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

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10,265Votes
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Voting Rule
Single Select Daily Voting
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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
Pepperdine University – Malibu, CA
Private • Christian • Coastal Campus
Votes:
112
Pomona College – Claremont, CA
Pomona College – Claremont, CA
Private • Liberal Arts College • Residential Campus
Votes:
82
Portland State University – Portland, OR
Portland State University – Portland, OR
Public • Urban Campus • Research University
Votes:
95
Princeton University – Princeton, NJ
Princeton University – Princeton, NJ
Ivy League • Private • Liberal Arts Focus
Votes:
86
Providence College – Providence, RI
Providence College – Providence, RI
Private • Catholic • Liberal Arts College
Votes:
137
Purdue University – West Lafayette, IN
Purdue University – West Lafayette, IN
Public • Land-Grant • STEM Leader
Votes:
143
Reed College – Portland, OR
Reed College – Portland, OR
Private • Liberal Arts College • Intellectual Tradition
Votes:
42
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) – Troy, NY
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) – Troy, NY
Private • STEM-focused • Research University
Votes:
66
Rice University – Houston, TX
Rice University – Houston, TX
Private • Research University • Residential College System
Votes:
148
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) – Rochester, NY
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) – Rochester, NY
Private • STEM & Arts • Career-Focused
Votes:
116
Rutgers University–New Brunswick – New Brunswick, NJ
Rutgers University–New Brunswick – New Brunswick, NJ
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
162
Saint Louis University – St. Louis, MO
Saint Louis University – St. Louis, MO
Private • Jesuit • Research University
Votes:
197
Santa Clara University – Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara University – Santa Clara, CA
Private • Jesuit • Silicon Valley Location
Votes:
120
Southern Methodist University (SMU) – Dallas, TX
Southern Methodist University (SMU) – Dallas, TX
Private • Research University • Business & Law
Votes:
52
Stony Brook University (SUNY) – Stony Brook, NY
Stony Brook University (SUNY) – Stony Brook, NY
Public • Research University • STEM Strength
Votes:
42
Syracuse University – Syracuse, NY
Syracuse University – Syracuse, NY
Private • Research University • Communications Leader
Votes:
158
Temple University – Philadelphia, PA
Temple University – Philadelphia, PA
Public • Research University • Urban Campus
Votes:
74
Texas A&M University – College Station, TX
Texas A&M University – College Station, TX
Public • Land-Grant • Research University
Votes:
70
The New School – New York, NY
The New School – New York, NY
Private • Arts & Design • Urban Campus
Votes:
119
The University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa, AL
The University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa, AL
Public • Flagship • Athletic Tradition
Votes:
137
The University of Arizona – Tucson, AZ
The University of Arizona – Tucson, AZ
Public • Research University • Desert Campus
Votes:
19
The University of Georgia – Athens, GA
The University of Georgia – Athens, GA
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
137
The University of Iowa – Iowa City, IA
The University of Iowa – Iowa City, IA
Public • Research University • Writing Leader
Votes:
16
The University of Kansas – Lawrence, KS
The University of Kansas – Lawrence, KS
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
128
The University of Kentucky – Lexington, KY
The University of Kentucky – Lexington, KY
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
88
The University of Miami – Coral Gables, FL
The University of Miami – Coral Gables, FL
Private • Research University • Coastal Campus
Votes:
78
The University of Minnesota–Twin Cities – Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN
The University of Minnesota–Twin Cities – Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
96
The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) – Oxford, MS
The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) – Oxford, MS
Public • Flagship • Tradition-Rich
Votes:
74
The University of Missouri (Mizzou) – Columbia, MO
The University of Missouri (Mizzou) – Columbia, MO
Public • Flagship • Journalism Leader
Votes:
53
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln – Lincoln, NE
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln – Lincoln, NE
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
105
The University of New Hampshire – Durham, NH
The University of New Hampshire – Durham, NH
Public • Flagship • Coastal Campus
Votes:
152
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Chapel Hill, NC
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
The University of Notre Dame – Notre Dame, IN
Private • Catholic • Research University
Votes:
179
The University of Oklahoma – Norman, OK
The University of Oklahoma – Norman, OK
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
103
The University of Oregon – Eugene, OR
The University of Oregon – Eugene, OR
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
121
The University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA
The University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA
Public • Research University • Health Sciences Leader
Votes:
184
The University of San Diego – San Diego, CA
The University of San Diego – San Diego, CA
Private • Catholic • Coastal Campus
Votes:
92
The University of San Francisco – San Francisco, CA
The University of San Francisco – San Francisco, CA
Private • Jesuit • Urban Campus
Votes:
86
The University of South Carolina – Columbia, SC
The University of South Carolina – Columbia, SC
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
138
The University of South Florida – Tampa, FL
The University of South Florida – Tampa, FL
Public • Research University • Urban Campus
Votes:
156
The University of Southern California (USC) – Los Angeles, CA
The University of Southern California (USC) – Los Angeles, CA
Private • Research University • Arts & Entertainment Hub
Votes:
55
The University of Tennessee – Knoxville, TN
The University of Tennessee – Knoxville, TN
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
89
The University of Texas at Austin – Austin, TX
The University of Texas at Austin – Austin, TX
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
62
The University of Utah – Salt Lake City, UT
The University of Utah – Salt Lake City, UT
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
85
The University of Vermont – Burlington, VT
The University of Vermont – Burlington, VT
Public • Flagship • Green Campus
Votes:
128
The University of Virginia – Charlottesville, VA
The University of Virginia – Charlottesville, VA
Public • Flagship • Public Ivy
Votes:
47
The University of Washington – Seattle, WA
The University of Washington – Seattle, WA
Public • Flagship • Research University
Votes:
81
Vanderbilt University – Nashville, TN
Vanderbilt University – Nashville, TN
Private • Research University • Residential College System
Votes:
88

Comments

Avatar
Alexander Smith 49d
Proud graduate of Haverford College! Incredible professors, vibrant campus life, and a community like no other. Let's bring it home!
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John Taylor 49d
Voting: the only time I enjoy being polled.
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Isabella Rossi 24d
I went with Brown University - Providence, RI. If brains were votes, they'd already be winning by a landslide.
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Christopher Brown 23d
"Lehigh University: where the hills are steep, the coffee is strong, and climbing to class counts as cardio. Bethlehem's finest workout plan disguised as higher education!
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Diego Morales 22d
I voted for The University of Arizona - Tucson, AZ because where else can you get a world-class education and learn how to dodge cacti on your way to class? 🌵📚 Sunburns are basically part of the curriculum.
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Fatima Hassan 17d
Saint Louis University got my vote, feels like the perfect mix of college vibes and city life
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Rajesh Kumar 16d
Yale's campus just hits different… the atmosphere in New Haven is unmatched.
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Sofia Petrova 13d
Tuscaloosa all the way! If school spirit were a major, Alabama would hand out PhDs.
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Kwame Mensah 7d
Cast my vote for The University of Southern California (USC) - Los Angeles, CA. Sunshine, palm trees, and that Trojan spirit... honestly, who wouldn’t want their campus life to feel like a movie set?
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