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When it comes to picking a top US university to apply to, you’re unlikely to give much consideration initially to whether a particular institution is privately or publicly funded. Let’s face it: where a university gets its funding is nowhere near as interesting as what the course is like, what the university’s reputation is, how close it is to home and what the campus culture is like. Even so, the private/public debate is worth paying attention to, especially as public universities typically offer lower tuition fees to in-state students.
The case for public universities
Pictured: The University of Washington (ranked 22nd in the US this year)
Yes, that’s right, public universities normally offer lower tuition fees than their private counterparts. As you may already know, this is because some funding for public universities comes from state governments instead of solely from student fees.
Public universities also typically offer a wide choice of majors and are less likely to be specialist institutions. While this isn’t a positive for anyone who already knows the exact field they wish to study in, it might appeal to you if you’re still undecided or just like the idea of studying somewhere that’s academically diverse.
The case for private universities
Pictured: Yale University (ranked eighth in the US this year)
If private universities cost more, why would anyone choose to attend them? Well, the simple answer is that they’re better. Private universities out-perform public universities in ranking tables and enjoy a much stronger reputation academically. Class sizes are also usually smaller, ensuring you’ll have more time to interact with your tutors on a one-on-one basis. The student demographic is potentially also much more varied than at public universities where in-state students make up a considerable majority. Where you live won’t affect your chances of getting into a private university.
Even the argument that public universities will save you money isn’t necessarily true. Many private universities will offer financial support packages to prospective students and will judge application on a needs-blind basis. This means applications are picked on academic merit and students are offered as much financial support as they require.
So where should I study?
Ultimately, this is a decision that’s up to you. Like we said at the start, the distinction between private and public is unlikely to be enough to swing it entirely, but it has an impact on several other key factors. Both types of university have a different type of atmosphere and campus culture, both will offer a slightly different academic experience and both will cost considerably different amounts.
Here's a rundown of the top public and private universities in the US, according to the QS World University Rankings® 2018. As you can see, the top private universities are also the top universities in the world. There are, however, several high-performing public universities that shouldn’t be overlooked, particularly if they’re based in your state.
As Head of Content, Craig is responsible for all articles and guides published across TopUniversities and TopMBA. He has nearly 10 years of experience writing for a student audience and extensive knowledge of universities and study programs around the world.
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Top US Universities in 2018: Public v Private
Craig OCallaghan
Updated Aug 16, 2024Save
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When it comes to picking a top US university to apply to, you’re unlikely to give much consideration initially to whether a particular institution is privately or publicly funded. Let’s face it: where a university gets its funding is nowhere near as interesting as what the course is like, what the university’s reputation is, how close it is to home and what the campus culture is like. Even so, the private/public debate is worth paying attention to, especially as public universities typically offer lower tuition fees to in-state students.
The case for public universities
Pictured: The University of Washington (ranked 22nd in the US this year)
Yes, that’s right, public universities normally offer lower tuition fees than their private counterparts. As you may already know, this is because some funding for public universities comes from state governments instead of solely from student fees.
Public universities also typically offer a wide choice of majors and are less likely to be specialist institutions. While this isn’t a positive for anyone who already knows the exact field they wish to study in, it might appeal to you if you’re still undecided or just like the idea of studying somewhere that’s academically diverse.
The case for private universities
Pictured: Yale University (ranked eighth in the US this year)
If private universities cost more, why would anyone choose to attend them? Well, the simple answer is that they’re better. Private universities out-perform public universities in ranking tables and enjoy a much stronger reputation academically. Class sizes are also usually smaller, ensuring you’ll have more time to interact with your tutors on a one-on-one basis. The student demographic is potentially also much more varied than at public universities where in-state students make up a considerable majority. Where you live won’t affect your chances of getting into a private university.
Even the argument that public universities will save you money isn’t necessarily true. Many private universities will offer financial support packages to prospective students and will judge application on a needs-blind basis. This means applications are picked on academic merit and students are offered as much financial support as they require.
So where should I study?
Ultimately, this is a decision that’s up to you. Like we said at the start, the distinction between private and public is unlikely to be enough to swing it entirely, but it has an impact on several other key factors. Both types of university have a different type of atmosphere and campus culture, both will offer a slightly different academic experience and both will cost considerably different amounts.
Here's a rundown of the top public and private universities in the US, according to the QS World University Rankings® 2018. As you can see, the top private universities are also the top universities in the world. There are, however, several high-performing public universities that shouldn’t be overlooked, particularly if they’re based in your state.
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Top US public universities
University
World ranking
US ranking
1
University of Michigan
=21st
=12th
2
University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
27th
14th
3
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
33rd
16th
4
University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
=38th
17th
5
University of Wisconsin-Madison
55th
21st
6
University of Washington
61st
22nd
7
University of Texas at Austin
67th
23rd
8
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
69th
24th
9
Georgia Institute of Technology
70th
25th
10
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
80th
26th
Top US private universities
University
World ranking
US ranking
1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
1st
1st
2
Stanford University
2nd
2nd
3
Harvard University
3rd
3rd
4
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
4th
4th
5
University of Chicago
9th
5th
6
Princeton University
13th
6th
7
Cornell University
14th
7th
8
Yale University
16th
8th
9
Johns Hopkins University
17th
9th
10
Columbia University
18th
10th
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As Head of Content, Craig is responsible for all articles and guides published across TopUniversities and TopMBA. He has nearly 10 years of experience writing for a student audience and extensive knowledge of universities and study programs around the world.