Top 15 Public Universities in the USA

The USA is one of the countries that witnesses many international students coming in to pursue their higher studies. Many students from across the globe wish to study in the USA to gain better opportunities for a permissible future. As per the U.S. News and World Report, approximately half of the best global universities are situated in the USA. 

The USA has a set of top-ranking, reputable institutions across all disciplines. Each public university in the USA has something special to offer, like first-class education, faculty, affordable tuition, scholarships, work-study programs, placements, and various student outreach programs.

Through this blog, you will get an insight into the Top 15 Public Universities in the USA, across all disciplines.

1. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

UCLA is a prestigious public university founded in 1881 in Los Angeles, California. As per the QS World University Rankings in 2025, it is in the 42nd position. The UCLA acceptance rate is only 9% creating an intense competition amongst students to grab a seat at the university. It has a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. A student needs to have a minimum SAT score of 1290.

The university focuses a lot on students involved in research, for which it awards nearly $1 billion in competitive research grants and contracts annually. Its School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) is quite well known. Popular Programs offered at UCLA are Economics, Sociology, Political Science and Government, Film and Television, and Psychology.

It has been seen that the UCLA alumni have gone on to have a starting salary of $44,500. Also, it is known for producing an alumnus who has won 16 Nobel Laureates, 15 MacArthur Fellows, 120 NCAA champions, and more Olympic medals than many countries, showcasing its academic and athletic prowess.

UCLA only offers scholarships to permanent citizens and residents of the USA and not to international students. International students must prove that they have enough financial backing to study in the US for the duration of their course.

Tuition Fee– $64,858

Academic Calendar– Starts in mid-August and ends in mid-May

University website– https://www.ucla.edu/

2. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Situated in Ann Arbor of the Detroit area and built in 1817, Michigan University is a historic and recognized public university. It is one of the earliest American research universities and a founding member of the Association of American Universities. It is amongst the 15 schools which are called the “Public Ivies”. 

It is in the 3rd position as per the US News list of Best Public Universities in the USA for 2024. Its student-faculty ratio is 15:1. The university’s acceptance rate is only 18%, making it quite tough for students to get in. You need to have a SAT score between 1350-1530 to be a student here.

One of its most reputed courses is the Ross Bachelor of Business Administration. Other known courses are Information Science, Management, Economics, Business Administration, Psychology, Biomedical, and Nursing.

Apart from this, the University of Michigan’s football team, known as the ‘Michigan Wolverines’ is very famous. 

Based on the GPA obtained by a foreign student, the scholarships are given by the Michigan University. There is an Undergrad International Student Scholarship of $10,000 annually for students with a 3.5-3.99 GPA or you can avail of the Non-Resident Scholarship of $5,000 for students with a 3.00-3.24 GPA. 

Tuition Fee– $78,329

Academic Calendar– Starts in the fall during late August and ends during the summer of mid-August next year.

University website– https://umich.edu/

3. University of Virginia (UVA), Charlottesville

The UVA, a public research university is located in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was founded by Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd US President in 1819. It is one of the universities which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its oldest schools are the School of Law and the School of Medicine. It is ranked 1st in the Best Public College for Financial Aid as per the Princeton Review, 2024.

The UVA acceptance rate is 19% creating tough competition among students to get into the university. Its student-faculty ratio is 14:1. You need to obtain an SAT score between 1410-1530.

The McIntire School of Commerce at UVA is one of the most well-known undergraduate business schools in the US. A special course offered at UVA is the Youth and Social Innovation Major which focuses on the biological, social, emotional, and cognitive development of young minds. Other popular programs are Liberal Arts and Humanities, Economics, Business, International Relations, Biology, Criminal Justice and Safety Studies,

It has produced over 55 Rhodes Scholars. It is popular for its NCAA Division I Athletics Program. The UVA alumni is known to earn a starting salary of $50,300. 

To name a few, some of the scholarships offered for foreign students at UVA are: 

• Darden Merit Scholarships for meritorious students at the Darden School of Business.
• Boren Scholarship and Fellowship of up to $24,000 for studying foreign languages that are less commonly taught in the US. 

Tuition Fee– $78,650

Academic Calendar– Late August to Early May

University website– https://www.virginia.edu/

4. Georgia Institute of Technology

The Georgia Institute of Technology was founded in 1885 as a public research university and technology institute. It is located in Atlanta, Georgia, US. It is a part of the university system of Georgia. In the QS World University Rankings of 2025, it is ranked at the 114th position. With an acceptance rate of 21.5%, it has a competitive admission process. Its student-faculty ratio is 22:1. A student must have a SAT score between 1330-1530, to study here.

It has one of the leading engineering and computing colleges in the world. It is popular for its STEM-focused education programs. Popular courses are Computer and Information Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, and Industrial Engineering.

The university is also a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Apart from this, it also has eight men’s and women’s sports teams which are a part of the NCAA Division I athletics and have won five national championships. International students aren’t eligible for any scholarship by the Georgia Institute of Technology. They need to furnish financial information regarding their tuition, accommodation, daily living expense.

Tuition Fee– $52,180

Academic Calendar– Depending upon your program, usually the academic year starts from mid-January to mid-August or from mid-January to mid-May. 

University website– https://www.gatech.edu/

5. University of Florida

It was founded in 1853 and is a highly-rated public university located in Gainesville, Florida. As per the student population, it is the 3rd largest Florida University and the 5th largest single-campus university in the US. It is ranked at the 4th position, as per Forbes in the category of Public universities. 

With an acceptance rate of 23%, students find it difficult to get admission to this university. It has a student-faculty ratio of 16:1. Your SAT score should be between 1330-1480, to be able to seek admission here. 

Its campus includes the 1st Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum-certified building. The most well-known courses here are Psychology, Biology and Business. University of Florida’s alumni are known to have a starting salary of $42,600. 

Some of the scholarships for which international students can apply are:

• Presidential Scholarships are offered to low-income students.
• The Student Government Fall International Scholarship for an amount of $500.
• The Sones Scholarship: A student with a minimum of 2.5 GPA is eligible for this scholarship of  $5,000 per semester and up to $2,500 for the summer program.

Tuition Fee– $45,428

Academic Calendar–

a) Fall semester- mid-August to Early Jan

b) Spring semester- mid-Jan to Early May

c) Summer semester- mid-May to Early August

University website– https://www.ufl.edu/

6. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (UNC)

The University of North Carolina is located in Chapel Hill, in the Raleigh area. It began enrolling students in 1789, making it one of the earliest public universities in the USA. It was the 1st state-owned university in the USA and in the 18th century, it was the only institution to grant degrees. According to the US News and World Report, it is ranked 4th among Top Public Schools, 14th among the Best Value Schools, and 8th in the Business Programs.

It has an acceptance rate of 17%, along with an average GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0. To seek admission here, your SAT score must be 1350 out of 1600.  It has a student-faculty ratio of 15:1. 

It has 14 schools and the College of Arts and Sciences, which offer top-class science and business courses. Other well-recognized majors offered by this university are Nursing, Marketing, Management, Finance, Communications, Biology, Computer Science, Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences, Ethics, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies.

The basketball team of UNC-Chapel Hill is quite famous for producing many NBA players. Its alumni are known to have a starting salary of $41,000. 

Overseas students aren’t eligible to receive need-based financial aid from the university, so they have to cover their educational expenses on their own.  However, the Morehead Cain Scholarship is offered to international students who have graduated from high school in the spring.  

Tuition Fee– For non-resident students, the total tuition cost would be around $60,000, while for 4 years it will be somewhere around $240,000. 

Academic Calendar –

a) Fall Semester- mid-August to mid-Dec

b) Spring Semester- Early January to mid-May

c) Summer Session- mid-May to Late July

University website– https://www.unc.edu/

7. University of California, Berkeley

Built in 1858, the University of California is a reputable public research university situated in Berkeley, in the San Francisco Bay area. It is one of the oldest public universities in the USA. 

It is in the 1st position in the ‘Public University’ category worldwide as per the U.S News and World Report. UC Berkeley’s acceptance rate is 17%. Its student-faculty ratio is 19:1. A student must obtain a SAT score of 1300 to study here.

The university has over 184 academic departments and programs. The most recognized among its colleges is the College of Engineering. It offers several highly-ranked STEM programs which are quite popular amongst overseas students. The most popular programs here are Bioengineering, Nuclear Engineering, Engineering Science, Computer Science, Economics, and Cellular Science.

It is known to have produced over 35 Nobel Prize laureates. The UC Berkeley alumnus earns up to a starting salary of $48,700. One of the most prestigious scholarships for international undergraduate students at  UC Berkeley is offered by the Cal Alumni Association for $ 2 million per year.

Tuition Fee– $78,795

Academic Calendar –

a) Fall semester- Late August to Late December

b) Spring semester- mid-January to mid-May

c) Summer sessions-  May to August 

University website– https://www.berkeley.edu/

8. University of Texas, Austin

The University of Texas at Austin was established in 1883. It has over 200 research nits. As Texas has a lower cost of living compared to other places in the USA, it is quite affordable for students to live here. The admissions are fairly competitive as the acceptance rate is 31% at UT Austin. Your SAT score should be between 1310-1520. It is ranked amongst the 40 best universities globally. Its student-faculty ratio is 19:1. 

Popular programs here are Accounting, Latin American history, Petroleum engineering graduate programs, Natural Sciences, Information Science, Liberal Arts, and Humanities.

Its alumni have gone on to be the recipients of several prestigious awards like the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, National Medal of Science, and Wolf Prize. The UT Austin alumni go on to have a starting salary of $46,000.

University Website: https://www.utexas.edu/

9. University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign

The University of Illinois Urbana situated in Champaign was founded in 1867. In the US, the Library and Information Science graduation course offered by this university is ranked 1st. As per the 2023-2024 US News and World Report’s America’s Best Colleges rankings, it is at the 12th position in the category of Public Universities in the US. Its student-faculty ratio is 20:1. Your SAT score should be between 1340-1530.

The well-recognized courses here are Library and Information Science and Civil Engineering. Also, its Research Park has many innovation centers where around 90 start-up companies and MNCs work.

Its student, Marc Andreessen is known for inventing the 1st graphical web browser. It has also produced several Nobel Prizes, Pulitzer Prizes, and Turing Award recipients. The university offers limited financial aid to foreign students.

Tuition Fee – $53,706

Academic Calendar –

a) Fall Term- Late August to mid-December

b) Winter Term- mid-December to mid-January

c) Spring Term- mid-January to mid-May

d) Summer Term- mid-May to Early August

University website– https://illinois.edu/

10. Florida State University

Established in 1851, the Florida State University is situated in Tallahassee, Florida, US. It is at the 23rd position in the ‘Top Public Schools Category’ in the U.S. as per the U.S. News and Reports. Its student-faculty ratio is 17:1. A student must obtain a SAT score between 1240 and 1390.

It is among those universities in the USA, which receive the highest amount of National Science Foundation research funding. Apart from this, the university’s College of Education is quite popular. The most well-recognized courses offered at this university are English Language and Literature, Psychology, Finance, Criminal Justice, and Safety Studies.

The Florida State University houses Florida’s only national laboratory, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory which is known for the commercial development of Taxol, an anti-cancer drug. It is quite known for its Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE) which provides support to students having a lower-income background. 

Its alumni have a starting salary of $36,500. It allocates funds annually for tuition waivers to foreign students who perform well academically with a CGPA of 3.5 and have F-1 status. 

Tuition Fee– $41,779

Academic Calendar – It has several sessions running across all the years for different courses. 

University website– https://www.fsu.edu/

11. University of Georgia

The University of Georgia was founded in 1785. The university is quite popular for its graduate courses in the College of Education and Law School. It is ranked at the 46th position in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges in the USA. It has an acceptance rate of around 43%, creating intense competition among students to get in. It has a placement rate of around 96%. Its student-faculty ratio is 17:1. A student must get a SAT score between 1220-1420 to study here.

Biology, Psychology, and Finance are the most known majors at this university. It is actively involved in researching agricultural and sea-based programs. Apart from this, its students run philanthropic programs such as the UGA Miracle, a yearlong fundraiser, and 24 24-hour Dance Marathon for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The University of Georgia’s alumni have a starting salary of $39,900.

The University of Georgia offers several scholarships for foreign students, some of the well-known scholarships are:

• Arnold International Fellowship of $5000 which is for 3 years for an undergraduate student doing a course of Certificate in International Agriculture.
• Edward T. and Karen Kanemasu Global Engagement Award for students working as interns or for researching social issues like hunger and poverty in a non-English speaking country. 

Tuition Fee – $47,182

Academic Calendar–

a) Fall Session- mid-August to mid-December

b) Spring Session- Early January to Early May

c) Summer Session- mid-May to Early June

University website– https://www.uga.edu/

12. University of California, Irvine

The University of California is located in Irvine, which is considered one of the safest places in the US. It was built in 1965. As per the Forbes list of America’s top colleges, it is ranked at the 39th position. Its student-faculty ratio is 19:1. It has an acceptance rate of 21%. A minimum SAT score of 1180 is needed to study at the University of California, Irvine. 

Popular Programs offered at this university are Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Computer Science, Visual and Performing Arts, and Managerial Economics. It has been praised and awarded for its eco-friendly measures and for promoting green initiatives through its student groups like the Anteaters for Recycling and Conservation. 

Its sports team is a part of NCAA I. Its faculty members have gone on to win the Nobel Prize. Its alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $41,100. Some of the popular scholarships offered by the University of California, Irvine for foreign students like the NAE Grand Challenges Scholars Program for undergraduate engineering students and the Berkeley International Office (BIO) Scholarships.

Tuition Fee – $70,604

Academic Calendar –

 a) Fall Session- Late September to Early January

b) Winter Session- Early January to mid-March

c) Spring Session- Late March to mid-June

d) Summer Session- mid-June to Early September

University website– https://uci.edu/

13. University of Wisconsin, Madison (UW)

Established in 1848, the University of Wisconsin is a premier institute located in Madison. It is at the 35th position in the US News ‘National University’ Category in 2024. It also ranks among the top 25 universities in the US for international students. Its student-faculty ratio is 18:1. Your SAT score should be between 1370-1490 to be considered for admission here. 

The university comprises 8 undergraduate schools and colleges within the larger undergraduate university. It is quite popular for its research activities for which it has invested around $ 1.3. Psychology, Finance, Information Science, Economics, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Geography, Communication, and Media Studies are some of the well-recognized study programs at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. 

Its Centre for Genomic Science Innovation uses genomic strategies to provide innovative solutions for medicine, agriculture, and other fields. The UW Madison alumnus and faculty have won over 20 Nobel Prizes and Pulitzer Prizes. The alumni of Wisconsin go on to earn a starting salary of $45,000.

The University of Wisconsin, Madison provides some of the best scholarships for overseas students. Some of them are:

• The King-Morgridge Scholars Program is available for students belonging to the African and South American nations, who study on issues like poverty in their own countries. It is given once a year to a first-year undergraduate student.
• The Western Union Scholarship is offered to one first-year international student from an underrepresented country per year. They are given a one-time award of $1000.

Tuition Fee – $58,303

Academic Calendar–   

a) Fall Session- Early September to mid-December

b) Spring Session- mid-January to mid-May

c) Summer Session- mid-June to mid-August

University website – https://www.wisc.edu/

14. Texas A & M University

The Texas A&M University was built in 1876. It is the only university in Texas to have simultaneous designations as a land, sea, and space-grant institution. It is among the 6 American universities to be classified as a senior military college and has a full-time volunteer Cadet Crops whose members also study with the civilian undergraduate students. 

In 2024, it was at the 47th position according to the US News ‘National University’ category. It has a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. The acceptance rate is around 63%, creating an intense competition among students to get in. A student must obtain a SAT score between 1140-1380, to study here.

Its engineering college is very popular. Other popular programs offered at this university are Liberal Arts and Humanities, Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Medicine, and Psychology. It is involved in profound scientific exploration projects like constructing the Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile. Its alumni earn a starting salary of around $48,600.

Amongst the several scholarships offered by Texas A&M University, the popular scholarships for foreign students are:

• The Goodman International Scholarship Fund is given to undergrad and graduate students who have scored at least a 3.5 GPA.
• Bill and Rita Stout Academic Excellence Award is a one-time scholarship award for international undergraduate students who do well in academics and leadership.

Tuition Fee– $60,115

Academic Calendar–

a) Fall semester- Begins from mid-August and is for around 16 weeks

b) Spring semester- Commences from mid-January and lasts for 16 weeks

c) Summer terms- Two five-week terms (Early June- Early August)

University website– https://www.tamu.edu/index.html

15. Virginia Tech

The Virginia Tech University was established in 1872 and was earlier known as the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College. It has its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, US. It was a former military technical institute. In 2024, it is ranked at the 47th position in the category of ‘Best National Universities’ as per the US News and Reports. The Virginia Tech University has an acceptance rate of 57%. Its student-faculty ratio is 17:1. If you wish to study here, your SAT score should be between 1240 and 1420.

The most recognized courses at Virginia Tech University are: Family and Consumer Sciences, Business, Management, Marketing, Landscape Architecture, Computer Science, Biology, and Biomedical Sciences

In the future, it plans on having an Innovation Campus where special emphasis would be paid on computer science and software engineering. Its sports team, Haokes is quite popular and competes in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference. 

For overseas students, some of the well-known scholarships given by Virginia Tech are:

• Presidential Scholarships for meritorious international students each year which cover their tuition, room, and board fees.
• Under the Honors College Scholarships, a limited number of full scholarships are given to highly qualified foreign students.

Tuition Fee– $57,794

Academic Calendar–

a) Fall Session- Late August to mid-September

b) Spring Session- mid-January to Early May

c) Summer Session- End of May to Early August

University website– https://www.vt.edu/

Conclusion

Students can develop to their full potential by studying in the USA. The USA offers not only a highly recognized academic degree that serves as a gateway to global job opportunities but also access to cutting-edge research, diverse academic programs, and a renowned faculty. It further provides an inclusive environment for students where they get a chance to interact with students from overseas which enables global networking opportunities. 

The public universities in the USA provide students with both practical and theoretical knowledge which facilitates wholesome education. It is a dream of several students to study in the USA. But only a few can make this dream come true. Amongst several things required to study in the USA, one of the things that a student needs is to craft a well-written Statement of Purpose (SOP). 

An SOP requires a student to devote a lot of time and effort. Writing an SOP serves as a crucial factor that decides whether a student gets into a course at a university of his/her choice overseas. If you require help when it comes to writing an application for studying abroad, you can contact several study abroad consultants. 

At, Contentholic we have a dedicated team of professional SOP writers who provide the best writing services like an SOP, motivation letter, personal statement, letter of recommendation, etc. recognized by global media houses. So feel free to contact us.