University

Western Governors University (WGU) is a private, nonprofit online university based in Utah, with 210,208 students enrolled in fall 2024. Its pros are low tuition, a competency-based model that lets you move as fast as you can prove mastery, open admission and regional accreditation; its cons are fully self-directed study, no campus life and a […]

West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) is a public university in Canyon, Texas, and the northernmost campus of the Texas A&M University System, with 9,045 students, 6,926 of them undergraduates, in fall 2024. Its pros are near-open admission, almost no out-of-state premium, a 14 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and strong agriculture programs; its cons are a

The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is a public university in Duluth, Minnesota, and part of the University of Minnesota System, with 9,253 students, 8,426 of them undergraduates, in fall 2024. Its pros are University of Minnesota degrees, 81% freshman retention, a campus overlooking Lake Superior and national-champion hockey; its cons are an average net

The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) is a public university in Conway, Arkansas, with 10,112 students, 8,268 of them undergraduates, in fall 2024. Its pros are a long record in teacher education and health professions, a 15 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, residential colleges and Division I athletics; its cons are a net price that stays

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) is a public university formed in 2022 by merging Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities. It had 11,092 students, 9,847 of them undergraduates, in fall 2024. Its pros are accessible admission, grant aid for nearly every freshman and three distinct small-town campuses; its cons are a high net price for

Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) is a public university formed in 2022 by merging California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University and Edinboro University. It had 10,834 students, 7,586 of them undergraduates, in fall 2024. Its pros are near-open admission, a modest out-of-state premium, three campuses and a large online offering; its cons are a high net

Utah Valley University (UVU) is a public university in Orem, Utah, and the largest university by enrollment in the state, with 46,807 students in fall 2024. Its pros are open admission, a low in-state price and a wide mix of certificates, associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees; its cons are no on-campus housing, a 26 to

St. Cloud State University (SCSU) is a public university in St. Cloud, Minnesota, with 10,732 students, 8,738 of them undergraduates, in fall 2024. Its pros are near-open admission, ABET-accredited engineering, a strong hockey tradition and a single tuition rate for residents and non-residents; its cons are a steep enrollment decline, major program cuts and low

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (UWO) is a public university in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with 12,953 students, 11,994 of them undergraduates, in fall 2024. Its pros are a low in-state price, a broad program list inside the University of Wisconsin System and a strong NCAA Division III sports tradition; its cons are a four-year graduation rate of

Tennessee Tech University (Tennessee Technological University) is a public research university in Cookeville, Tennessee, with 10,511 students, 9,187 of them undergraduates, in fall 2024. Its main pros are a strong engineering and STEM focus, a 16 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and R2 research status; its main cons are a remote small-town location, a sharp rise