Explore the 2018 Best National Universities

See the Top 20 National Universities

National Universities are research institutions that offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, and those leading the 2018 Best Colleges rankings are a mix of public and private schools.

See photos of these top 20 National Universities.

20. Georgetown University (DC)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,453

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $52,300

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 10

More about Georgetown University.

18 (tie). University of Notre Dame (IN)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 8,530

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $51,505

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1

More about Notre Dame.

18 (tie). Washington University in St. Louis

Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,540

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $51,533

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 2

More about Washington University in St. Louis.

14 (tie). Brown University (RI)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,926

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $53,419

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1

More about Brown University.

14 (tie). Cornell University (NY)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 14,566

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $52,853

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1

More about Cornell University.

14 (tie). Rice University (TX)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,893

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $45,608

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1

More about Rice University.

14 (tie). Vanderbilt University (TN)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,871

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $47,664

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1

More about Vanderbilt University.

11 (tie). Dartmouth College (NH)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,310

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $52,950

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1

More about Dartmouth College.

11 (tie). Johns Hopkins University (MD)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,117

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $52,170

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1

More about Johns Hopkins University.

11 (tie). Northwestern University (IL)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 8,353

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $52,678

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1

More about Northwestern University.

10. California Institute of Technology

Total undergraduate enrollment: 979

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $49,908

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 3

More about Caltech.

9. Duke University (NC)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,609

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $53,744

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 3

More about Duke University.

8. University of Pennsylvania

Total undergraduate enrollment: 10,019

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $53,534

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 5

More about the University of Pennsylvania.

5 (tie). Columbia University (NY)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,113

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $57,208

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1

More about Columbia University.

5 (tie). Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,524

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $49,892

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1

More about MIT.

5 (tie). Stanford University (CA)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,034

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $49,617

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 3

More about Stanford University.

3 (tie). University of Chicago

Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,941

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $54,825

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1

More about the University of Chicago.

3 (tie). Yale University (CT)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,472

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $51,400

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1

More about Yale University.

2. Harvard University (MA)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,710

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $48,949

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1

More about Harvard University.

1. Princeton University (NJ)

Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,400

2017-2018 tuition and fees: $47,140

Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1

More about Princeton University.

Learn More About the Best Colleges Rankings

Explore the complete 2018 Best Colleges rankings to view other exclusive lists, such as A-plus Schools for B Students and Best Value Schools.

Connect with U.S. News Education on Facebook and Twitter to share your thoughts on the rankings with the #BestColleges hashtag.

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Explore the 2018 Best National Universities originally appeared on usnews.com

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