What is the most elite public university?

Asked by: Sally Bruen DDS  |  Last update: December 27, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (25 votes)

Berkeley consistently ranks among the top universities in the nation and around the world. UC Berkeley is the No. 1 public university in the U.S and the eighth-best university in the world, according to the Times Higher Education's 2025 World University Rankings, released on Oct.

What is the #1 public university in the US?

What is the #1 public university? The UC Berkeley ranking makes it the best public university nationwide. With 14 schools and colleges, UC Berkeley offers a wide range of majors and academic programs.

What is the hardest public university to get into?

Here's a list of some of the most selective public universities in the US, known for their rigorous admission standards:
  1. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
  2. University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley)
  3. University of Virginia (UVA)
  4. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (UMich)

What are the 11 little ivies?

The Little Ivies are also sub-grouped by the following consortia: The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) members: Amherst, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Connecticut College, Hamilton, Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts, Wesleyan and Williams.

What is the most prestigious non-Ivy League school?

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) MIT ranks as the #1 non-Ivy school in the country. MIT's mission is to “advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.”

The 2024 Best Colleges in America: Why Salary Plays a Key Role | WSJ Your Money Briefing

27 related questions found

What is the rarest university to get into?

1. California Institute of Technology

Due to its small class sizes and reputation as a premier institution for science and technology, Caltech has the lowest acceptance rate in the country.

What is the #1 university in the world?

Harvard University

United States|Cambridge (U.S.)

What is the No 2 public university in the US?

UC Berkeley is the No. 2 public school in the country for 2025, according to the latest American college rankings by U.S. News and World Report, which were announced today (Monday, Sept. 23, 2024).

Is Princeton better than Harvard?

Is Princeton Considered a Better School than Harvard? Princeton and Harvard are both top-tier institutions and opinions on which is "better" can be subjective. However, Princeton ranks #1 in the Best National Colleges, while Harvard ranks #3.

What is the #1 ranked college in America?

As of 2024, the top ten colleges, according to "America's Top Colleges" are: 1. Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey)

What is the most exclusive university in the US?

Admission Impossible? The Top 10 World's Most Exclusive Colleges and What Makes Them So Exclusive
  • Harvard University. ...
  • California Institute of Technology. ...
  • Stanford University. ...
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology. ...
  • University of Chicago. ...
  • Yale University. ...
  • Columbia University. ...
  • Princeton University.

Is Berkeley or UCLA more prestigious?

While both UCLA and UC Berkeley are highly prestigious institutions, they have different strengths and reputations. Rankings: In the latest 2024 American college ranking, U.S. News Rankings, UC Berkeley is the number one public school in the U.S., tied with UCLA.

What is the hardest college to get into?

Harvard University

The Harvard acceptance rate is 3%, tied with Caltech for the #1 spot on our list of hardest colleges to get into. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is a quintessential New England school globally recognized for its rigorous academic programs and influential alumni.

Is MIT better than Harvard?

Harvard leads in employer reputation, academic reputation, and its international research network, making it an excellent choice for students aiming for top-tier academic and research environments. On the other hand, MIT is ranked No. 2, with an overall score of 94.4.

What is the hardest degree to get?

15 Hardest Degrees in the World
  • Medicine. Why it's hard: Medicine is often considered one of the hardest degrees due to its length, complexity, and intensity. ...
  • Law. ...
  • Engineering. ...
  • Architecture. ...
  • Physics. ...
  • Mathematics. ...
  • Chemistry. ...
  • Nursing.

Why is Georgetown ranked so low?

Georgetown is not in the top ten because its endowment is fairly small compared to the Ivy League schools. The Jesuits never saw a large endowment as a priority for hundreds of years. Students at Georgetown don't have to read the newspapers to find out what's going on around the world.

What's the easiest university to get into?

Easiest Colleges to Get Into in the US Based on Acceptance Rate
  • Arkansas Baptist College (AR) - Acceptance rate: 100%
  • Kentucky State University (KY) - Acceptance rate: 100%
  • Haskell Indian Nations University (KS) - Acceptance rate: 100%
  • University of the District of Columbia (DC) - Acceptance rate: 96%

Why is Vanderbilt so prestigious?

Vanderbilt is highly regarded for its excellent academic programs — such as sciences, engineering, humanities, and social sciences — some of which are among the best in the U.S. It's also known for its spirit of collaboration, unique residential college system, and state-of-the-art facilities.

Why is Stanford not an ivy?

However, top institutions like MIT and Stanford, which outperform several Ivy League schools in global rankings, are not part of the League due to geographic and historical reasons. Both universities excel in academic reputation, faculty-student ratio, employer reputation, and employment outcomes.