City University of New York

The City University of New York is New York City's state school. With an enrollment of approximately 483,000, CUNY is the nation's third largest public higher education system if measured by enrollment, after the State University of New York (SUNY) and the California State University (CSU) systems.

It encompasses many colleges and programs, spread throughout the five boroughs. CCNY, Baruch College, Brooklyn College, Hunter College, and Queens College are among its best.

It also prominently advertises its best professors and students on the subway, a practice that Columbia has sadly yet to embrace. The likely explanation is that certain universities don't need to advertise.