13. Colorado State University



Fort Collins, Colorado

Colorado State University is nestled at the foot of the Rockies in Fort Collins, a town named the 4th healthiest mid-sized city in a 2013 Gallup survey and the 4th best place to live by Money Magazine in 2010. CSU has received top rankings for its sustainability efforts and was recently chosen to receive special Smart cars for research. Several of its academic programs are also top ranked, including the vet school and programs in occupational therapy, agriculture, and journalism. Colorado State’s more than $300 million in annual research funding puts it at the forefront of areas such as infectious disease, cancer research, and atmospheric science. Outside the classroom, students stay busy through more than 500 student organizations and attend 11,000 individual appointments with career advisors. An 84% freshman retention rate indicates that students feel satisfied with their experience at Colorado State.

Net Price: $13,487
Ranking: 9th

11. Arizona State University



Phoenix, Arizona

Students might choose Arizona State University for its reputation for innovative education practices, or maybe because it has a high number of student entrepreneurs. Perhaps it’s because students enjoy close attention from professors, as 90% of graduating students report having worked closely with professors on projects, internships, and more. Maybe they know that ASU’s more than 100 programs were judged by a Wall Street Journal analysis to be in the top five for producing graduates most qualified for employment. Since Phoenix gets more than its share of sunlight, ASU has installed more than 78,000 solar panels in 86 systems across its four campuses, generating 23.5MW of power and shading thousands of parking spots! It’s no wonder that the school that turned itself into a “living solar laboratory” has an engineering program ranked in the top ten percent by U.S. News and World Report.

Net Price: $13,061
Ranking: 10th

9. University of Utah



Salt Lake City, Utah

The University of Utah keeps its students happy, as evidenced by its 88% freshman retention rate. Students can get engaged with the university through more than 500 student organizations and can bond with friends at the Redfest and Grand Kerfuffle concert festivals. You can help grow organic produce in the Edible Campus Gardens and then visit one of the three top Utah attractions right on campus: the Natural History Museum, Red Butte Gardens, and the Museum of Fine Arts. Looking for innovation? Choose the U, which in 2009 topped a list of research universities by creating 19 spinoff companies based on U technology. Some top programs include the College of Engineering and the no. 1 ranked Entertainment Arts and Engineering program. The U makes it easy for you to customize your college experience through MUSE (My Utah Signature Experience), a portal which connects students to internships and other opportunities based on their areas of interest.

Net Price: $11,702
Ranking: 11th