Best Urban Colleges In America

Located in LA's Westwood neighborhood, UCLA offers students a picturesque urban/coastal setting. The university enrolls more than 31,000 learners, making it the largest campus in the University of California System.

UCLA offers strong programs in engineering, law, and medicine. Despite its status as one of California's largest schools, UCLA maintains relatively small class sizes and a student-to-faculty ratio of 17-to-1.

Approximately 55% of full-time undergraduate students at UCLA receive need-based grants and scholarships, with the average annual financial award amounting to $18,000. Around 95% of first-year students live in university housing, with 39% of all students residing on campus. The school guarantees on-campus housing for up to three years.

Based in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, UChicago is a well-respected urban school. A private university with a student body of more than 14,000 learners, UChicago boasts a 5-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. The university's programs in business, law, and public policy stand out as some of the best in the country.

In 2007, UChicago began offering its Odyssey Scholarship to low-income and first-generation students. The program guarantees all awardees a research experience or internship. The university requires first-year students to live on campus, a practice that encourages around 50% of returning students to remain on campus.

Founded in 1861 and situated in Seattle, UW has earned a reputation as one of the best public universities in the nation. The university houses one of the most respected medical schools in the world, along with highly regarded engineering and business programs. This innovative "public Ivy" has also built a reputation as a commuter school that fosters sustainable practices among its students.

About 75% of UW graduates choose to remain in Washington after graduating. UW also maintains two satellite campuses in Bothell and Tacoma, both of which award undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Founded in 1870 as an agricultural college, Ohio State now serves more than 60,000 students and is one of the best public research universities in the nation. Ohio State's campus is located two miles from downtown Columbus -- a city known for architectural works by Harry Reese, Kevin Roche, and many others.

Ohio State's most popular majors include psychology, finance, speech communication and rhetoric, and biology. The university keeps class sizes relatively small with a 19-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Approximately 74% of students at Ohio State live in the surrounding area. Learners can choose from over 1,000 on-campus organizations and clubs.

The largest and oldest four-year institution in Minnesota, UMN operates two campuses in St. Paul and Minneapolis, which are separated by about five miles. Over 51,000 students currently attend UMN. The university maintains a stellar reputation for student involvement, offering over 600 societies and student groups.

Although 77% of students at UMN choose to reside outside of the traditional residence halls, most off-campus students live at one of the university's Living Learning communities, which are located just off campus. UMN has partnered with RaiseMe to offer two mini-scholarship programs, which target high school students from the Twin Cities area and first-year students enrolling in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resources Sciences.

Based in Hamilton Heights overlooking Harlem, CCNY has forged a reputation for providing affordable education to all while prioritizing racial and social equality. CCNY was the first school to recognize an official student government and the first to feature a degree-granting evening program.

With a total student enrollment of more than 16,000 learners, CCNY keeps classes small, with 33% of its classes featuring 20 or fewer students and a schoolwide student-to-faculty ratio of 16-to-1.

About 84% of first-year students at CCNY receive need-based financial aid. Additionally, CCNY's Dominican Studies Institute is the nation's only research college dedicated to the history of the Dominican Republic and the worldwide Dominican diaspora.

The flagship campus of the University of Texas System, UT Austin spans 437 acres in the heart of a culturally diverse city with a vibrant tech scene. UT Austin serves nearly 52,000 students, making it one of the largest universities in the nation.

UT Austin's College of Liberal Arts draws most of its undergraduates. Many learners major in Middle Eastern studies, global studies, and foreign languages. The school's graduate programs in business, engineering, and nursing also stand out as some of the best in the nation.

The average UT Austin student receives nearly $10,000 in need-based aid. Additionally, the college's Hutchison Scholarship helps first-generation college students pay for study abroad programs.

The third-oldest school in the California State University System, SDSU is a good value when it comes to providing academic rigor at a relatively affordable price tag. SDSU serves nearly 35,000 students from around the world. Approximately 63% of first-year students live in on-campus housing.

SDSU offers over 850 scholarships, including the renewable Presidential Scholars program, which awards up to $10,000 annually. Approximately 55% of full-time undergraduates at SDSU receive need-based financial aid.

Founded in Raleigh in 1887, NC State is a member of the Research Triangle, along with the UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke. This research university serves nearly 36,000 students through over 100 programs.

NC State may be best known for its engineering school, which features programs in nuclear and biological engineering. However, the university also attracts students from around the world to its education, management, and agriculture programs.

Despite its large size, NC State boasts relatively small class sizes and a student-to-faculty ratio of 17-to-1. The university also offers competitive scholarships -- including the Park Scholarship Program, the Goodnight Scholars Program, and the Chancellor's Leadership Scholarship. Approximately 48% of full-time, first-year students at NC State receive need-based financial aid.

Established in 1787 in the historic Oakland neighborhood, Pitt serves a student body of nearly 29,000. The university offers strong programs in education, medicine, and engineering and is respected for its research. The School of Medicine's close relationship with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center offers plentiful opportunities for internships in a practical environment.

Over 40% of Pitt's classes have fewer than 20 students. Pitt has also forged a reputation for encouraging sustainable practices; this reputation has been earned in part through research conducted at the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation.