The Best Public Colleges

Public colleges and universities rely primarily on public funds, whereas private schools are mainly funded by tuition, donations, and endowment investment. Public schools are much cheaper for in-state residents, and educational investment is, as a rule, repaid quicker than at private universities.  Lower cost does not mean lower quality or earning potential - many of the top earning schools are public. 

Filters
  • National Universities
  • Public Schools
  • Clear all filters
Sort By
Cost
Earnings
Rankings
Ranking methodology

20 of 221

#1 in Public Schools | #5 in National Universities

CUNY City College

New York, New York

Economic score 0.58

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $3,434

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $66,039

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 63%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#2 in Public Schools | #6 in National Universities

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

Economic score 0.69

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $6,275

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $71,588

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 89%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#3 in Public Schools | #10 in National Universities
Economic score 0.90

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,588

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $102,772

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 91%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#4 in Public Schools | #12 in National Universities

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Economic score 0.98

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $6,450

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $61,675

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 84%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#5 in Public Schools | #13 in National Universities
Economic score 1.01

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,371

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $92,446

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 94%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#6 in Public Schools | #17 in National Universities
Economic score 1.22

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,426

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $80,735

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 86%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#7 in Public Schools | #18 in National Universities
Economic score 1.23

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,792

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $83,648

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 93%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#8 in Public Schools | #19 in National Universities
Economic score 1.23

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,414

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $72,200

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 90%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#9 in Public Schools | #21 in National Universities
Economic score 1.29

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,637

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $82,511

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 93%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#10 in Public Schools | #22 in National Universities
Economic score 1.34

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,069

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $84,943

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 89%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#11 in Public Schools | #24 in National Universities
Economic score 1.35

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $11,159

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $71,401

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#12 in Public Schools | #26 in National Universities

University of Washington

Seattle, Washington

Economic score 1.38

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $13,404

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $78,466

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 83%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#13 in Public Schools | #27 in National Universities
Economic score 1.42

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,109

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $81,054

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 87%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#14 in Public Schools | #28 in National Universities
Economic score 1.43

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $7,485

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $62,951

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 80%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#15 in Public Schools | #31 in National Universities
Economic score 1.48

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $13,799

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $82,957

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#16 in Public Schools | #33 in National Universities
Economic score 1.48

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,590

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $82,860

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 85%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#17 in Public Schools | #35 in National Universities
Economic score 1.50

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,674

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $80,838

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 88%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#18 in Public Schools | #37 in National Universities
Economic score 1.53

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,722

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $60,249

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 74%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#19 in Public Schools | #38 in National Universities
Economic score 1.56

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $6,744

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $61,244

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 71%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#20 in Public Schools | #39 in National Universities
Economic score 1.57

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,721

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $64,403

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 83%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

Show more

Explore our other rankings

The top national universities

Set yourself up for success by attending one of the country's best national universities, renowned for academic excellence and research.

2024 Most Affordable Colleges

Save money, reduce student debt, and bank on a more stable financial future by attending an affordable college.

2024 Best Need-Blind Colleges

Need-blind schools admit applicants regardless of their ability to pay and often meet demonstrated financial need with grants, not loans.

2024 Best Test-Optional Colleges in the U.S.

Test blind schools make admissions decisions based on your academic accomplishments and personal experiences rather than standardized test scores.