By Iris Stone
Read below for our ranking of the 50 best alternative graduate schools in the Western United States.
First, let's clarify what we mean by "alternative." Why wouldn't we just rank the best grad schools? Why did we feel compelled to look for something different? In short, because a list of the 50 best graduate schools based on traditional factors - like selectivity and test scores - wouldn't be news to anyone. That's because the same colleges and universities always appear at the top of those rankings, in almost the exact same order. We all know about the prestigious Ivy League universities and schools like Stanford and Cal Tech, which many consider to be "new Ivies." And so we wondered: is it possible to create a ranking of top grad schools that doesn't include any of these typical options?
Methodology
We developed our own "alternative" methodology, which you can read all about here.
The 50 best alternative grad schools in the West are listed below. Many schools are probably still not that much of a surprise, as they all have plenty to offer advanced degree seekers. For each, highlight some of the university's strongest subjects, which we hope will help guide you as you consider which is the right school for you.
50. New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM
Website
New Mexico State University's business,
education, and nursing programs are all well-regarded, but its graduate program in engineering is
particularly notable for its affiliation with the NASA Space Grant Program, for which NMSU is the lead New
Mexico institution. The space agency provides curriculum enhancement, faculty development, and
scholarships to STEM programs across the country. Another key aspect of NMSU's identity is diversity. The
school is a Hispanic-serving institution, and nearly half of the student population is Hispanic. In fact,
NMSU aims to serve diverse communities across every county in New Mexico, including American Indian
tribes, through its Tribal Extension program.
Tuition and Fees: $9,757/yr
Score: 54.63
49. Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK
Website
With 17 master's and 45 doctoral level
programs, Oklahoma State University has something for every one of its 5,000 graduate students. Research
is an essential element of the school's mission. Whether its students choose to pursue a graduate degree
in engineering or English, OSU actively pursues federal funding within particular focus areas: energy
technology, health care, STEM education, food safety and security, water stewardship, and technologies to
aid independent living. OSU's well-ranked graduate degree in medicine features a noteworthy and nationally
regarded four-year Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine that provides comprehensive medical training with a
unique "whole-person" approach to treating patients.
Tuition and Fees: $13,837/yr
Score: 55.81
48. California State University-San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA
Website
California State University, San
Bernardino features a number of unique graduate programs, many of which are focused on providing an
interdisciplinary approach to education. One particularly flexible example is the school's top graduate
degree in interdisciplinary studies, which enables students to build their own custom degree program in
consultation with three faculty members, at least two of whom must come from different fields of study.
Graduate students can also pursue a graduate degree in business administration with a focus in
Entrepreneurship, where they'll start and run a real business under the advisement of Cal State's expert
faculty.
Tuition and Fees: $13,396/yr
Score: 55.86
47. University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Website
The University of Louisiana at
Lafayette's robust research program prioritizes finding practical applications for its cutting-edge
research. The school is proud of its faculty's and students' real-world innovations, including a
driver-less robotic vehicle named CajunBot and a hurricane-proof solar home called BeauSoleil. UL
Lafayette's graduate degree in systems engineering draws on each of the school's five engineering
departments - chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, and petroleum - and enables graduate
students to obtain an integrated graduate degree in engineering while specializing in one of these fields.
Graduates of the Systems Engineering program can pursue careers in fields ranging from coastal ecosystems
to fiber optic networks to disaster resource management.
Tuition and Fees: $13,546/yr
Score: 61.06
46. California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA
Website
California State University-Northridge is
the third largest school in the University of California system, but most of its graduate programs are
quite small, meaning students benefit from the resources of a major institution and the personal touch of
a tight-knit academic community. Applicants can choose from two doctoral programs — a Master's of
Education in Educational Leadership and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy - and a broad range of 58
master's degrees, including programs in counseling, education, and public administration, as well as a top
graduate degree in business administration designed for fully employed professionals.
Tuition
and Fees: $13,395/yr
Score: 70.21
45. University of Redlands
Redlands, CA
Website
Graduate students at the University of
Redlands benefit from the school's unique "Centers of Distinction." This innovative network of research
institutions features six distinct centers, each of which focuses on a highly specialized field of study.
One example is the Truesdail Center for Communicative Disorders, which connects graduate student
clinicians with local clients who suffer from swallowing disorders, traumatic brain injury, stuttering,
autism, and language and learning disorders. Although the school offers just 14 graduate degree programs,
most have similarly strong links with other Centers of Distinction, providing an invaluable resource for
students working in less common fields.
Tuition and Fees: $18,792/yr
Score:
73.27
44. Hardin-Simmons University
Abilene, TX
Website
As a Christian university, Hardin-Simmons
offers a number of faith-based graduate programs, including graduate degrees in Church Music, Family
Ministry, and Divinity. HSU also boasts a relationship with the Baptist General Convention of Texas that
is over a half-century old, providing great networking opportunities for students who want to enter the
ministry after earning their graduate degree in divinity. And for students aiming for more secular
careers, the school offers a healthy set of graduate degrees in liberal arts - including Master of
Arts in English, History, and Clinical Counseling, as well as MBAs in Sport Management and
Entrepreneurship.
Tuition and Fees: $11,700/yr
Score: 77.50
43. Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, OK
Website
Oklahoma City University is known for its
innovative Master's of Education - students can pursue M.E.s in Applied Behavioral Sciences,
Professional Counseling, and even a 50-year-old American Montessori Certification program that allows
students to obtain a Montessori certification while pursuing their graduate degree in education. The
school's low student-to-faculty ratio (11:1) enables students to receive individual attention as they
choose an "area of emphasis" for their graduate degree. OCU is a Christian university and has a historic
relationship with the United Methodist Church, but the school welcomes all faiths with an "Open Hearts,
Open Minds, and Open Doors" policy.
Tuition and Fees: $15,804/yr
Score: 79.75
42. The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX
Website
Applicants to the University of Texas at El
Paso can choose from nearly 100 graduate programs. The school offers 20 doctoral programs and 78 master's
programs across the UT El Paso's seven colleges of business, education, engineering, health sciences,
liberal arts, nursing, and science. UTEP makes diversity and excellence a priority by working to ensure
that its student population is varied and high-achieving. As many as three-quarters of students receive
financial aid, and the school's Master's of Business Administration and College of Engineering programs
are well-regarded for graduating Hispanic students with degrees in business administration and
engineering.
Tuition and Fees: $8,864/yr
Score: 79.82
41. University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO
Website
"Two for one" is a common arrangement
at the University of Colorado Boulder, which offers 14 dual master's degree programs and 35 concurrent
bachelor's/master's degree programs (not to mention over 15 interdisciplinary certificate programs). And
with 11 individual research institutes and more than 900 investigators, CU Boulder is no slouch when it
comes to research. The school has working relationships with several federal labs and innovative research
programs in renewable energy, biotechnology, space sciences, engineering, and geosciences. Graduates
will appreciate the school's Postdoctoral Association of Colorado, which fosters professional development
for CU Boulder postdoctoral fellows.
Tuition and Fees: $20,623/yr
Score: 94.60
40. The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Website
The University of Texas at San Antonio is
large and growing. The school is working toward becoming a Carnegie Tier-1 research institution and offers
more than 100 doctoral, master's and graduate certificate programs. In its quest for Tier-1 status, UT San
Antonio has built an impressive research program. The school offers nearly two dozen research centers and
institutes spanning UTSA's five areas of excellence - Energy and the Environment, Health, Human and
Social Development, Security, and Sustainability. That translates to high-tech centers in innovative
fields like Cultural Sustainability, Water Research, and Cyber Security.
Tuition and
Fees: $13,272/yr
Score: 96.36
39. Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ
Website
If you're short on time, Northern Arizona
University is one of over 60 U.S. institutions that offers Professional Science Master's (PSM) programs.
Students can earn a PSM in just two years, and most programs feature interdisciplinary studies across more
than one academic discipline. NAU offers PSM degrees in two subjects: Applied Geospatial Sciences and
Climate Science and Solutions. Or if you'd like to fit a little travel into your graduate degree, NAU's
Center for International Education will let you pay NAU's affordable tuition rates in lieu of the cost of
a host institution abroad.
Tuition and Fees: $13,025/yr
Score:
104.1
38. University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO
Website
The University of Northern Colorado aims to
provide a great experience for every one of its students. The academic community is tight-knit, with small
classes sizes and a teacher/scholar model that ensures faculty members prioritize both 1-on-1 instruction
with their students and active research in their fields. That close faculty-student relationship makes UNC
one of the best graduate schools for education, with Master's of Arts in Educational Leadership and
Educational Psychology, Master's of Teaching in Curriculum Studies, English Education, Elementary
Education, plus Ph.D. programs in Educational Mathematics, Educational Psychology, and Educational
Studies.
Tuition and Fees: $14,748/yr
Score: 106.1
37. University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD
Website
The University of South Dakota is
well-respected in its home state. Seventy percent of South Dakota's lawyers and about half of its doctors
and teachers graduated from USD. And no wonder - with 66 graduate and professional programs, USD is
the largest graduate education provider in the Mount Rushmore state. The school offers a wide variety of
graduate programs in education - 11 categories in all - many of which include additional
specializations that ensure every student can find a graduate program in education that is unique to his
or her interests.
Tuition and Fees: $10,955/yr
Score: 106.3
36. University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND
Website
Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the
University of North Dakota is even bigger than its neighbor to the south. With 120 graduate degree and
certificate programs (and more likely on the way) UND has become a nationally known research institution.
Much of that notability comes from the school's John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, which
provides one of the best top graduate degrees in aviation in the U.S. Those years of experience have
enabled the school to remain on the cutting edge. Today it is home to the Center for Unmanned Aircraft
Systems Research, Education and Training.
Tuition and Fees: $13,964/yr
Score:
108.8
35. The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX
Website
The University of Texas at Arlington is the
second largest in the UT system, and its graduate program reflects that size, with just over 9,000
graduate students and over 100 master's and doctoral degree programs. The school offers degrees in nine
different academic areas, including an innovative College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs
that offers a Master of City and Regional Planning and a PhD in Urban Planning and Public Policy. UT
Arlington's graduate program in business is also one of the best in the country and has working
relationships with many Chinese educational institutions.
Tuition and Fees:
$11,625/yr
Score: 108.9
34. Utah State University
Logan, UT
Website
Utah State University is home to the Emma
Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, one of the largest and most varied educational and
human services colleges in the country. The college offers 29 research, clinical, and professional degrees
by itself and is one of only two universities in the country to offer a PhD graduate program in psychology
that combines clinical, counseling, and school psychology and is accredited by the American
Psychological Association. If education and psychology aren't your fields of choice, USU offers more than
150 other graduate degree programs to meet nearly every need.
Tuition and Fees:
$12,079/yr
Score: 109.5
33. University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR
Website
The University of Arkansas takes a global
approach to graduate education; the school welcomes international students through an International
Students and Scholars team and offers extensive study abroad programs. More than a third of graduate
students are international, and 800 students studied abroad while pursuing a graduate degree at UA. One
benefit of this worldwide focus is the school's unique Program in Comparative Literature and Cultural
studies, a doctorate program with a wide range of areas of concentration: comparative literature,
interdisciplinary Hispanic studies, modern language, cultural studies, literary translation.
Tuition
and Fees: $12,595/yr
Score: 114.8
32. Portland State University
Portland, OR
Website
It might not surprise you to hear that
Portland State University is one of the greenest schools in the country. Eight buildings on the PSU campus
boast LEED certification, and the school has mandated that all future buildings must earn LEED
certification as well. And as you might expect, the school's highly regarded graduate programs in Urban
Studies (PSU offers both a Master's and Ph.D.) feature an Environment field area with courses in Green
Buildings and Energy and Society. If that's not "green" enough for you, consider pursuing one of Portland
State's popular graduate degrees in Sustainable Food Systems or Energy Policy and Management.
Tuition
and Fees: $17,181/yr
Score: 116.0
31. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge, LA
Website
Like the University of Northern Colorado,
Louisiana State University operates on the teacher/scholar model, meaning it values research as a vital
part of the university's overall health. LSU also sees research productivity as an important indicator of
the quality of education it provides its students. LSU's approach to integrating teaching and research has
paid off and its heavy investment (financially and otherwise) in a wide range of programs has placed it in
Carnegie Tier-1 territory. The school now boasts nationally ranked graduate programs in education, library
and information studies, fine arts, and landscape architecture, plus more than 100 other master's,
doctoral, and certificate programs.
Tuition and Fees: $9,877/yr
Score: 117.1
30. University of Nevada-Reno
Reno, NV
Website
The University of Nevada-Reno is another
top-tier research university with some amazing technology - two ultra-powerful lasers, a
gene-sequencing center, and even a large-scale experimental earthquake research center that enables
researchers to test the stability of structures by simulating earthquakes. UNR also has several robust
liberal arts graduate programs, including a Master of Science in Equity and Diversity in Education and a
unique Basque Tutorial program. Students in that track pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Basque Studies in
conjunction with a UNR graduate degree in anthropology, foreign languages and literature, geography,
political science, or history.
Tuition and Fees: $12,245/yr
Score: 118.7
29. University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
Website
Like its sister institution in Reno, the
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is ranked by the Carnegie Foundation as a "research-intensive university,"
and the school is working hard to achieve Tier-1 status. Several of UNLV's top-ranked programs are aided
by its proximity to the Las Vegas strip. Business students can choose from well-regarded graduate programs
in Hospitality Management and Hotel Administration (the latter of which offers two dual Master's
programs), and architecture students can pursue a graduate degree in Hospitality Design during a year of
intense study with Las Vegas-based architecture firms.
Tuition and Fees:
$12,455/yr
Score: 120.3
28. Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO
Website
The Missouri University of Science and
Technology is a STEM-focused school with strong graduate programs in four primary areas: Business,
Psychology and Communication, Sciences and Computing, and Engineering. In 2009, MST changed its name from
the University of Missouri, Rolla to affirm its commitment to STEM fields. Since then, the newly titled
University of Science and Technology has set its sights on becoming one of the top five polytechs in the
U.S. Today. Nearly three-quarters of the student body studies some branch of engineering, and MST's
graduate degree in engineering is one of the best in the country.
Tuition and Fees:
$17,886/yr
Score: 120.9
27. University of Houston-Clear Lake
Houston, TX
The fact that the University of Houston-Clear Lake can count a half-dozen astronauts among its alumni
might seem like a fortunate coincidence, until you consider its proximity to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space
Center. In fact, the Texas state school system specifically founded UHCL as a way to provide graduate
programs in engineering that would help meet NASA's demand for professionals with advanced degrees. And
although the school stops short of a comprehensive astronaut training program, starry-eyed grad students
can nonetheless choose from a wide range of top graduate degrees in the sciences. If you'd prefer to keep
your feet planted firmly on the ground, you'll find plenty of other master's degrees on the Clear Lake
Campus, including programs in art, business, and healthcare administration - as well as a relatively
new doctoral degree in Educational Leadership.
Tuition and Fees: $11,196/yr
Score: 121.8
26. Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX
Website
In addition to being the largest
state-supported university for women in the United States, Texas Woman's University has a number of other
academic claims to fame. For example, the school is home to the largest graduate nursing program in Texas,
a highly regarded graduate degree in library science, and one of the nation's best occupational and
physical therapy programs. And as you might expect, TWU offers a robust Women's Studies program that
features a post-baccalaureate Graduate Certificate in Multicultural Women's and Gender Studies as well as
both a Master of Arts and PhD in Women's Studies.
Tuition and Fees: $9,420/yr
Score: 128.1
25. Montana State University
Bozeman, MT
Website
Montana State University is well-known
for innovative and multidisciplinary graduate programs - like the graduate degree in Immunology and
Infectious Disease in the school's Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Other popular graduate
programs include biomedicine, energy, environmental science, and agriculture. Ecology and natural biology
degrees offer particular appeal to MSU students, given the university's proximity to one of North
America's most unique ecosystems: Yellowstone National Park. Graduate students flock to Bozeman to take
advantage of the opportunity to conduct experiments at Yellowstone. Fortunately, MSU has established an
impressive research budget to meet this demand, with annual expenditures of more than $100 million and
plenty of funds to maintain its state-of-the-art research facilities.
Tuition and
Fees: $11,520/yr
Score: 131.3
24. Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
Website
Texas Tech's status as a leading research
institution has recently grown to new heights, thanks to its inclusion in the latest list of Carnegie's
Tier-1 universities. Not only is TTU one of just 81 public universities in that category, but it is one of
only 15 universities to have been "promoted" to Tier-1 designation since Carnegie's last ranking. That
indicates just how focused the university is on growth, and its graduate division has benefited greatly.
With 59 doctoral degrees, 103 master's degrees, and 53 certificate programs, plus 65 specialized research
centers and institutes, graduate students at TTU have access to an extremely broad range of resources.
Tuition and Fees: $10,473/yr
Score: 140.6
23. University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
Website
As one of the "Public Ivies," the
University of California Santa Cruz offers a unique combination of big-budget, world-class research
programs and a well-regarded and comprehensive liberal arts school. That should be especially appealing to
students looking to take advantage of UC Santa Cruz's extensive interdisciplinary graduate programs. One
example is the school's graduate degree in Digital Arts and New Media, which pulls together faculty from
the arts, computer engineering, humanities, the sciences, and social sciences and enables students to
pursue both artistic and scholarly research in a cutting-edge field.
Tuition and
Fees: $20,811/yr
Score: 144.0
22. University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, HI
Website
The University of Hawaii at Manoa's
unique location - nestled in the Honolulu valley of Manoa - makes it an ideal choice for
students who want to study topics as diverse as oceanography, astronomy, Pacific Islands and Asian area
studies, linguistics, and tropical agriculture. Well aware of its strengths in these areas, UHM has
established a variety of research centers to support cultural and environmental exploration. In
particular, the school has access to world-class astronomical observatories, making its graduate program
in astronomy tempting to star-gazers for reasons besides the tropical climate. In addition to this
academic diversity, the University of Hawaii at Manoa also boasts a diverse student body, which reflects
the state's multicultural population as well as its proximity to countries other than the United
States.
Tuition and Fees: $23,432/yr
Score: 144.1
21. Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX
Website
True to its name, Southern Methodist
University is home to a robust graduate school of religion, with Master's of Divinity, Ministry, Sacred
Music, Theological Studies, and Theology, as well as doctoral programs in Ministry, Pastoral Studies, and
Religious Studies. You'll find all of these programs within SMU's Perkins School of Theology, which
- despite being over 100 years old - features a newly constructed LEED-certified building with
state-of-the-art technology. For something completely different, students can pursue a Master of
Interactive Technology at SMU's aptly named Guildhall, one of the first and most respected graduate
schools in videogame design in the United States.
Tuition and Fees: $46,066/yr
Score: 144.7
20. University of Denver
Denver, CO
Website
At the University of Denver, graduate
students outnumber undergrads by a healthy margin, and not without reason. UD's large graduate student
body is reflective of the university's commitment to advanced education. In addition to hosting one of the
top graduate programs in creative writing in the country, the school also encourages interdisciplinary and
dual-degree programs. Students can pursue dual-degree programs in social work, international studies, or
global finance, or propose their own biconstituent coursework. U Denver students also have the option to
explore multidisciplinary education within a single degree through special cross-cutting programs like
Intermodal Transportation, Intercultural Communication, or Nanoscale Science and Engineering.
Tuition
and Fees: $41,415/yr
Score: 146.5
19. Baylor University
Waco, TX
Website
Baylor University is more than 170 years
old and has the honor of being the oldest continuously operating university in Texas. A Christian
university, Baylor takes its religious mission seriously and encourages all students to give back to the
community through service. For example, students at Baylor's graduate school of medicine often travel
abroad to provide health care in community clinics, an experience that helps future doctors build both
experience and gratitude. In general, the university emphasizes hands-on learning at every turn, a
priority perhaps best evidenced by the newly opened Baylor Research & Innovation Collaborative (BRIC).
This state-of-the-art facility provides a collaborative environment for students, faculty, and private
companies to tackle cutting-edge challenges in science and engineering.
Tuition and
Fees: $28,602/yr
Score: 146.9
18. Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO
Website
Research is the name of the game at
Colorado State University, Fort Collins. The school dedicates more than $300 million every year to
research expenditures, the vast majority of which comes from federal programs. CSU's graduate program in
veterinary medicine is particular well-funded, and students get hands-on experience working with a wide
variety of animals at the world-class James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Research is also vital
to CSU's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and a dedicated animal cancer institute
provides highly specialized instruction for graduate students.
Tuition and Fees:
$17,511/yr
Score: 149.8
17. The University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX
Website
The University of Texas at Dallas
became a four-year university in 1990. In the previous three decades, UT Dallas was an exclusively
graduate-level institution. That focus on upper-level degrees has contributed to the breadth and strength
of graduate degree coursework that students enjoy today - and which now spans eight schools! UT
Dallas's graduate program in engineering is particularly strong, offering unique subspecialty options in
biomedical engineering and telecommunications, among others. The latter reflects the university's roots as
a research arm of Texas Instruments and its current location in the "Telecom Corridor" of Richardson,
Texas.
Tuition and Fees: $17,111/yr
Score: 149.9
16. Washington State University
Pullman, WA
Website
As a Carnegie-designated Tier-1 Research
Institution, Washington State University is no stranger to research, or the funding it requires. The
school organizes its resources around five "grand challenges": sustaining health, sustainable resources,
opportunity and equity, smart systems, and national security. Food and agricultural science complements
more than one of these challenges, which is why WSU's graduate degree in food science is one of the most
well-regarded in the country. Students in this program have access to an array of cutting-edge food
science technologies, including a "sensory evaluation facility" to test scents and flavors.
Tuition
and Fees: $19,444/yr
Score: 151.4
15. University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA
Website
The University of California, Riverside is
one of the most diverse universities in the UC system, and its graduate program even more so; nearly
â
of graduate students at UCR represent international and minority groups. That focus on
diversity blends well with two of the school's major research institutions - the Center for Ideas
and Society and the UC Institute for Mexico and the United States. Even so, a large portion of UCR's
funding flows toward the agricultural science program, which is popular among students interested in
serving the local Californian economy. In addition to a top graduate program in agricultural science, the
university also provides master's and doctoral degrees in molecular biology, plant pathology, and plant
science, among many others.
Tuition and Fees: $20,340/yr
Score:
151.6
14. Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR
Website
Oregon State University is the only
public institution in the United States to be designated as a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant
and sun-grant university, and that commitment to the public good is a core element of OSU's
graduate school. The university's Holistic Graduate Education initiative provides unique civic-minded
courses in diversity, ethics in research, and even a class called "Creating Happiness" that includes a
community-building component. OSU is also home to a number of initiatives that focus on issues of social
justice and international aid, including the UNESCO Water Cooperation and Peace program. Students who are
interested in these programs can even pursue a graduate degree in conflict management integration.
Tuition and Fees: $17,402/yr
Score: 153.7
13. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
Norman, OK
Website
All else aside, the sheer number of graduate
degrees available at the University of Oklahoma - 160 master's and 75 doctoral programs - make
it a great choice for a number of different educational paths. With so many options, you're likely to find
at least one degree that interests you. But just in case you don't, the school has established a flexible
graduate program in interdisciplinary studies. This option allows students pursue either a master's or
doctoral degree through an academic program of their own design. The University of Oklahoma also offers a
number of formal dual-degree programs, many of which include a Master of Business Administration. You
can design your own dual-degree coursework, too!
Tuition and Fees: $13,574/yr
Score: 154.1
12. Iowa State University
Ames, IA
Website
Although it began with just a handful
land-grant graduate programs in agriculture, engineering, home economics, and veterinary science, the
graduate school at Iowa State University has grown to include more than 100 unique programs, including
dozens of specialized PhD programs. One example of the school's incredible advancement is its Virtual
Reality Applications Center (VRAC), an interdisciplinary research center that provides a cutting-edge
graduate degree in Human Computer Interaction. Students at the VRAC have access to the world's
highest-resolution immersive display environment, which features a six-sided virtual reality room not
unlike the "holodeck" from Star Trek.
Tuition and Fees: $15,434/yr
Score: 155.6
11. Texas A & M University-College Station
College Station, TX
Website
As the fourth largest university in the
United States and the largest in Texas, Texas A&M University is home to 20,000 graduate students. With
10 colleges and 18 research institutes, it's hard to beat Texas A&M in sheer size. That heft gives the
university an advantage in forming relationships with local, state, and federal agencies, and those
relationships have helped the school's research budget to edge up near $1 billion in research
expenditures. Texas A&M's graduate program in veterinary medicine is famous for leading the project to
create the first cloned pet, a cat named "cc."
Tuition and Fees: $12,898/yr
Score: 156.8
10. University of North Texas
Denton, TX
Website
Founded as a teachers' college in 1890, the
University of North Texas has maintained a strong graduate program in education while growing
well-regarded science and engineering departments that produce cutting-edge research. UNT's College of
Education offers prestigious master's and doctoral degrees in a variety of fields, including curriculum
and instruction, educational leadership, and educational psychology. The school's close relationships with
innovative centers and clinics like the Kristin Farmer Autism Center and the Child and Family Resource
Clinic allow students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world instruction and care.
Tuition
and Fees: $10,423/yr
Score: 157.9
9. University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
Website
One of the most unique elements of the
University of Oregon's graduate school is its large number of "specializations." These interdisciplinary
tracks enable students to dig more deeply into specific subject areas than traditional degrees allow. For
example, students pursuing a Master's in Architecture can also study elements of interior design. Other
specialization options are open to graduate students of all disciplines, such as African Studies, Food
Studies, and Translation Studies. UO is also a Tier-1 Research Institution which includes 21 research
centers and institutes, many of which work within cutting-edge fields like brain injury, cyber security,
and neuroinformatics.
Tuition and Fees: $20,156/yr
Score: 158.2
8. Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO
Website
Saint Louis University is a Catholic Jesuit
institution with a 200-year history of "educating the whole person" in the Jesuit tradition. The school is
home to a number of top 50 graduate programs, including degrees in health care management, public health,
and supply chain management. SLU also offers several dual graduate degrees that incorporate public health.
And if studying abroad appeals to you, you can earn your entire graduate degree in English or Spanish at
SLU's Madrid campus, located among other educational and religious institutions in the Spanish capital's
Chamberà district.
Tuition and Fees: $18,986/yr
Score: 158.5
7. University of Houston
Houston, TX
Website
Although the University of
Houston's graduate research program might not be quite as well-funded as some of the other Tier-1 Research
Institutions on this list, it nonetheless benefits from an extensive network of more than 40 on-campus
research centers and institutes. One unique element is the university's multidisciplinary "research
clusters," which bring together investigators from multiple fields of study to tackle a specific problem.
These and other teams work together in the 200,000 square-foot state-of-the-art Science and Engineering
Research and Classroom Complex, which was built in 2005 and features more than 40 laboratories.
Tuition and Fees: $13,374/yr
Score: 160.2
6. University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Website
The big news at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln is the Nebraska Innovation Campus (NIC). This ancillary research campus is currently
under construction, but expectations are high. The NIC, which will eventually occupy 2.2 million square
feet. It will work to facilitate relationships between UN and private companies, particularly in the
university's focus areas of agricultural biotechnology and life science. This initiative underscores UNL's
long history of supporting research and innovation within its home, and is one of the reasons that
Nebraska residents dominate the student body (78% of students are from the Cornhusker State). Still,
students from any state looking to pursue a graduate degree in agriculture should consider UN's strong
agronomy, food science, and animal science programs.
Tuition and Fees: $14,716/yr
Score: 164.9
5. University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO
Website
As the flagship campus of the
University of Missouri system, UM (or Mizzou) has a large graduate program with nearly 7,000 students and
more than 150 graduate degree programs. The school is proud of the incredible variety it offers graduate
students, emphasizing that Mizzou is one of only five U.S. universities with law, medicine, and veterinary
medicine programs plus a nuclear reactor all on the same campus. In fact, Mizzou considers
interdisciplinary research to be a "hallmark" of its graduate studies, and the school offers an
Interdisciplinary Innovations Fund that provides grants specifically for multidisciplinary student
projects.
Tuition and Fees: $16,185/yr
Score: 168.5
4. Arizona State University-Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Website
Arizona State University is at the top in
several categories. It is the largest public university in the United States, a Carnegie Tier-1 research
institution, and U.S. News & World Report's Most Innovative School in America. All those resources
enable ASU to offer an incredible depth and range of graduate programs - more than 15 colleges and
schools that are home to nearly 400 master's and doctoral programs, concentrations, and certificates.
There's just no comparison between ASU and smaller schools, and the university takes advantage of this
scale to offer a robust set of interdisciplinary graduate degrees. For example, ASU's graduate program in
design comes in a number of multidisciplinary flavors, including engineering, healthcare, and interaction
design.
Tuition and Fees: $16,848/yr
Score: 177.8
3. University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Website
The University of Iowa is the originator
of the "Iowa Idea," an innovative model for liberal arts education first developed in the 1920s. The Iowa
Idea become the model for the modern Master of Fine Arts program, and UI has built on this heritage with
the development of the Iowa Writer's Workshop, a top graduate program in creative writing that is one of
the best in the world. Although the Program in Creative Writing might be UI's best-known graduate degree,
the school also offers master's and doctoral degrees in more than 100 areas of study, including 25 that
are ranked in the top 25 of their fields.
Tuition and Fees: $18,128/yr
Score:
178.8
2. University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ
Website
The University of Arizona is a heavy
hitter in research, with a Tier 1 Carnegie designation and more than $500 million in annual research
funding. The school boasts a deep and fruitful partnership with NASA, and the space agency awards UA more
grants for space exploration than any other university in the country. Students pursuing a graduate degree
in Planetary Sciences have access to the historic and state-of-the-art Lunar and Planetary laboratory,
which has had a hand in nearly two dozen interplanetary spacecraft launches (including the Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Odyssey).
Tuition and Fees: $20,214/yr
Score:
184.4
1. University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA
Website
The University of Washington places
as the #1 alternative graduate school in the West due in no small part to its massive size - more
than 14,000 graduate students, over 500 buildings, and a research budget that has more than $1 billion
since 2006. UW graduate students have better access to federal research funding than any other public
university in the country, and has nearly 100 different top rankings from U.S. News - for its
graduate programs alone! But perhaps UW's biggest standout is its medical school, which hosts one of the
country's top graduate degree in medicine and is one of the most prestigious in the world.
Tuition
and Fees: $22,320/yr
Score: 200
Sources:
College
Navigator
U.S. News
Education: Grad Schools
Carnegie Classification Definitions
The Carnegie Classification of
Institutions of Higher Education
Integrated
Postsecondary Education Data System
American
Psychological Association
NBC News: Cloned Cat is No Copy Cat