List of the Top Public Universities in the U.S

University of California Berkeley

• The University of California Berkeley rates the top spot among public schools in U.S. News and World Report's annual rankings of national universities (universities that offer a full range of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees). Berkeley also makes The Princeton Review's list of Best 371 Colleges, earning additional recognition as a Best Western College (no rankings) and as a 2010 Best Value College-Public (no rankings).

  University of California at Berkeley
  110 Sproul Hall No. 5800
  Berkeley, CA 94720-5800
  510-642-7333
  berkeley.edu

The College of New Jersey

• U.S. News' top-ranked public school in the Northern region among master's universities (schools offering bachelor's and master's degrees but few to no doctorates) is The College of New Jersey in Ewing. The school also earns spots on The Princeton Review's lists of Best Northeastern Colleges (no rankings), 2010 Best Value Colleges-Public (no rankings) and Best College Library (No. 17).

  The College of New Jersey
  P.O. Box 7718
  Ewing, NJ 08628-0718
  609-771-2131
  tcnj.edu

James Madison University

• James Madison University in Harrison, Virginia, earns high marks from The Princeton Review, with spots on the Best Southeastern College (no rankings) and 2010 Best Value Colleges-Public (no rankings) lists. James Madison also appears on lists for Best Campus Food (No. 4) and Happiest Students (No. 18). It's the top-rated public school on U.S. News and World Report's list of best Southern master's universities, ranking fourth overall.

  James Madison University
  Sonner Hall, MSC 0101
  Harrisonburg, VA 22807
  540-568-5681
  jmu.edu

Truman State University

• The highest ranked public school on U.S. News and World Report's list of best master's universities in the Midwest is Truman State University. Located in Kirksville, Missouri, Truman State is a highly selective university that garners spots on The Princeton Review's lists of Best Midwestern Colleges (no rankings) and 2010 Best Value Colleges-Public (no rankings).

  Truman State University
  100 E. Normal
  Kirksville, MO 63501
  660-785-4114
  truman.edu

California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo

• The top public university on U.S. News and World Report's list of Best Western master's universities, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, earned the sixth ranking overall. U.S. News also ranks Cal Poly's engineering program as third in the nation among public schools. Forbes.com placed Cal Poly third among public universities based on alumni earnings, with graduates having a median salary of $101,000 after 10 to 20 years in the workforce.

  California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
  1 Grand Ave.
  San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
  805-756-2311
  calpoly.edu