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Top 10 Public Universities In USA for International Students in 2025
Edited By Prabhjyot Kaur | Updated on Apr 10, 2025 09:26 AM IST
Most international students' first choice for a study abroad destination is the USA as it is renowned for education globally. Although the country is usually expensive, attending public universities is more affordable than going for private universities. The USA has around 1,626 public universities that offer world-class education with learning and career development. Over 2.68 lakh Indian students are pursuing their desired education in the USA. The tuition fees at public universities in the USA range from Rs 6.72 lakhs to 50.0 lakhs per year.
This Story also Contains
- What is a Public University in the USA?
- Why Study at Public Universities in USA?
- Eligibility Criteria for Top Public Universities in the USA
- Cost of Studying at Public universities in USA
- Public Universities in USA for International Students 2025
- Top Public Universities in the USA for MS
- Best Public Universities in USA for International Students without IELTS
- Public Universities in USA for International Students without Application Fee
- Cheap Public Universities in USA for International Students
- Public Universities in USA for International Students with Scholarship
In this article, we will explore the rankings, cost of studying at a public university, eligibility and more, which will assist you in picking the one public university in the USA for international students to start your academic journey.
Also Read:
- Top Universities & Colleges in United States
- Top 10 Universities in USA
- US Student Visa Fees in Indian Rupees in 2025
What is a Public University in the USA?
Any university that is owned and maintained by the state or national government is a public university. Without any compromise in education, public universities in the USA offer affordable and quality education. Each state in the USA has a number of public universities.
Why Study at Public Universities in USA?
There are a number of benefits to studying at public universities in the United States of America. From being cheaper on the pocket to exposure to a wide range of opportunities, here are the reasons why an international student should study at a public university in the USA:
- These universities are at least 15-20% cheaper than the private universities in USA.
- The chances of getting a scholarship are much higher for public universities as compared to private universities.
- Acceptance rates are higher in public universities.
Also read: Cheapest universities in US
Eligibility Criteria for Top Public Universities in the USA
The eligibility requirements for the best public universities in the USA differ based on the university. The following are the common requirements:
- Apply using Common Application or Coalition Application
- Meet the minimum GPA requirements of your preferred public college
- Clear any of the following entrance exams:
- GMAT for studies in business management
- GRE for all graduate studies, including MBA
- English proficiency test scores: IELTS/TOEFL,DTE/PTE
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Letter of Recommendation (LOR
- Financial Proof (For International students)
Cost of Studying at Public universities in USA
The cost of studying at public universities in US is much lower as compared to the private institutions. There are even some USA universities with no application fees. Students can also get a variety of scholarships and financial aid to support their education in the US and manage the expenses.
Public Universities in USA for International Students 2025
The following top 10 public universities in USA offer many bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs for different areas of study. Many of them are well-known worldwide for their high quality of education, infrastructure and research facilities. Here are the rankings in US News and QS World rankings are given below:
Top 10 Public Universities in USA: Rankings
University Name | US News Global Rankings | QS World Rankings |
15 | 42 | |
17 | 12 | |
21 | 44 | |
24 | 297 | |
27 | =155 | |
29 | 72 | |
30 | =215 | |
30 | 66 | |
33 | 114 | |
33 | 130 |
Top Public Universities in the USA for MS
There are various public universities in US that provide MS courses and specialisations for international students. Below mentioned are a few of the top public universities in USA for international students for masters:
- Texas A&M University
- University of Minnesota--Twin Cities
- North Carolina State University
- University of Michigan--Ann Arbor
- Rutgers University--Newark
- Michigan State University
- The Pennsylvania State University--University Park
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
- University of California--Irvine
Best Public Universities in USA for International Students without IELTS
The USA public universities for international students allow foreign students to apply for admission without requiring IELTS scores. Some universities accept other recognised English proficiency exams, making it easier for applicants to study in United States of America. Let's see here public university in USA for international students without IELTS 2025:
Public Universities in USA for International Students without IELTS
University Name | Alternative Exams for IELTS |
University of California, Berkeley |
|
University of Florida |
|
University of Texas | TOEFL iBT: 79 |
University of Michigan | TOEFL iBT: 88 |
University of North Texas | TOEFL PBT: 660 |
Public Universities in USA for International Students without Application Fee
If planning to apply to more than 2 to 3 universities in the USA, you must choose universities without application fees that can help you save money. The application fee in USA typically ranges around Rs 2000–8,408 per university for the individual.
The public university in USA for international students without application fees include the University of California, University of Florida, University of Wyoming, University of North Texas, George State University, University of South Alabama, Cleveland State University and University of New Orleans.
Cheap Public Universities in USA for International Students
Affordable public universities offer quality teaching at lower tuition fees with hundreds of programs. International students have chances to experience American cultures and connect with students from different countries. Here are the top 5 cheap public universities in USA for international students:
Cheapest Public Universities in USA for International Students
University of North Texas
University of Arkansas
University of Wyoming
Public Universities in USA for International Students with Scholarship
The best public universities in USA for international students with scholarships help to minimise the financial burden. Students can concentrate on their studies and have a fulfilling experience studying abroad by applying for these scholarships.
University Name | Scholarship offered |
University of Florida |
|
| |
California State University, Long Beach |
|
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
|
|
Also Read:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are public universities free in the USA for international students?
There are no public universities free in the USA for international students. However, choosing the cheapest public university can be more affordable than others. Eligible students can also apply for scholarships.
2. Can international students go to a public university in the USA?
Yes, international students can go to a public university in the USA. The popular public universities are the University of California, University of Michigan, University of Virginia, UNC Chapel Hill, the University of Florida, and the Georgia Institute of Technology.
3. What is the cheapest university in the USA for international students?
The cheapest university in the USA for international students is University of Florida, University of North Texas, California State University, University of Arkansas and University of Wyoming.
4. Are public schools free in USA for international students?
International students to attend public schools in USA, must pay tuition fees. The average tuition fees at public universities in USA range from approximately Rs 6.72 lakhs to 50.0 lakhs per year.
5. What does public university mean in USA?
A public university or college in the USA is an education institute that receives funding from the government and is supported completely by the state government to provide quality education to local and international students.
6. What are the several advantages of a public university in USA?
There are several advantages to taking admission to a public university- affordability of tuition fees, larger campus size, university reputation, and excellent campus life.
7. Is a public university better than a private university?
Public universities offer lower tuition fees and are also very competitive. Public universities provide excellent choices for higher education and a widening range of academic programs to choose.
8. How many public universities are there in the US?
The USA has currently about 1,955 public universities, of which 1,626 are degree-granting.
Articles
May 14, 2025
Questions related to
Have a question related to ?
Hi there
Yes you can try to learn various courses that are for approximately 3 months to 6 months in duration.
Yes you can learn before going to us. Learning skills definitively adds some value to the life of a candidate and also improves in getting good recognition in life..
Below i have mentioned some courses that you can try before visiting us:
- Social media marketing
- Content writer
- Content creation
- Video editing
- Photography skills
- Digital marketing
- Stiching
- Makeup artist course
- Hairstyling course.
So these are some courses you can try.
Hope this answer will help you. Revert incase of any query.
Thank you and good luck:)
Anushri Varshney 12 June,2022
Hello Samarasimha,
YES, you can MS in UA after completing Bsc in Statistics. . All you have to do is score good marks in your PG and prepare for GRE. You should also decide upon the country and the university in which you are going to study.
Furthermore, the requirements to pursue MS in USA are as follows :
- 3 to 4 years bachelors degree in relevant field.
- 3.5 or higher GPA, equivalent to 87% in bachelors.
- GRE score of 330 or above.
- Statement of Purpose.
- Research Internships/ Published Research Papers.
- Project work/Seminars.
- 2-3 Letter of Recommendation.
- Social & Leadership Activities.
Further, requirements for Software jobs in USA are as follows :
- Enroll in a software development program. The first step to becoming a software engineer is to enroll in a software development degree program. ...
- Gain internship experience. ...
- Choose your specialty. ...
- Pursue industry certifications. ...
- Continue your education.
I hope that this will help.
Piyush kesarwani 13 May,2022
Dear aspirant hope you are doing well..
To study at foreign universities/abroad in U. S , the admission process will require the candidate to give one language exam and one standardized exam. However, depending on the country, course, college, or university you are applying for you may be exempted from standardized exams. The language test will showcase your English proficiency skills. These exams are required for pursuing almost all courses abroad. Different countries have different language exams such as
- TOEFL exam for getting admission to the universities in the US and Canada. The score of this exam is valid for two years after the declaration of results
- There are plenty of universities abroad where you can apply to do master-level course, MSc in statistics, MSc in Operation Research, and Applied Mathematics, MSc in Mathematical Modeling, etc are some of the Master level Course in Mathematics that are available abroad. Students who have completed their graduation or bachelor's degree in Mathematics can apply for these courses. Foreign universities like Uppsala University, Dublin City University, Oxford Brookes University, University of York, University of Liverpool, etc offer all the above-mentioned courses in mathematics.
Top university of The USA for master degree courses
- John Carroll University
- Missouri University of Science and Technology
- Michigan State University
- West Virginia University
- Rhode Island College
- University of Arkansas
- Vanderbilt University
- DePaul University
- Delaware State University
- Texas A&M University-Commerce
- University of South Florida
- California State University Northridge
You can get the detailed information about the process how to apply for MS in USA. read the given article. Link is given below
https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/how-apply-for-ms-in-usa/amp
Hope it's helpful for you..
Thank you
AVINASH KUMAR 23 February,2022
There are many ways to choose your university such as fees, the ranking of the university, which state it is located and scholarships. My suggestion is to choose your research focus and write academic papers. In the US, PhD in Commerce admission into the university depends on what you want to study (your area of research) and your already completed research papers. You can begin your research by searching online for US universities offering PhD in Business Administration. One example is University of California Los Angeles (https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/phd-program/admissions#app-req) .
Tabitha 08 January,2022
Hello Student
You are aBHM means Bachelor in Hotel Management so after doing BHM,to gain a bright future inthis trade you have to do MSc in Hotel Management,post graduation in Hospitality Management,Master degree in travel and tourism management,or MBA in hotel management,AFter doing post graduation in Hotel management or travel and tourism management will give you the best return in employment opportunity.
Hope this will help.
Sohamsengupta8 13 February,2022
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