Best State University?

LakeWashington
Fri, 02 Sep 2005 10:04:59 +0000

[1] I obviously don’t have the resources of the NRC or the “gumption” of US News, but I considered these state schools to be superior for undergrads and I know alumni from many of them. In no particular order…

U of California-Berkeley
U of California-San Diego
U of California-Santa Barbara
U of Virginia
U of Michigan
U of Iowa
Indiana U (Bloomington)
U of Minnesota-Twin Cities
U of Wisconsin-Madison
Ohio University-Athens
U of Texas-Austin
Pennsylvania State U

Obviously, most out-of-state applicants to these colleges likely will not be admitted; that’s the string attached to the $$ provided by the various state legislators.

[2] That being said, here are other fine publics whose admissions selection is not as difficult for non-residents.

Kansas University (highly rated and a $$ value)
U of Texas at Arlington (lots of new $$ for new facilities)
U of Alabama at Birmingham (excellent natural science departments)
Miami University of Ohio (very competitive education + big time sports)
Virginia Tech (liberal arts program is supersingly good; great college town)
West Virginia University (known for producing Rhodes Scholars)
George Mason University (Virginia school with lots of DC connections)
U of Nebraska at Lincoln (excellent education and national alumni base)
Colorado State University (impressive sciences education)
Saint Mary’s College of Maryland (a public honors college)

Of course, these public colleges are not for everyone. Clearly, you’ll have to work harder to get noticed by employers in your hometown. But it’s always true that you have to prepare yourself well and be motivated to get ahead, no matter your alma mater. I’m in metro New York and in my career I’ve met accomplished alumni from almost all of these so-called “regional” schools here.