50 Best Public Grad Schools 2024

Badge for BEST IN THE US PUBLIC GRADUATE SCHOOLS

When graduate students need to make significant financial contributions to their graduate education, it makes sense to attend a public university over a private one.

10 Best Public Grad Schools in the US

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  1. University of California, Berkeley
  2. University of Michigan
  3. University of California, Los Angeles
  4. University of California, San Diego
  5. University of Washington
  6. University of Texas at Austin
  7. University of Wisconsin–Madison
  8. University of Minnesota
  9. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  10. University of Virginia
  1. University of California, Berkeley
  2. University of Michigan
  3. University of California, Los Angeles
  4. University of Washington
  5. University of Minnesota
  6. University of Wisconsin–Madison
  7. University of Texas at Austin
  8. University of Virginia
  9. University of California, San Diego
  10. City College of New York
  1. University of New Mexico 97%
  2. University of Utah 95%
  3. University of Oregon 93%
  4. University of Kansas 92%
  5. George Mason University 91%
  6. Arizona State University 88%
  7. University of Arizona 87%
  8. University of Iowa 86%
  9. Indiana University Bloomington 85%
  10. University of Oklahoma 85%
  1. University of California, Santa Cruz 25 to 1
  2. University of Houston 23 to 1
  3. University of California, Riverside 22 to 1
  4. Florida State University 21 to 1
  5. University of Washington 20 to 1
  6. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 20 to 1
  7. University of Oklahoma 20 to 1
  8. University of California, Davis 20 to 1
  9. Texas A&M University 19 to 1
  10. Ohio State University 19 to 1
  1. University of Pittsburgh $19,092
  2. University of Michigan $16,865
  3. University of Virginia $16,547
  4. Temple University $16,488
  5. Michigan State University $15,966
  6. University of Massachusetts Amherst $15,791
  7. University of Connecticut $15,030
  8. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign $14,446
  9. University of Minnesota $13,532
  10. University of Illinois Chicago $12,253
  1. University of Michigan $24,902
  2. University of Pittsburgh $24,118
  3. Michigan State University $19,714
  4. University of Minnesota $17,844
  5. University of Virginia $17,674
  6. University of Connecticut $17,532
  7. Temple University $17,388
  8. University of Washington $16,605
  9. University of Oregon $15,714
  10. University of Maryland, College Park $15,360
  1. University of Connecticut
  2. University of Oklahoma
  3. University of Kansas
  4. University of New Mexico
  5. University of Illinois Chicago
  6. University of Houston
  7. University of California, Riverside
  8. Indiana University Bloomington
  9. Temple University
  10. University of Tennessee
  1. North Carolina State University
  2. Virginia Tech
  3. University of Illinois Chicago
  4. University of California, Riverside
  5. Georgia Tech
  6. University of New Mexico
  7. University of Tennessee
  8. University of Oklahoma
  9. University of Connecticut
  10. University of Houston
  1. University of California, Los Angeles 11%
  2. University of California, Berkeley 14%
  3. Georgia Tech 16%
  4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 20%
  5. University of Michigan 20%
  6. University of Virginia 21%
  7. University of California, Santa Barbara 29%
  8. University of Texas at Austin 29%
  9. University of California, Irvine 29%
  10. University of Florida 30%
  1. University of Michigan 11 to 1
  2. Purdue University 13 to 1
  3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 13 to 1
  4. Temple University 13 to 1
  5. Virginia Tech 14 to 1
  6. University at Buffalo 14 to 1
  7. University of Pittsburgh 14 to 1
  8. North Carolina State University 14 to 1
  9. University of Arizona 15 to 1
  10. University of Virginia 15 to 1
  1. University of Florida $4,477
  2. Florida State University $4,640
  3. University of Oklahoma $4,920
  4. North Carolina State University $6,535
  5. University of New Mexico $6,605
  6. City College of New York $6,930
  7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill $7,019
  8. University at Buffalo $7,070
  9. Stony Brook University $7,070
  10. University of Utah $7,749
  1. University of New Mexico $6,050
  2. Texas A&M University $6,885
  3. University of Utah $6,970
  4. University of Oklahoma $8,034
  5. University of Houston $8,713
  6. University of Georgia $8,878
  7. North Carolina State University $9,095
  8. Florida State University $9,684
  9. Purdue University $9,718
  10. Indiana University Bloomington $9,909

Featured Programs

Public universities have an advantage over private universities when cost is an issue. For much of graduate education, cost is not an issue. Students going to graduate school often receive tuition remission and stipends, in which case it makes no financial difference going to a public or private university. But even though many graduate programs offer tuition remission and stipends, many do not.

Professional schools, such as business, law, and medicine, where it is assumed that those graduating with an advanced degree will earn a good salary on account of the degree, typically charge full tuition. The same tends to hold for students with an undergraduate degree who need to do some additional “leveling” work in order to get into a doctoral program. They will often first have to obtain a master’s degree.

Such “terminal” master’s degrees, as they’re called, typically don’t come with tuition remission or stipends: the schools realize that they are serving as a springboard to another program and therefore charge accordingly (often full price). In such circumstances, where graduate students need to make significant financial contributions to their graduate education, it makes sense to attend a public university in one’s state, where the costs, because subsidized by tax dollars, will tend to be a lot lower than for comparable programs at public universities.

How can you choose the best graduate school for you?

A good answer to this question looks to your personal and professional goals. Certain professions will require you to earn an advanced degree.

In other cases, an advanced degree can make you eligible for leadership roles and higher pay. For instance, the best graduate schools for education can improve your earnings as a teacher, make you eligible for tenure, or help you meet the basic threshold for continued employment. On the other hand, the best graduate schools for business can simply make you a more competitive candidate for job openings and management roles.

The best graduate school for you should have a stellar reputation and employ highly influential professors across the board and especially in your area of study. Indeed, much exciting academic work these days is cross-disciplinary, and for such work to flourish it helps to be at a school that is strong across disciplines. The following list is composed of only public graduate schools.

Best Public Grad Schools 2022
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We’ve identified 302 public colleges and universities that meet our criteria. In order to be included in this list of best graduate schools, a university must be a fully accredited public non-profit institution, and must offer doctoral degrees and a broad range of advanced degrees.

50 Best Public Grad Schools in the US

  1. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $14K

    Acceptance

    14%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    46K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1420/32

    Career Outlook for degree at University of California, Berkeley

    Cost of Degree: $14,395
    Expenses: $28,648
    Starting Salary: $79,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  2. #2

    University of Michigan

    Ann Arbor , MI
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $17K

    Acceptance

    20%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    50K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1430/32

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Michigan

    Cost of Degree: $17,786
    Expenses: $16,820
    Starting Salary: $79,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  3. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    11%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    47K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of California, Los Angeles

    Cost of Degree: $13,401
    Expenses: $23,579
    Starting Salary: $73,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  4. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    53%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    57K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1326/30

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Washington

    Cost of Degree: $12,242
    Expenses: $19,848
    Starting Salary: $69,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  5. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    29%

    Graduation

    88%

    Student body

    54K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1340/29

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Texas at Austin

    Cost of Degree: $11,698
    Expenses: $18,548
    Starting Salary: $73,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  6. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    60%

    Graduation

    89%

    Student body

    49K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1360/29

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Wisconsin–Madison

    Cost of Degree: $10,796
    Expenses: $17,198
    Starting Salary: $68,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  7. #8

    University of Minnesota

    Minneapolis , MN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $15K

    Acceptance

    73%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    62K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1350/28

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Minnesota

    Cost of Degree: $15,859
    Expenses: $15,240
    Starting Salary: $61,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  8. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $18K

    Acceptance

    60%

    Graduation

    85%

    Student body

    60K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1330/30

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Cost of Degree: $17,782
    Expenses: $16,420
    Starting Salary: $70,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign known for?

    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  9. #10

    University of Virginia

    Charlottesville , VA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $20K

    Acceptance

    21%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    28K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1415/32

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Virginia

    Cost of Degree: $21,425
    Expenses: $17,790
    Starting Salary: $79,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  10. #11

    Purdue University

    West Lafayette , IN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    69%

    Graduation

    83%

    Student body

    51K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1295/29

    Career Outlook for degree at Purdue University

    Cost of Degree: $9,992
    Expenses: $12,930
    Starting Salary: $62,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  11. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    52%

    Graduation

    88%

    Student body

    45K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1375/32

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Maryland, College Park

    Cost of Degree: $11,233
    Expenses: $18,404
    Starting Salary: $70,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  12. #13

    University of Arizona

    Tucson , AZ
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    87%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    52K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1220/25

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Arizona

    Cost of Degree: $12,937
    Expenses: $18,350
    Starting Salary: $56,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  13. #14

    University of Iowa

    Iowa City , IA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    86%

    Graduation

    74%

    Student body

    33K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1210/25

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Iowa

    Cost of Degree: $10,353
    Expenses: $16,530
    Starting Salary: $62,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  14. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $14K

    Acceptance

    29%

    Graduation

    85%

    Student body

    28K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1345/31

    Career Outlook for degree at University of California, Santa Barbara

    Cost of Degree: $14,617
    Expenses: $23,285
    Starting Salary: $62,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  15. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    20%

    Graduation

    90%

    Student body

    33K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1385/30

    Career Outlook for degree at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Cost of Degree: $8,989
    Expenses: $16,260
    Starting Salary: $68,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill known for?

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  16. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $15K

    Acceptance

    49%

    Graduation

    87%

    Student body

    42K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1280/29

    Career Outlook for degree at University of California, Davis

    Cost of Degree: $14,858
    Expenses: $23,698
    Starting Salary: $68,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  17. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    88%

    Graduation

    66%

    Student body

    83K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1210/24

    Career Outlook for degree at Arizona State University

    Cost of Degree: $11,618
    Expenses: $19,509
    Starting Salary: $55,500
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  18. #24

    University of Florida

    Gainesville , FL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Acceptance

    30%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    61K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1375/31

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Florida

    Cost of Degree: $6,381
    Expenses: $15,430
    Starting Salary: $65,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  19. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $14K

    Acceptance

    59%

    Graduation

    78%

    Student body

    21K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1260/29

    Career Outlook for degree at University of California, Santa Cruz

    Cost of Degree: $14,240
    Expenses: $24,472
    Starting Salary: $53,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  20. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $16K

    Acceptance

    66%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    37K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1295/29

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Massachusetts Amherst

    Cost of Degree: $16,952
    Expenses: $16,523
    Starting Salary: $57,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  21. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    91%

    Graduation

    70%

    Student body

    47K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1200/27

    Career Outlook for degree at George Mason University

    Cost of Degree: $13,401
    Expenses: $17,902
    Starting Salary: $63,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  22. #29

    Ohio State University

    Columbus , OH
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    57%

    Graduation

    88%

    Student body

    67K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1320/29

    Career Outlook for degree at Ohio State University

    Cost of Degree: $12,485
    Expenses: $17,700
    Starting Salary: $53,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  23. #30

    University at Buffalo

    Buffalo , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    70%

    Graduation

    74%

    Student body

    36K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1225/26

    Career Outlook for degree at University at Buffalo

    Cost of Degree: $10,782
    Expenses: $20,484
    Starting Salary: $62,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  24. #32

    Florida State University

    Tallahassee , FL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    37%

    Graduation

    83%

    Student body

    49K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1285/29

    Career Outlook for degree at Florida State University

    Cost of Degree: $6,517
    Expenses: $18,124
    Starting Salary: $53,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  25. #34

    Georgia Tech

    Atlanta , GA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    16%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    48K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1450/33

    Career Outlook for degree at Georgia Tech

    Cost of Degree: $11,764
    Expenses: $16,342
    Starting Salary: $85,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  26. #35

    University of Missouri

    Columbia , MO
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    77%

    Graduation

    73%

    Student body

    34K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1215/26

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Missouri

    Cost of Degree: $11,981
    Expenses: $17,240
    Starting Salary: $56,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  27. #36

    University of Georgia

    Athens , GA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    40%

    Graduation

    88%

    Student body

    43K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1355/31

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Georgia

    Cost of Degree: $11,180
    Expenses: $16,362
    Starting Salary: $59,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  28. #38

    Texas A&M University

    College Station , TX
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    64%

    Graduation

    83%

    Student body

    75K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1270/29

    Career Outlook for degree at Texas A&M University

    Cost of Degree: $12,605
    Expenses: $19,014
    Starting Salary: $67,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  29. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    47%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    40K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1320/29

    Career Outlook for degree at North Carolina State University

    Cost of Degree: $9,128
    Expenses: $16,624
    Starting Salary: $59,500
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  30. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Acceptance

    85%

    Graduation

    81%

    Student body

    47K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1235/27

    Career Outlook for degree at Indiana University Bloomington

    Cost of Degree: $11,447
    Expenses: $16,010
    Starting Salary: $57,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  31. Tuition + fees

    $14K

    Acceptance

    65%

    Graduation

    76%

    Student body

    29K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1180/26

    Career Outlook for degree at University of California, Riverside

    Cost of Degree: $13,874
    Expenses: $23,352
    Starting Salary: $55,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  32. #45

    University of Houston

    Houston , TX
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    66%

    Graduation

    62%

    Student body

    52K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1215/25

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Houston

    Cost of Degree: $9,699
    Expenses: $16,102
    Starting Salary: $60,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

Find the Best Grad Schools in Each State

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Find the Best Online Master’s Programs in Each State

The 50 Best Online Master’s Programs in the US

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Find the Best Public Grad Schools in Your Area of Interest

The best public grad schools by discipline

Resources for Prospective Grad Students

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

2021 Ranking Archive
  1. University of California, Berkeley
  2. University of Michigan
  3. University of California, Los Angeles
  4. University of California, San Diego
  5. University of Washington
  6. University of Texas at Austin
  7. University of Wisconsin–Madison
  8. University of Minnesota
  9. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  10. University of Virginia
  11. Purdue University
  12. University of Maryland, College Park
  13. University of Arizona
  14. University of Iowa
  15. University of California, Santa Barbara
  16. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  17. University of California, Davis
  18. University of Pittsburgh
  19. University of Utah
  20. Pennsylvania State University
  21. Michigan State University
  22. Arizona State University
  23. University of California, Irvine
  24. University of Florida
  25. University of California, Santa Cruz
  26. University of Massachusetts Amherst
  27. Stony Brook University
  28. George Mason University
  29. Ohio State University
  30. University at Buffalo
  31. University of Colorado Boulder
  32. Florida State University
  33. University of Oregon
  34. Georgia Tech
  35. University of Missouri
  36. University of Georgia
  37. Virginia Tech
  38. Texas A&M University
  39. North Carolina State University
  40. City College of New York
  41. University of Tennessee
  42. Temple University
  43. Indiana University Bloomington
  44. University of California, Riverside
  45. University of Houston
  46. University of Illinois Chicago
  47. University of New Mexico
  48. University of Kansas
  49. University of Oklahoma
  50. University of Connecticut

Photo Credit: University of California, Berkeley, Wheeler Hall, By Bob Collowan, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

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