Choosing a university isn’t just about rankings or tuition — it’s also about fit, culture, and community. One factor many students and families increasingly consider is the political atmosphere of a campus: does it lean liberal, conservative, or somewhere in between?
Here’s an in-depth look at the top 20 national universities in the United States (according to U.S. News & World Report and other 2025 sources), with commentary on each school’s political leanings, tuition, and general campus culture.
1. Princeton University – New Jersey
Princeton remains a top-ranked Ivy League university with world-renowned programs in the humanities, sciences, and public affairs. Annual undergraduate tuition is around $59,500 before financial aid. Located in New Jersey, Princeton’s campus is quieter and more traditional compared to some of its Ivy peers. Politically, it leans liberal, though it’s sometimes viewed as more moderate compared to Harvard or Yale. Student activism exists but tends to be less intense than at peer institutions.
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – Massachusetts
MIT is a private research powerhouse in Cambridge, with tuition hovering around $60,000 per year. Known for its excellence in STEM fields, the campus culture is driven more by innovation and problem-solving than overt political identity. Still, MIT leans liberal on social issues, and climate change, equity in tech, and diversity in engineering are common topics of activism. While more ideologically diverse than some liberal arts colleges, conservative voices are a minority.
3. Harvard University – Massachusetts
As one of the most prestigious universities globally, Harvard carries a $59,000 to $60,000 annual tuition cost. Its Cambridge campus is a hotbed for political discourse, social justice movements, and progressive initiatives. Surveys of faculty show an overwhelming liberal majority (over 70% identify as liberal), and student politics mirror this trend. Harvard has faced criticism for its lack of political diversity and is often at the center of debates over free speech and ideological bias.
4. Stanford University – California
Stanford, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, offers a vibrant academic community with tuition ranging from $56,000 to $65,000 depending on fees. The campus is liberal in nature, especially when it comes to environmental policy, social justice, and tech ethics. However, its entrepreneurship-heavy culture introduces some moderate and even libertarian-leaning pockets, especially in business and engineering. Overall, though, the student body and faculty trend left.
5. Yale University – Connecticut
Tuition at Yale is approximately $69,900 per year, making it one of the more expensive Ivy League schools. Yale has a deeply liberal and activist-oriented student body, with strong traditions in law, the humanities, and public policy. Its reputation for progressive student organizing is well-earned, and conservative perspectives are often in the minority, though there are groups like the Yale Political Union that foster debate across ideologies.
6. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) – California
Caltech is one of the smallest institutions on this list, with a strong emphasis on research in physics, engineering, and computer science. Tuition is about $63,000 annually. Located in Pasadena, the school is more apolitical than many of its peers, simply due to its intense academic and scientific focus. Socially liberal ideas dominate, but student activism is far less visible compared to schools like Berkeley or Columbia. Ideologically, Caltech is moderate to liberal.
7. Duke University – North Carolina
Duke University, a prestigious private institution in Durham, North Carolina, charges around $66,000 in annual tuition. Located in a politically mixed state, Duke reflects some of that diversity. While its student body is generally liberal (especially in the humanities and social sciences), there is a significant conservative presence, particularly within its business and law schools. The university maintains a more balanced political climate than many elite Northeast schools.
8. Johns Hopkins University – Maryland
With a focus on medical research and public health, Johns Hopkins in Baltimore carries a tuition of around $65,000. The university attracts a global student body and is broadly liberal in terms of both campus culture and faculty. Issues like health equity, urban policy, and global development shape its ideological leanings. Conservative student organizations exist, but progressive viewpoints dominate both academic and extracurricular discourse.
9. Northwestern University – Illinois
Northwestern, located just outside Chicago in Evanston, charges about $65,000 annually. Its strong programs in journalism, theater, business, and engineering attract a diverse range of students. The political atmosphere is liberal, with progressive movements and diversity initiatives common. That said, business and engineering programs tend to be more ideologically centrist. The university supports a climate of open discussion, but left-leaning voices are louder and more prevalent.
10. University of Pennsylvania (Penn) – Pennsylvania
A top Ivy League school located in Philadelphia, Penn charges tuition close to $63,000 per year. It’s known for Wharton (business), engineering, and pre-med programs. While Penn has a liberal campus overall, its business students often bring more centrist or fiscally conservative views. Student groups reflect a spectrum of ideologies, but the broader culture — especially around social issues — trends progressive.
11. Cornell University – New York
Cornell, the largest Ivy League university by enrollment, is located in upstate New York and charges around $71,000 annually for some undergraduate programs. Its mix of private and public colleges on campus allows for a somewhat broader ideological range. While it remains predominantly liberal, particularly in arts and humanities, its agricultural and engineering programs attract a more centrist or rural-minded student body, especially from within New York state.
12. University of Chicago – Illinois
Known for its rigorous core curriculum and intellectual tradition, UChicago’s tuition is approximately $70,000. The campus encourages free speech and critical thinking, often positioning itself as more ideologically diverse than other elite schools. While students lean liberal, there is a notable contingent of conservative and libertarian thinkers, especially in economics and political theory. It is often cited as one of the more politically balanced top-tier universities.
13. Brown University – Rhode Island
Brown is famous for its open curriculum and progressive student body. Annual tuition is about $71,000. The university has one of the most liberal reputations among the Ivies, with strong activist traditions, particularly around social justice, climate change, and LGBTQ+ issues. Conservative students are few and often report feeling isolated. Brown’s culture is centered around inclusivity, autonomy, and challenging authority.
14. Columbia University – New York
Columbia, located in New York City, has tuition costs of around $70,000. It is politically active and steeped in progressive tradition. The university often finds itself at the center of debates about identity, diversity, and social movements. Conservative thought is present but mostly marginalized. Student protests are common, and Columbia is often ranked among the most politically active campuses in the U.S.
15. Dartmouth College – New Hampshire
Tuition at Dartmouth is close to $69,000 annually. Though it’s an Ivy League institution, Dartmouth is often seen as more centrist or moderately conservative than its peers, especially due to its rural location and smaller student body. Fraternity culture, ROTC presence, and traditional campus life contribute to this perception. However, like all Ivies, the majority of students still lean left politically.
16. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) – California
A leading public university, UCLA offers in-state tuition under $15,000, but out-of-state students pay around $53,000 or more. Located in liberal Los Angeles, the campus is active in progressive causes, especially related to race, immigration, and climate justice. As a large and diverse institution, it houses a variety of perspectives, but liberal viewpoints dominate in student governance and activism.
17. University of California, Berkeley – California
Berkeley has long been known for its political activism — from the Free Speech Movement of the 1960s to today’s climate protests and labor advocacy. Tuition for out-of-state students is around $50,000, with in-state costs significantly lower. Berkeley is arguably one of the most liberal universities in the U.S., with high levels of student involvement in progressive and far-left movements. Conservative students and groups are present but remain a small minority.
18. Rice University – Texas
Rice, located in Houston, is a prestigious private university with annual tuition near $66,000. While it sits in a traditionally conservative state, Rice’s campus culture is largely liberal, especially among faculty and students in the humanities and social sciences. Engineering and natural sciences tend to be more neutral. The university has taken strong stands on diversity and inclusion, indicating a progressive administrative philosophy.
19. University of Notre Dame – Indiana
A Catholic research university with a strong sense of tradition, Notre Dame charges approximately $67,000 per year. Its religious affiliation gives it a more conservative cultural reputation, particularly regarding moral and ethical topics. However, political diversity is increasing among students. While social conservatism is part of campus culture, many students advocate for progressive policies in health, economics, and immigration.
20. Vanderbilt University – Tennessee
Located in Nashville, Vanderbilt is a highly selective private university with tuition close to $68,000 annually. Compared to its Ivy and West Coast peers, Vanderbilt is seen as more centrist or moderately conservative. Its Southern location influences this perception, though most students — especially in arts and sciences — lean left. The campus includes a range of student political groups, and the climate tends to support civil discourse more than ideological conformity.