America's Favorite 100 U.S. Universities 2026 – Public Vote

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10,260Votes
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Help us find out which U.S. universities are the most loved in 2026. Forget rankings and test scores — this is all about campus vibes, student life, and the stories that make each school special. The order is alphabetical (A–Z).
Pepperdine University – Malibu, CA
Private • Christian • Coastal Campus
Votes:
112
Pomona College – Claremont, CA
Private • Liberal Arts College • Residential Campus
Votes:
82
Portland State University – Portland, OR
Public • Urban Campus • Research University
Votes:
95
Princeton University – Princeton, NJ
Ivy League • Private • Liberal Arts Focus
Votes:
86
Providence College – Providence, RI
Private • Catholic • Liberal Arts College
Votes:
137
Purdue University – West Lafayette, IN
Public • Land-Grant • STEM Leader
Votes:
143
Reed College – Portland, OR
Private • Liberal Arts College • Intellectual Tradition
Votes:
42
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) – Troy, NY
Private • STEM-focused • Research University
Votes:
66
Rice University – Houston, TX
Private • Research University • Residential College System
Votes:
148
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) – Rochester, NY
Private • STEM & Arts • Career-Focused
Votes:
116
Rutgers University–New Brunswick – New Brunswick, NJ
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
162
Saint Louis University – St. Louis, MO
Private • Jesuit • Research University
Votes:
197
Santa Clara University – Santa Clara, CA
Private • Jesuit • Silicon Valley Location
Votes:
120
Southern Methodist University (SMU) – Dallas, TX
Private • Research University • Business & Law
Votes:
52
Stony Brook University (SUNY) – Stony Brook, NY
Public • Research University • STEM Strength
Votes:
42
Syracuse University – Syracuse, NY
Private • Research University • Communications Leader
Votes:
158
Temple University – Philadelphia, PA
Public • Research University • Urban Campus
Votes:
74
Texas A&M University – College Station, TX
Public • Land-Grant • Research University
Votes:
70
The New School – New York, NY
Private • Arts & Design • Urban Campus
Votes:
119
The University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa, AL
Public • Flagship • Athletic Tradition
Votes:
137
The University of Arizona – Tucson, AZ
Public • Research University • Desert Campus
Votes:
19
The University of Georgia – Athens, GA
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
137
The University of Iowa – Iowa City, IA
Public • Research University • Writing Leader
Votes:
16
The University of Kansas – Lawrence, KS
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
128
The University of Kentucky – Lexington, KY
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
88
The University of Miami – Coral Gables, FL
Private • Research University • Coastal Campus
Votes:
78
The University of Minnesota–Twin Cities – Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
96
The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) – Oxford, MS
Public • Flagship • Tradition-Rich
Votes:
74
The University of Missouri (Mizzou) – Columbia, MO
Public • Flagship • Journalism Leader
Votes:
53
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln – Lincoln, NE
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
105
The University of New Hampshire – Durham, NH
Public • Flagship • Coastal Campus
Votes:
152
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Chapel Hill, NC
Public • Flagship • Public Ivy
Votes:
41
The University of Notre Dame – Notre Dame, IN
Private • Catholic • Research University
Votes:
179
The University of Oklahoma – Norman, OK
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
103
The University of Oregon – Eugene, OR
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
121
The University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA
Public • Research University • Health Sciences Leader
Votes:
184
The University of San Diego – San Diego, CA
Private • Catholic • Coastal Campus
Votes:
92
The University of San Francisco – San Francisco, CA
Private • Jesuit • Urban Campus
Votes:
86
The University of South Carolina – Columbia, SC
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
138
The University of South Florida – Tampa, FL
Public • Research University • Urban Campus
Votes:
156
The University of Southern California (USC) – Los Angeles, CA
Private • Research University • Arts & Entertainment Hub
Votes:
55
The University of Tennessee – Knoxville, TN
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
89
The University of Texas at Austin – Austin, TX
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
62
The University of Utah – Salt Lake City, UT
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
85
The University of Vermont – Burlington, VT
Public • Flagship • Green Campus
Votes:
128
The University of Virginia – Charlottesville, VA
Public • Flagship • Public Ivy
Votes:
47
The University of Washington – Seattle, WA
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
81
Vanderbilt University – Nashville, TN
Private • Research University • Residential College System
Votes:
88

Comments

Alexander Smith 3d
Proud graduate of Haverford College! Incredible professors, vibrant campus life, and a community like no other. Let's bring it home!
John Taylor 3d
Voting: the only time I enjoy being polled.
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