Best Undergraduate Teaching National Universities

Many colleges have a strong commitment to teaching undergraduates instead of conducting graduate-level research. In a survey conducted in spring 2016, the schools on these lists received the most votes from top college administrators for putting a particular focus on undergraduate teaching.

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National Universities, Undergraduate Teaching
< $5,000 - $50,000
0 - 14,000
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Princeton University

Princeton, NJ
#1 in Best Undergraduate Teaching
#1 in National Universities

The ivy-covered campus of Princeton University, a private institution, is located in the quiet town of Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton was the first university to offer a "no loan" policy to financially needy students, giving grants instead of loans to accepted students who need help paying tuition. more

$45,320 Tuition and Fees
5,402 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Miami University--Oxford

Oxford, OH
#2 in Best Undergraduate Teaching
#79 in National Universities (tie)

Miami University students make up nearly half the population of the approximately 7-square-mile town of Oxford, Ohio. Freshmen must live on campus, which is also home to more than 500 student organizations. The Greek system constitutes a large part of campus life, with about a third of the student body involved in more than 50 fraternities and sororities. In fact, the school often gets the moniker “Mother of Fraternities” because the Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Kappa Tau and Sigma Chi organizations were founded at Miami University. The school is also known as the "Cradle of Coaches" for the number of professional and collegiate coaches who once competed for Miami. The RedHawks, who compete in the Division I Mid-American Conference, were known as the Redskins until 1997. The name was changed after years of controversy and a request from the Miami Indian Tribe. (The tribe is the namesake of the university.) To help ease the transition into freshman year, older students often create a guide to life at Miami University, called the "M Book." Student couples who marry are known as "Miami Mergers" and are reminded of their alma mater each Valentine's Day, when the admissions office sends cards to congratulate former students on finding love at school. more

$31,592 (out-of-state), $14,288 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
16,387 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Yale University

New Haven, CT
#3 in Best Undergraduate Teaching
#3 in National Universities (tie)

Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, offers a small college life with the resources of a major research institution. Yale students are divided into 12 residential colleges that foster a supportive environment for living, learning and socializing. more

$49,480 Tuition and Fees
5,532 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Brown University

Providence, RI
#4 in Best Undergraduate Teaching
#14 in National Universities

At Brown University, undergraduate students are responsible for designing their own academic study with more than 70 concentration programs to choose from. Another unique offering at this private, Ivy League institution in Providence, R.I. is the Program in Liberal Medical Education, which grants both a bachelor’s degree and medical degree in eight years. more

$51,367 Tuition and Fees
6,652 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Rice University

Houston, TX
#5 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)
#15 in National Universities (tie)

Rice University is located in the heart of the Museum District in Houston, TX. The private institution has a need-blind admissions policy and meets the full demonstrated need of any accepted student who requires help paying tuition. more

$43,918 Tuition and Fees
3,910 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC
#5 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)
#27 in National Universities (tie)

Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, just a few hours by car from skiing in the Blue Ridge Mountains or relaxing on the beaches of South Carolina. Campus Recreation offers intramural sports and outdoor trips such as kayaking on the New River, hang-gliding and sky-diving. The Demon Deacons, Wake’s athletic teams, are members of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference. When Wake Forest played rival Duke University in 1922 and won, a local reporter described the Wake players as "Demon Deacons," and thus, the mascot was born. Students must live on campus for six semesters in one of the residence halls. Greek organizations play a big role at Wake Forest, with a membership consisting of almost half of the student body. more

$49,308 Tuition and Fees
4,871 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH
#7 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)
#11 in National Universities

Dartmouth College, a private institution in Hanover, New Hampshire, uses quarters, not semesters, to divide the school year. Among more than 300 student organizations at Dartmouth is the Outing Club, the nation's oldest and largest collegiate club of its kind, which offers outdoor activities, expeditions, gear rentals and courses. more

$51,438 Tuition and Fees
4,307 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

University of Michigan--Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI
#7 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)
#27 in National Universities (tie)

The university boasts of Ann Arbor, only 45 minutes from Detroit, as one of the best college towns in the U.S. Freshmen are guaranteed housing but not required to live on campus. Students can join one of the school’s more than 900 student organizations or 60 Greek chapters. Athletics play a central role at Michigan, including the football team’s fierce rivalry with Ohio State. Michigan also offers highly ranked graduate programs, including the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, College of Engineering, Law School and Medical School, in addition to the well-regarded School of Dentistry and Taubman College for Architecture and Urban Planning. The University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers is ranked among the top hospitals in the country. more

$43,476 (out-of-state), $13,856 (in-state) Tuition and Fees
28,312 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN
#7 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)
#15 in National Universities (tie)

The University of Notre Dame is a private, independent, Catholic institution in South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame’s athletic teams, known as the Fighting Irish, play in the NCAA Division I and are particularly competitive on the football field. more

$49,685 Tuition and Fees
8,462 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more

Stanford University

Stanford, CA
#10 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)
#5 in National Universities (tie)

The sunny campus of Stanford University is located in California’s Bay Area, about 30 miles from San Francisco. The private institution stresses a multidisciplinary combination of teaching, learning, and research, and students have many opportunities to get involved in research projects. more

$47,940 Tuition and Fees
6,999 Undergraduate Enrollment
SAT, GPA and more