According to U.S. News and World Report magazine, of the hundred universities often called the “top” universities in the United States, some are public, or state, universities; the others are private. As a group, the schools are noteworthy for the quality of their academic offerings; the resources available, such as high-caliber laboratories and libraries; and the wide network of alumni and supporters associated with the schools. These universities offer a wide range of undergraduate majors, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees; many strongly emphasize research. The U.S. News & World Report 2008 top 20 national universities are:
- Princeton University (NJ)
- Harvard University (MA)
- Yale University(CT)
- Stanford University(CA)
- University of Pennsylvania
- California Institute of Technology
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Duke University(NC)
- Columbia University(NY)
- University of Chicago
- Dartmouth College(NH)
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Cornell University(NY)
- Northwestern University(IL)
- Johns Hopkins University(MD)
- Rice University(TX)
- Emory University(GA)
- Vanderbilt University(TN)
- University of Notre Dame(IN)
- University of California—Berkeley