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  1. Education
  2. Colleges and Universities

This Is the Best College in Every State

By:
Kaitlin Mulhere
Last Updated: Oct 15, 2019 | 19 min read
- Courtesy of Princeton University, Office of Communications; University fo Virginia; University of Florida
Courtesy of Princeton University, Office of Communications; University fo Virginia; University of Florida

Where you live has a big impact on your financial life. That's just as true for where go to college as where you make your career.

The majority of college students attend public institutions not far from their home. In fact, more than half of freshmen at four-year colleges go to a school within 100 miles of where they went to high school, according to an annual survey of freshmen from the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California-Los Angeles.

That's why every year, after digging through pricing data and student outcomes to find the colleges that provide the best value for your tuition dollars, Money reworks our list in a state-by-state order. These are the highest-ranking colleges in every state, with the exception of Alaska and New Mexico. No four-year colleges in those two states made our initial quality screenings of having a higher than average graduation rate.

Alabama - #359 Auburn University

Auburn University - Steven Liveoak—Shutterstock / Steven Liveoak
Auburn University Steven Liveoak—Shutterstock / Steven Liveoak

Engineering is one of the more popular majors at Auburn, and the university boasts an impressive number of alumni who went on to be NASA astronauts (only a couple colleges and the national service academies have more). Auburn's astronauts include Kathryn Thornton, the second American woman to walk in space. Full profile.

Alaska - Not included in our ranking.

Read about our rankings methodology here.

Arizona - #170 University of Arizona

Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium on campus of the University of Arizona. - Richard Cummins—Getty Images
Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium on campus of the University of Arizona. Richard Cummins—Getty Images

Athletics are a big part of campus culture at the University of Arizona, where hardcore sports fans can join the university's ZonaZoo, an official student cheering section which has twice been voted the country's student section of the year. Full profile.

Arkansas - #315 John Brown University

- Courtesy of John Brown University
Courtesy of John Brown University

About 50% of students get merit grants at this small Christian college in northwest Arkansas. The average award is nearly $15,000, according to data from Peterson's. Full profile.

California - #1 University of California-Irvine

- Photographed for Money by Kyle Grillot
Photographed for Money by Kyle Grillot

The first public university to top Money's annual rankings, UC-Irvine is a young school—it was founded in 1965— that has made a name for itself as a respected research institution with a diverse population of students. Money estimates UCI’s graduation rate is about 30% higher than colleges that serve similar students. Full profile.

Colorado - #121 Colorado School of Mines

Colorado School of Mines - Ronald Kem
Colorado School of Mines Ronald Kem

A favorite campus tradition at this small public colleges is E-Days (or Engineering Days), which takes place every spring and includes a cardboard boat race in a Colorado river. Full profile.

Connecticut - #17 Yale University

- Jack Devlin/Courtesy of Yale University
Jack Devlin/Courtesy of Yale University

Thanks in part to its large endowment and resulting generous aid packages, nearly 9 in 10 students at Yale graduate without student debt. Full profile.

Delaware - #69 University of Delaware

University of Delaware - Corey Perrine—Getty Images
University of Delaware Corey Perrine—Getty Images

The University of Delaware places high in Money's rankings in part because of its affordability, coming in at under $100,000 for the net price of a degree. Full profile.

Florida - #21 University of Florida

- Courtesy of University of Florida
Courtesy of University of Florida

The University of Florida is one of the best bargains in higher education. Tuition is about $6,400 a year for Floridians, and 70% of undergraduates get some type of financial aid. Full profile.

Georgia - #27 Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia Institute of Technology–Main Campus - Austin Foote
Georgia Institute of Technology–Main Campus Austin Foote

Recent graduates of Georgia Tech report average salaries of more than $70,000, according to Payscale — that's the highest of any public college in Money's database. Full profile.

Hawaii - #461 University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Hawaii at Manoa - Colin Macdonald
University of Hawaii at Manoa Colin Macdonald

No surprises here: Students say one of the best things about attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa is its location — tropical, lush, and near the beach. They also brag about the friendly, diverse student body. Full profile.

Idaho - #347 University of Idaho

University of Idaho - Joe Pallen UIPhotoServ
University of Idaho Joe Pallen UIPhotoServ

Popular areas of study at the University of Idaho include agriculture, business, engineering, and conservation. Full profile.

Illinois - #20 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - L. Brian Stauffer—UI Public Affairs
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign L. Brian Stauffer—UI Public Affairs

Generations of students at UIUC have rubbed the nose on a campus bust of Abraham Lincoln for good luck before exams. Full profile.

Indiana - #30 University of Notre Dame

Victor Dodig, President and CEO of the CIBC group of companies. - Boardroom Insights, November 4, 2016. - Barbara Johnston—University of Notre Dame
Victor Dodig, President and CEO of the CIBC group of companies. - Boardroom Insights, November 4, 2016. Barbara Johnston—University of Notre Dame

Famous Notre Dame alumni include talk show host Regis Philbin, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, quarterback Joe Montana, and actor Mark Consuelos. Full profile.

Iowa - #108 Iowa State University

Iowa State University of Science and Technology - Jason Jones
Iowa State University of Science and Technology Jason Jones

Iowa State stands out for its comparatively low price of a degree. At an estimated $70,700 cost for in-state students, it's one of the most affordable state schools in Money's rankings. Full profile.

Kansas - #308 Kansas State University

Kansas State University - David Mayes—Kansas State University Communic
Kansas State University David Mayes—Kansas State University Communic

Kansas State's Landon Lecture Series is one of the country's most well-known, having welcomed multiple U.S. presidents, cabinet secretaries, Supreme Court justices, and foreign leaders. Full profile.

Kentucky - #175 Berea College

Berea College - O'Neil Arnold
Berea College O'Neil Arnold

Berea doesn't charge tuition — all students work a minimum of 10 hours a week to help pay their way. And the college awards grants and scholarships to students who need help covering room and board. At the end of their college careers, students leave with a labor transcript along with a degree. Full profile.

Louisiana - #316 Louisiana State University

Landscape Architecture class, Louisiana State University - Jim Zietz—LSU Strategic Communications
Landscape Architecture class, Louisiana State University Jim Zietz—LSU Strategic Communications

School pride is serious at LSU. The university's mascot, Mike the Tiger, is a live tiger donated from a rescue facility. He lives in a habitat on campus that includes a 14,000-square-foot yard. Full profile.

Maine - #38 Bates College

Bates College - Courtesy of Bates College
Bates College Courtesy of Bates College

A small liberal arts college, Bates boasts a graduation rate that Money estimates is about 25% better than expected based on students with similar test scores and economic backgrounds. Full profile.

Maryland - #43 University of Maryland-College Park

- Courtesy of University of Maryland-College Park
Courtesy of University of Maryland-College Park

The University of Maryland-College Park is the state's flagship university and a well-regarded research institution. Notable alumni include writer-actor Larry David, journalist Gayle King, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, and Muppets creator Jim Henson. Full profile.

Massachusetts - #7 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

- Courtesy of Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Courtesy of Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT attracts some of the world's brightest minds to its classrooms and research labs. Members of the MIT community have won a combined 90 Nobel Prizes, and there are 10 Nobel laureates currently on faculty or staff. Full profile.

Michigan - #8 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

- Courtesy of University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Courtesy of University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan is one of the country's premiere public institutions, and that helps explain why it draws undergraduates from all over. Just over half of students are from Michigan and about 40% are out-of-staters. Full profile.

Minnesota - #84 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

- Doug Dibble
Doug Dibble

The University of Minnesota prides itself on its reputation for research. One of its more fun claims to fame is developing the Honeycrisp apple, along with several other apple varieties. Full profile.

Mississippi - #326 William Carey University

- Courtesy of William Carey University
Courtesy of William Carey University

The most popular programs of study at this private Christian college include biology, business, elementary education, and psychology. Full profile.

Missouri - #82 Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University in Saint Louis - James Byard—WUSTL Photos
Washington University in Saint Louis James Byard—WUSTL Photos

Academics are rigorous at this private research university. Students say that As are elusive and competition fierce. The hard work pays off: Recent grads report salaries that are slightly higher than universities that offer a similar mix of academic programs. Full profile.

Montana - #496 Carroll College

Carroll College - courtesy of Carroll College
Carroll College courtesy of Carroll College

Nine in 10 students get grants to help bring down the price of attending this private Catholic college. The average merit grant is about $14,000. Full profile.

Nebraska - #384 University of Nebraska at Kearney

University of Nebraska at Kearney - YouTube
University of Nebraska at Kearney YouTube

The Kearney branch of the University of Nebraska system barely edged out the better-known University of Nebraska at Lincoln for this spot. Part of the reason: UNK has a graduation rate that's 7% higher than schools who enroll students from similar backgrounds. Full profile.

Nevada - #520 University of Nevada-Reno

University of Nevada-Reno - Jeff Dow
University of Nevada-Reno Jeff Dow

Among UNR's well-known colleges is its Reynolds School of Journalism, which has produced multiple Pulitzer Prize winners. The university's independent student newspaper, The Nevada Sagebrush, has also garnered national awards. Full profile.

New Hampshire - #95 Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College - Courtesy of Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College Courtesy of Dartmouth College

Greek life and outdoor recreation are popular at this Ivy League campus. About half of students join a fraternity or sorority, and the college's Outing Club is the oldest such group in the country. Full profile.

New Jersey - #3 Princeton University

- Princeton University, Office of Communications
Princeton University, Office of Communications

At 97%, Princeton's graduation rate is tied with Yale's for the highest in the country. Full profile.

New Mexico - Not included in our ranking.

Read about our rankings methodology here.

New York - #2 CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College

- Photographed for Money by Jennifer Lavelle.
Photographed for Money by Jennifer Lavelle.

Baruch stands out for its affordability and accessibility. About 45% of students are considered low-income, and the college has one of the country's highest scores for socioeconomic mobility. Full profile.

North Carolina - #19 Duke University

Duke University - EQRoy—Shutterstock / EQRoy
Duke University EQRoy—Shutterstock / EQRoy

Popular majors at Duke include computer science, economics, and public policy, and about half of students work on research projects alongside faculty members. Full profile.

North Dakota - #253 North Dakota State University

North Dakota State University - Dan Koeck
North Dakota State University Dan Koeck

True to its land-grant heritage, agriculture and animal sciences remain two of the most popular academic programs at North Dakota State, alongside business, nursing, and engineering. Full profile.

Ohio - #152 Ohio State University

- Viktor Posnov / Getty Images
Viktor Posnov / Getty Images

One of the biggest universities in the nation as well as one of the proudest, Ohio State has about 45,000 undergraduate students. Sports is a huge part of campus culture, particularly cheering on the Buckeyes football players. Full profile.

Oklahoma - #293 Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State University - Ken Wolter—Shutterstock / Ken Wolter
Oklahoma State University Ken Wolter—Shutterstock / Ken Wolter

OSU says its annual homecoming celebrations are one-of-a-kind. Founded back in 1913 as a small harvest festival, today the event draws in tens of thousands of alumni from around the country. Full profile.

Oregon - #219 University of Portland

University of Portland - Adam Guggenheim—Courtesy of th
University of Portland Adam Guggenheim—Courtesy of th

Located on a bluff that overlooks the Willamette River on the outskirts of the city, the University of Portland doesn't feel like an urban campus but it still offers all the advantages of one. Full profile.

Pennsylvania - #32 University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania - Courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania Courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania

Penn diplomas are valued on the job market: Recent graduates report earning an average $70,100 within three years, about 9% higher than peers from similar schools. Full profile.

Rhode Island - #72 Brown University

Brown University - Mike Cohea—Brown University
Brown University Mike Cohea—Brown University

Brown gives students ample academic freedom. As long as students take two required writing classes, they can choose whatever courses they like and can design their own concentrations. Full profile.

South Carolina - #78 Clemson University

Clemson University - Courtesy of Clemson University
Clemson University Courtesy of Clemson University

You might know of Clemson thanks to its recent dominance in college football, but the university can also claim some impressive academic stats. Its graduation rate is nearly 10% higher than colleges that enroll students with similar test scores and income levels. Full profile.

South Dakota - #410 South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University - Jacob Boomsma—Shutterstock / Jacob Boomsma
South Dakota State University Jacob Boomsma—Shutterstock / Jacob Boomsma

One of the oldest and largest universities in the state, South Dakota State University offers more than 80 majors, with popular ones including agriculture, wildlife management, economics, and pharmacy. Full profile.

Tennessee - #15 Vanderbilt

- John Russell/Vanderbilt University
John Russell/Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt has a world-class medical school, and its pre-med undergrads receive advising, research opportunities, and other assistance, leading to a strong medical school acceptance rate. Full profile.

Texas - #18 Texas A&M University-College Station

- Courtesy of Texas A&M
Courtesy of Texas A&M

Athletics is a vibrant element of campus culture here. Many students participate in team and club sports, and Aggies football fans have long called themselves "the 12th Man" to symbolize their readiness to jump onto the football field if needed. Full profile.

Utah - #147 Brigham Young University

- Courtesy of Brigham Young University
Courtesy of Brigham Young University

BYU-Provo is the main campus of a private college system that specializes in educating members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It stands out in Money's rankings for a competitive price — the estimated net price of a degree at BYU is less than $90,000. Full profile.

Vermont - #172 University of Vermont

University of Vermont - Sally McCay
University of Vermont Sally McCay

If you enjoy winter, the University of Vermont's location is hard to beat: The campus is in the charming city of Burlington, near the Green Mountains and with views of Lake Champlain. One in four Burlington residents is college-aged, thanks largely to UVM and nearby Champlain College. Full profile.

- Courtesy of University of Virginia
Courtesy of University of Virginia

Virginia - #10 University of Virginia

Known as a "public Ivy," the University of Virginia's impressive 95% graduation rate is on par with the actual Ivy League institutions. Full profile.

Washington - #22 University of Washington-Seattle

Students walk between classes near blooming cherry trees on the University of Washington campus, in Seattle. - 03 Apr 2019 - Ted S Warren/AP/Shutterstock—
Students walk between classes near blooming cherry trees on the University of Washington campus, in Seattle. - 03 Apr 2019 Ted S Warren/AP/Shutterstock—

UW has made a name for itself as a leading research institution. Because of its proximity to Boeing's manufacturing facilities, the school has a particular expertise in aeronautics. But that's not all, its Seattle location helps it maintain close ties with many software and technology firms including Amazon and Microsoft. Full profile.

West Virginia - #493 West Virginia University

West Virginia University - Courtesy of West Virginia University
West Virginia University Courtesy of West Virginia University

A few years after the discovery of DNA analysis, WVU launched a forensic science program as part of a small partnership with the FBI. Today, it's the only university in the country offering a bachelor of science, master of science and PhD in forensic science. Full profile.

Wisconsin - #46 University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-Madison - Bryce Richter—U of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wisconsin-Madison Bryce Richter—U of Wisconsin-Madison

Students at UW-Madison have more than 9,000 courses and 230 academic programs to choose from, plus hundreds of clubs and an active athletics program to keep them busy. Even as its made a name for itself as one of the top public colleges in the country, UW-Madison still admits more than half of applicants. Full profile.

Wyoming - #331 University of Wyoming

"Wyoming Cowboy" statue, outside of the Gateway Center. - Ted Brummond—UW Photo Service
"Wyoming Cowboy" statue, outside of the Gateway Center. Ted Brummond—UW Photo Service

Along with the typical lecture halls, labs, and dormitories, the University of Wyoming's campus is home to multiple museums, including the American Heritage Center and UW Geological Museum, as well as Prexy's Pasture, a grassy, quad-like park, protected by state law from being built on. Full profile.

This post has been updated to replace the photo under Oklahoma, which originally displayed a photo of the University of Oklahoma instead of Oklahoma State University.

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