income of $82,100 three years after graduating, and $156,000 20 years out. On the main campus’ 1,200 acres of coastal woodland, the university boasts undergraduate research opportunities across programs, including oceanography, biology and computer science.
Michigan’s oldest higher education institution has an 18% acceptance rate and undergraduate enrollment of 33,921. It earned a spot on Forbes’ Public New Ivies list again this year, and has a 15:1 student to faculty ratio. Some of its most popular majors include computer and information sciences, business administration and economics. Graduates earn a median salary of $83,100 three years after graduating, which rises to $142,100 20 years out.
With an undergraduate population of 38,113, popular majors at the University of Florida include psychology, biology and business. Tuition and fees are significantly more expensive for out-of-state undergrads compared to in-state, sitting at $30,900 and $6,380, respectively. Situated on 2,000 acres in Gainesville, Florida, the campus is roughly midway between the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Graduates are earning a median of $127,500, 20 years out.
Thirty-seven percent of University of California-Irvine graduates receive Pell grants for lower income students, the highest percentage at any of Forbes’ top 25 public colleges. These recipients have an 84% six-year graduation rate, compared to 86% for all students. In-state tuition and fees sat at $14,737 for the 2024-25 academic year, compared to $46,626 for out-of-state. The university reported that 42% of students who received a bachelor’s degree this year were first-generation college students. Graduates earn a median of $76,900 three years out, which rises to $152,200, 20 years out.
Three years after graduating, students from the Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus earn the highest median income out of the top 25 public colleges — $92,900 — which rises to $168,000 20 years out. A little over 20% of students take out federal loans, and they graduate with the highest median debt on the list, at $20,000. Some 14% of undergraduates receive Pell grants. Located in the heart of Atlanta, the school is known for its strong engineering, computer science, architecture and business programs, and earned a spot on Forbes’ New Ivies list. You can read more about how Georgia Tech puts job placements over exclusivity here.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,214. In accordance with North Carolina state law, at least 82% of incoming first-year students at UNC System schools must be in-state. The university also made Forbes’ New Ivies list again this year. Situated on 729 acres, the suburban campus offers strong programs in biology, media and journalism, psychology and business administration. Graduates earn a median of $71,300 three years out, and $121,900, 20 years out.
The University of Virginia-Main Campus is recognized for its beautiful campus, designed by Thomas Jefferson, and strong D1 athletics — including its Women’s Swimming & Diving team, which has won five consecutive NCAA championships since 2021. It has the highest six-year graduation rate for all students out of the top 25 public universities, at 95%. Students come to UVA for its strong business, engineering and liberal arts programs, earning a median income of $82,300 three years out and $153,900 after 20 years.
The University of Maryland-College Park’s estimated total cost of attendance for in-state undergraduates this upcoming academic year is $32,408, compared to $62,374 for out-of-staters. About 76% of the university’s 32,557 undergraduates are in-state. The university boasts 107 bachelors degree programs, 120 masters programs and 84 doctoral degrees. Popular majors include computer science, information science, biology, psychology and public health. Median earnings three years out are $79,100.
Honored as another one of Forbes’ Public New Ivies, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has an economically diverse student body, with 24% receiving Pell grants. The university is a founding member of the Big Ten Conference, and its students are highly spirited about its football and basketball programs. Common majors include engineering, business, management and marketing, and students earn a median income of $80,200 three years out, which rises to $144,200 after 20 years.
One of the few colleges that own a beach property, University of California-Santa Barbara’s 25,091 undergraduate students can enjoy the setting while studying in popular programs like psychology, economics, communication, sociology and biological sciences. Undergraduate in-state tuition sat at $14,965 for the 2023-24 academic year, compared to $45,742 for out-of-staters. Twenty-eight percent of undergraduates received Pell grants, down slightly from 30 percent the previous year.
At the University of California-Davis, students graduate with a median of $11,000 in debt — the lowest of Forbes’ top 25 public colleges. It’s the University of California system’s northernmost campus and known for its agriculture, biological sciences and veterinary medicine programs. The Aggie Pack, its student-run spirit group, drives up campus enthusiasm for the university’s D1 sports teams, including women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer and men’s and women’s tennis. Graduates earn a median of $79,000 three years out.
The University of Texas at Austin, named one of Forbes’ New Public Ivies, enrolls about 10% of its students from out-of-state, with a total undergraduate enrollment of 43,718. The school’s in-state tuition and fees sit at $11,678, compared to $42,778 for out-of-state. About 29 percent of students take out federal loans, with 25 percent of undergraduates awarded Pell grants. While popular majors include engineering, business, management and marketing, the school also attracts students to its Moody College of Communication and the LBJ School of Public Affairs.
Just a little over 18% of undergraduates take out federal loans at the University of Washington-Seattle Campus, and those students graduate with a median of $12,375 in debt — on the lower end compared to the other top public colleges. Undergraduates can choose from more than 180 majors, with popular choices including computer science, health sciences and engineering on this 700 acre campus. Grads earn a median income of $80,100 after three years, which rises to $139,900 after 20 years.
As the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System, the University of Wisconsin-Madison had an undergraduate enrollment of 39,256 in 2023. Students graduate with a median debt of $18,058, on the high end compared to the other top 25 public universities. The school is recognized as one of the 10 largest research institutions in the country, and boasts allocating more than $1 billion a year to research across disciplines.
Located outside of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is the oldest of the polytech universities in the California State University system. Its acceptance rate sits just below 30%. Graduates earn a median salary of $83,200 three years after graduating, which jumps to $153,100 at 20 years. Situated about ten minutes from the Pacific Ocean, this campus’ popular majors include engineering and agricultural, animal, plant and veterinary science.
The University of Georgia, which attracts many students with its successful football program and top-notch Sanford Stadium, enrolled 33,422 undergraduates in 2023. Situated on 767 acres about 70 miles northeast of Atlanta, the campus’ popular undergraduate majors include biology, finance, computer science and mechanical engineering. The university has an 87% six-year graduation rate for all students, and 83% for the 17% of undergraduates who receive Pell grants.
William & Mary, another one of Forbes’ New Public Ivies, has the lowest undergraduate population out of our top 25 public colleges, enrolling just 7,359 students. It’s home to the oldest Greek life organizations, and known among students for its various traditions, including the Charter Day celebration, the Candlelight Ceremony and the Yule Log ceremony. Its acceptance rate sits at just above 32%, with in-state tuition at $19,178, compared to $44,876 for out-of-staters.
Texas A & M University-College Station has the highest undergraduate population out of the top 25 public colleges, enrolling 60,118 undergraduates. Students graduate with a median debt of $15,000 for the 28% who take out federal loans. Texas’ first public higher education institution attracts students to its campus for its military science, agriculture and engineering programs. After graduating from the main campus, students make a median income of $74,600 after three years, and $143,500 after 20 years.
Purdue University’s 2,468 acres main campus enrolled 41,678 students in 2023. One of Forbes’ New Public Ivies, the school has a 6-year graduation rate of 74% for all students and 70% for Pell grant recipients — low compared to the other 25 public colleges on the list. Popular majors include computer hardware engineering and research and experimental psychology.
The last of the eight California public colleges on the list, University of California-Santa Cruz enrolled just 18,997 undergraduates in 2023, on the smaller size for this list. Its acceptance rate is just under 63%, making it comparatively easier to get into than the other California publics on the list. It’s also comparatively accessible to lower income students, with 32% of students receiving Pell grants, one of the highest percentages out of the schools on the list. Popular majors include computer science, psychology, business and managerial economics and sociology.
As the largest university in the Carolinas, North Carolina State University at Raleigh enrolled 28,867 undergraduates in 2023. Students graduate with a median debt of $17,320, with about 40% taking out federal loans. Many students are attracted to the university for its engineering, design and architecture programs. Graduates earn a median income of $73,200 after three years, and $132,600 after 20 years.
At Binghamton University, about 48% of students take out federal loans, the highest percentage out of the top 25 public colleges. New to the list this year, the school’s acceptance rate is just above 37% and in-state undergraduate tuition sits at $10,363, compared to $29,453 for out-of-state. The school is recognized for its research offerings, including into topics like clean energy and battery technology. Read about why smart kids and their cost-conscious parents flock to SUNY-Binghamton here.
Rutgers University’s oldest campus, New Brunswick’s undergraduate enrollment sat at 40,978 in 2023 and students graduated with a median debt of $19,000 — one of the highest out of the top 25 public colleges. Almost 40% of students took out federal loans, with 27% of students awarded Pell grants. Rutgers’ D-1 football team competes in the Big Ten Conference, and the campus is known for being the location of the first intercollegiate football game in 1869.
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