Public universities tend to be less expensive because they are state-funded, especially so for in-state students, and they are less competitive. But, top public universities still offer great educations with top-notch faculty. Students think only the selective and private colleges are the best, but applying to one of the following public schools is a very good choice!
• William and Mary – is the second oldest school in the country, enjoying a long-standing and excellent reputation. It’s located in historic Williamsburg, Virginia. (Grades – A average, SAT – over 1900, ACT- 28 and over) Approximate tuition cost: $17,600 for in-state and $40,000 for out-of-state
• University of California at Los Angeles – offers very good tuition deals. This is a large school with a student population of 25,000; and, although it is in a large city, it is only a short distance from the Pacific. (GPA – 3.6, SAT – above 1700, ACT – 24) Approximate tuition cost: $13,000 in-state and $35,500 out-of-state Note: You might also want to check out the University of California at San Diego.
• University of Michigan – is another large school with 40,000 students! Located in Ann Arbor, it is part of the Big Ten Conference. It has very good engineering and business programs. (Grades – B+ average, SAT – above 1700, ACT – 24) Approximate tuition cost: $13,000 in-state and $41,000 out-of-state
• Georgia Institute of Technology – is located in Atlanta. It is an excellent research school and is strong in the sciences. (GPA – 3.5, SAT – 1800+, ACT – 26+) Approximate tuition cost: $11,000 in-state and $31,000 out-of-state
• University of Illinois – has its flagship campus in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign. It is another Big Ten Conference school and has 42,000 students. It is known as one of the top engineering schools in the country but has 150 other majors. (Grades – B+ average, SAT – over 1600, ACT – 22+) Approximate tuition cost $15,000 in-state and $30,000 out-of-state
• Binghamton University – is part of the State University of New York (SUNY). It is located in Vestal with a student enrollment of 14,400. It is a strong liberal arts school. (Grades – B+ average, SAT – 1800+, ACT – 26+) Approximate tuition cost: $8,600 in-state and $20,000 out-of-state
When putting your college list together, don’t get lazy and go for the schools that have name-recognition or are the schools your classmates have mentioned. Do a bit more investigating and find the many deals and the many great schools out there.
