Aspublic universities brace for the impact of slashed research funding and future enrollment declines, they’re still doing the bulk of the work of educating America’s students, and doing it at a lower price than their private counterparts. Last spring, 5.3 million students were studying for their bachelor’s degrees at four-year public colleges, more than twice the 2.4 million studying for a bachelor’s at private, nonprofit colleges, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center estimates. During the 2024-25 academic year, state public universities charged an average sticker price of $11,610 in tuition and fees for in-state undergraduates and $30,780 for out-of-staters, compared with the $43,350 tuition and fees sticker price at private nonprofits, according to data from the College Board. After grant aid, food, dorms and the rest are taken into account, in-state public college undergraduates had an average net cost of attendance of $20,780, compared to an average net cost of $36,150 at private not-for-profit colleges. (Keep in mind, however, that in some cases, depending on family income and the wealth and generosity of an institution, a private college can end up being cheaper. )

Ivy League and other elite private universities have grabbed the most headlines as the President Donald Trump’s Administration has frozen their research grants, launched myriad investigations and sought changes to policies his administration considers too woke.

While it may not get the attention Trump’s war on Harvard does, top state universities have themselves become Trump targets. For example, the Department of Education’s Office of General Counsel is investigating the University of California-Berkeley (at #5, it’s the highest-ranking public school on Forbes’ top 500 list) for its partnership with China’s Tsinghua University, alleging that university officials didn’t disclose funding from foreign sources. The Trump administration has also suspended $584 million in research grants at the University of California-Los Angeles (#15) over claims it failed to combat antisemitism and allowed transgender athletes to compete in sports and has demanded a $1 billion settlement from the school. Former University of Virginia (#34) President James Ryan stepped down in June amid intense political pressure over the university’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies. George Mason University (#114) President Gregory Washington has faced similar scrutiny, but remains in office (and just had his contract renewed by the university’s Board of Visitors).

Indeed, public universities are navigating a complex set of challenges, from federal and state political pressure and funding cutbacks to the coming demographic cliff, as the number of high school graduates declines steadily over the next decade. Financial pressures from shifts in higher education enrollment have already led multiple states to merge or shut down campuses in their public university systems. For example, Penn State University (whose main campus ranked #338) announced plans in May to close seven branch campuses after the 2026-27 academic year, and the University System of Georgia approved a plan in April for Georgia Southern University (#448) to absorb East Georgia State College. Public college systems must also navigate cuts in federal loans for graduate students that were passed by the Republican Congress in July and kick in next year.

Through it all, state universities continue to have plenty of appeal. Beyond the low tuition, students flock to their state universities for their urban campuses, D1 sports programs and massive, loyal alumni networks, to name just a few public school draws.

But not all public colleges are created equal. As part of our annual

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