How does the importance of prestigious national colleges vary by region?

[MWolf]

@User2987456

@Camasite

I never understood all those big state universities with odd private-school sounding names: Rutgers, Purdue, Clemson, Auburn, etc. I’m sure they all have reasons.

Strange comment, what is your point? I do like the explanation above on how these schools got their name but have to add many states have a good number of state universities. There can only be one University of Virginia after that they need a different name. James Madison, William and Mary, and George Mason are all state schools (and the list goes on and on).

William and Mary was established when Virginia was a colony.