The Best Public Colleges: US News And World Report

Want to go to college in your state but don't want to break the bank? You might want to check out your local state college. (Although, you still might have to break the bank, actually. Tuition at public colleges is continually on the rise.)

US News and World Report recently ranked the top 10 public colleges. These schools exemplify the best of state-funded education.

Check out our slide show of the top 10 public colleges. Then tell us, what do you think of this list? Weigh in below!

Loading Slideshow

• 1. University of California, Berkeley

  Berkeley, CA

• 2. University of California, Los Angeles

  Los Angeles, CA

• 2. University of Virginia

  Charlottesville, VA

• 4. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  Ann Arbor, MI

• 5. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  Chapel Hill, NC

• 6. College of William and Mary

  Williamsburg, VA

• 7. Georgia Institute of Technology

  Atlanta, GA

• 8. University of California--Davis

  Davis, CA

• 8. University of California, San Diego

  La Jolla, CA

• 10. University of California--Santa Barbara

  Santa Barbara, CA

• 10. University of Wisconsin, Madison

  Madison, WI

From our partners

• 25 Signs You're A Hot Mess | Thought Catalog - thoughtcatalog.com

Comments

[LATEACHER1X]

01:09 PM on 10/20/2012

Too bad few Californians can afford these fine institutions. Vote yes on Prop. 30.

[Black Rhino]

02:23 PM on 10/22/2012

Tuition is $12,000/year...it's quite reasonable.

No on 30.

[Brake the Paradigm]

09:12 AM on 10/20/2012

The public is welcome to an education
This training must begin at an early age, minds must be standardized so the public can be easily influenced and anticipated, particular personalities must be created that are desired for the given culture. Mankind, it is understood, is extremely malleable.
GT

[Brianmgoff]

02:38 PM on 10/19/2012

Anyone see the University of Mich? Was that the best pic they could find?

[Black Rhino]

02:23 PM on 10/22/2012

I was in ann arbor recently...that place is horrible. No diversity, cold, dead, and part of a dying state.

[brettrobbins]

08:37 PM on 10/18/2012

UC system represent.

[realpragmatist]

07:30 PM on 10/18/2012

My kid going to Berkeley handles this with equanimity like he has been handling sorrow and joy all his life (he is 19), but as a parent I am so proud of Cal being number 1 on this list, again...and again.

[JohnMavis41]

07:15 PM on 10/18/2012

They should do list of Colleges least like their college catalogs

[dexter2323]

02:32 PM on 10/18/2012

Not shocking since California public universities outlawed Affirmative Action years ago.

[sewingds]

08:24 AM on 10/19/2012

hoping Texas will do the same. We shall see what the Supreme Court decides soon, hopefully. Here if your graduate in top 8% of your class, no matter what classes you have taken or what your GPA is you get an automatic in. Which means someone from a lower performing school with a GPA of 92 an no AP classes can get in, but a student taking 3 or 4 AP classes from a higher performing school with a GPA of 96 may not get in their freshman year. What happens is the student from the lower performing school with no AP classes then drops out of UT, and with student loans to pay back.

[whitequeen96]

12:07 PM on 10/18/2012

Wow, 5 out of the top 10 are in California! Makes me proud.

[chasmader]

11:28 AM on 10/18/2012

I spent the best four years of my life (82-86) at UCSB

[yummypumpkin]

10:01 AM on 10/18/2012

Go Bears!

[hagagaga]

09:36 AM on 10/18/2012

As a Virginian, I can tell you that UVA isn't as good as its reputation suggest. Its main thing is the connections that you can make.

[Fourcents]

08:58 AM on 10/18/2012

Lots of things effect the preferences of US readers for these and other schools. The "Key" word for my comment is "elitist".

Certainly not all but ever notice how often conservatives refer to various schools as elitist? Berkeley is high on that list. If your educated you likely know Berkeley has the most (near the most?) Nobel Laureates. Nothing makes the hard right more NUTS than Nobel prizes, LOL

As soon as I saw this list i thought of many times when some Republican knuckle dragger went off on "junk science" and elitist schools often followed by some quote from their Bible. I guess if you conservative you need those people to win the votes. Should that trouble you Republicans? How can an educated person feel comfortable with the many Republicans who are one irrational idea from being institutionalized?

Glad for high school students taking the lay of the land able to read about some possible choices but is it strange that this list also could list the schools hated most by one large branch of Republicans. Information and knowledge like schools and media are often the focus of complaints by a group Republicans the Party can't get along without?

We progressives have our prejudices too. They are the power groups that attract conservatives so much like the miliary and the high courts. Just ask for a show of hands for SCOTUS & you an hear One Hand Clapping, LOL

[Profwanda]

09:27 AM on 10/18/2012

If you're educated, you know better than to confuse your and you're. Aside from that, I agree with your sentiment.

[Fourcents]

10:00 AM on 10/18/2012

And my spelling is worse. That is what editors are for? You remind me of my wife but you did not miss the forest for the trees.

Fortunately my professional license was not based on spelling or punctuation. Your're a teacher? ..............that explains it, LOL ...........and the point of my comment was in support of you? Now you make me laugh.

[brettrobbins]

08:41 PM on 10/18/2012

I used to correct people's grammar on Huff Post until reading your comment just now has made me realize how annoying it is. Thanks for curing me.

[karim1]

07:40 AM on 10/18/2012

If you've noticed, these public schools are in well-off areas with high taxes. www.firebrandcentral.com

[maigoro]

07:27 AM on 10/18/2012

I am glad GA Tech was on there. Awesome school - I am hoping my son will go to it one day.

[writersbloc]

05:06 AM on 10/18/2012

Maybe next time UC Irvine. And did I miss University of Chicago?

[Marmaine]

07:58 AM on 10/18/2012

Last time I checked U of Chicago was a private school

[writersbloc]

03:31 PM on 10/18/2012

it is? oh. never mind.

[BrwnSknGurl4]

09:50 AM on 10/18/2012

It's private.

[writersbloc]

03:32 PM on 10/18/2012

yeah i know now :p