# Public universities with the highest graduation rates

> Four-year public colleges ranked by the share of students who graduate, with in-state tuition, price after grants and graduate earnings beside each. U.S. College Scorecard, latest data.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/data/public-universities-with-highest-graduation-rates
- Data (CSV): https://www.collegesref.com/data/public-universities-with-highest-graduation-rates.csv
- Source data: latest College Scorecard release
- Snapshot updated: November 15, 2026

## Key findings

1. 584 four-year colleges in 51 states meet every criterion on this page.
2. United States Coast Guard Academy (Connecticut) ranks first, with a graduation rate of 95%.
3. The median qualifying college has a graduation rate of 51%.


## The ranking

| College | State and type | Rank | Grad. rate | In-state tuition | Avg. net price | Median earnings |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [United States Coast Guard Academy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/united-states-coast-guard-academy-2847) | Connecticut · Public | 1 | 95% | — | — | — |
| [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Tech](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus-ga-tech-1072) | Georgia · Public | 2 | 94% | $12,008 | $12,028 | $114,210 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | California · Public | 3 | 94% | $17,198 | $14,538 | $100,212 |
| [University of Virginia-Main Campus UVA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-virginia-main-campus-uva-3072) | Virginia · Public | 4 | 94% | $22,431 | $18,056 | $96,468 |
| [University of California-Los Angeles UCLA](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-los-angeles-ucla-2884) | California · Public | 5 | 93% | $15,729 | $14,659 | $88,581 |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Michigan · Public | 6 | 93% | $18,346 | $14,362 | $92,832 |
| [University of Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-florida-2910) | Florida · Public | 7 | 92% | $6,381 | $5,969 | $78,456 |
| [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-main-campus-2990) | North Carolina · Public | 8 | 91% | $9,095 | $11,305 | $81,094 |
| [University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-wisconsin-madison-main-campus-3084) | Wisconsin · Public | 9 | 90% | $12,166 | $16,600 | $80,330 |
| [The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-main-campus-2764) | Texas · Public | 10 | 89% | $11,656 | $18,554 | $81,694 |
| [University of Georgia](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-georgia-2912) | Georgia · Public | 11 | 89% | $11,492 | $13,636 | $77,246 |
| [Clemson University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/clemson-university-572) | South Carolina · Public | 12 | 88% | $15,854 | $22,032 | $79,064 |
| [United States Naval Academy at Annapolis](https://www.collegesref.com/college/united-states-naval-academy-at-annapolis-2850) | Maryland · Public | 13 | 88% | — | — | — |
| [University of Maryland-College Park Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-maryland-college-park-main-campus-2949) | Maryland · Public | 14 | 88% | $12,290 | $14,296 | $89,228 |
| [William & Mary](https://www.collegesref.com/college/william-mary-3270) | Virginia · Public | 15 | 88% | $26,456 | $18,880 | $83,488 |
| [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo SLO](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo-slo-360) | California · Public | 16 | 87% | $15,039 | $18,832 | $96,304 |
| [Ohio State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ohio-state-university-main-campus-2000) | Ohio · Public | 17 | 87% | $13,641 | $17,269 | $67,080 |
| [University of California-Irvine UCI](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-irvine-uci-2883) | California · Public | 18 | 87% | $16,235 | $13,866 | $83,432 |
| [Florida State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-state-university-main-campus-985) | Florida · Public | 19 | 86% | $5,656 | $8,605 | $68,225 |
| [United States Military Academy at West Point](https://www.collegesref.com/college/united-states-military-academy-at-west-point-2849) | New York · Public | 20 | 86% | — | — | — |
| [University of California-Davis](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-davis-2882) | California · Public | 21 | 86% | $17,346 | $14,318 | $86,999 |
| [University of California-San Diego UCSD](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-san-diego-ucsd-2887) | California · Public | 22 | 86% | $17,337 | $14,794 | $96,197 |
| [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign-main-campus-2927) | Illinois · Public | 23 | 86% | $16,354 | $13,042 | $87,599 |
| [University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pittsburgh-pittsburgh-campus-3019) | Pennsylvania · Public | 24 | 86% | $22,736 | $29,362 | $73,113 |
| [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university-3134) | Virginia · Public | 25 | 86% | $16,450 | $25,808 | $88,716 |
| [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](https://www.collegesref.com/college/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh-1884) | North Carolina · Public | 26 | 85% | $8,815 | $16,486 | $77,810 |
| [Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus-214777) | Pennsylvania · Public | 27 | 85% | $21,098 | $33,675 | $71,762 |
| [Texas A & M University-College Station](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-university-college-station-2694) | Texas · Public | 28 | 85% | $13,154 | $21,527 | $78,159 |
| [The College of New Jersey](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-college-of-new-jersey-2736) | New Jersey · Public | 29 | 85% | $20,378 | $26,752 | $79,651 |
| [University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities-main-campus-2963) | Minnesota · Public | 30 | 85% | $18,482 | $17,330 | $74,314 |
| [University of Washington-Seattle Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-seattle-main-campus-3075) | Washington · Public | 31 | 85% | $13,406 | $13,663 | $83,105 |
| [Purdue University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/purdue-university-main-campus-2163) | Indiana · Public | 32 | 84% | $9,992 | $14,851 | $80,082 |
| [Rutgers University-New Brunswick Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rutgers-university-new-brunswick-main-campus-2279) | New Jersey · Public | 33 | 84% | $18,824 | $24,897 | $80,490 |
| [United States Air Force Academy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/united-states-air-force-academy-2846) | Colorado · Public | 34 | 84% | — | — | — |
| [University of California-Santa Barbara UCSB](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-santa-barbara-ucsb-2888) | California · Public | 35 | 84% | $16,989 | $16,807 | $82,568 |
| [University of Connecticut UCONN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-connecticut-uconn-2902) | Connecticut · Public | 36 | 84% | $21,334 | $24,342 | $82,098 |
| [University of Florida-Online](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-florida-online-484473) | Florida · Public | 37 | 83% | $3,876 | $4,336 | $78,456 |
| [Auburn University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/auburn-university-141) | Alabama · Public | 38 | 82% | $13,318 | $25,424 | $73,273 |
| [Binghamton University SUNY](https://www.collegesref.com/college/binghamton-university-suny-249) | New York · Public | 39 | 82% | $10,567 | $20,907 | $89,136 |
| [Colorado School of Mines](https://www.collegesref.com/college/colorado-school-of-mines-642) | Colorado · Public | 40 | 82% | $22,658 | $32,901 | $102,077 |
| [Fashion Institute of Technology FIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fashion-institute-of-technology-fit-942) | New York · Public | 41 | 81% | $6,596 | $16,514 | $72,055 |
| [Miami University-Oxford](https://www.collegesref.com/college/miami-university-oxford-1675) | Ohio · Public | 42 | 81% | $18,520 | $29,447 | $63,814 |
| [University of Massachusetts-Amherst UMASS Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-massachusetts-amherst-umass-main-campus-2950) | Massachusetts · Public | 43 | 81% | $18,487 | $22,857 | $80,486 |
| [University of Vermont UVM](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-vermont-uvm-3071) | Vermont · Public | 44 | 81% | $19,514 | $20,277 | $68,368 |
| [Indiana University-Bloomington Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/indiana-university-bloomington-main-campus-1277) | Indiana · Public | 45 | 80% | $12,144 | $16,003 | $70,105 |
| [James Madison University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/james-madison-university-1324) | Virginia · Public | 46 | 80% | $14,620 | $23,550 | $75,482 |
| [Michigan State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/michigan-state-university-1677) | Michigan · Public | 47 | 80% | $17,256 | $21,322 | $74,168 |
| [Citadel Military College of South Carolina](https://www.collegesref.com/college/citadel-military-college-of-south-carolina-539) | South Carolina · Public | 48 | 79% | $12,570 | $22,019 | $82,609 |
| [The University of Texas at Dallas](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-dallas-2765) | Texas · Public | 49 | 79% | $14,664 | $15,271 | $74,762 |
| [University of South Carolina-Columbia Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-south-carolina-columbia-main-campus-3042) | South Carolina · Public | 50 | 79% | $12,688 | $22,197 | $69,024 |

## Methodology

- **Colleges counted.** Every college published on CollegesRef that is public or private nonprofit, in a four-year Carnegie class (doctoral, master's or baccalaureate), in the 50 states or D.C., with at least 500 undergraduates and both figures reported in the College Scorecard.
- **Criteria.** This list keeps public four-year colleges, then ranks them by graduation rate. Closed colleges are left out.
- **Exclusions.** For-profit colleges, two-year colleges, special-focus institutions, colleges with fewer undergraduates than the minimum, U.S. territories and colleges missing either figure are left out. Earnings figures without a federal reporting year are excluded.
- **Definitions.** Median earnings are former students' earnings ten years after entry (College Scorecard MD_EARN_WNE_P10). Average net price is cost of attendance minus average grants for aided first-time, full-time students (NPT4). Median debt is federal loan debt at graduation (GRAD_DEBT_MDN). Graduation rate is the IPEDS rate reported in the Scorecard.
- **What it leaves out.** A ranking on federal figures says nothing about teaching, fit or programs. Earnings are before tax and not specific to a major; prices are averages, so your family's price depends on its income and the college's aid.

## Frequently asked questions

### How is this list ranked?

CollegesRef keeps public four-year colleges, and ranks them by graduation rate, highest first. 584 colleges qualify; the top 50 are shown and the CSV holds the same rows.

### Which college ranks first?

United States Coast Guard Academy (Connecticut, public), with graduation rate of 95%. The median qualifying college reports 51%.

### Where does the data come from?

The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (latest data), which reports IPEDS cost and graduation figures and federal earnings and debt records. CollegesRef recomputes the list weekly from the latest snapshot.

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- IPEDS (National Center for Education Statistics): https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/
- The federal source data is a U.S. government work in the public domain (https://www.usa.gov/government-copyright).
- CollegesRef methodology: https://www.collegesref.com/methodology

## How to cite

CollegesRef, "Public universities with the highest graduation rates," analysis of the latest U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, updated November 15, 2026. https://www.collegesref.com/data/public-universities-with-highest-graduation-rates

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Source: CollegesRef, https://www.collegesref.com/data/public-universities-with-highest-graduation-rates.