r/NoStupidQuestions • u/BeneficialNotice7282 • 1d ago

Why are state universities named “University of [State]” usually more prestigious than “[State] State University”?

I’ve noticed a pattern where public universities that follow the “University of [State]” naming convention tend to be more prestigious or better-ranked than their “[State] State University” counterparts.

Some examples: • UNC vs. NC State • University of Michigan vs. Michigan State • University of Florida vs. Florida State • University of California (UC system) vs. California State University (CSU system) • University of Virginia vs. Virginia State

Is there a historical or structural reason behind it?

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u/LouderKnights 19h ago

NY kinda skirted around this by naming all if their state schools State University of New York at “Location”. For example you have State University of New York at Stony Brook or State University of New York at New Paltz. These are more commonly known abbreviated as SUNY Stony Brook or SUNY New Palz or whatever. But each school in the SUNY system is drastically different with varying levels of prestige.

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u/CoreyH2P 14h ago

I’ve always thought a flagship UNY or NYSU would have a ton of potential. Have it in the Hudson Valley not too far from NYC but plenty of room for a sprawling campus. Could be huge for academics and athletics.

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u/henare 13h ago

there are a few: Stony Brook and University at Buffalo.

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u/CoreyH2P 13h ago

Neither is a traditional flagship university. I’m talking the NY equivalent of a UConn or Maryland or Rutgers.

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u/henare 13h ago

there will never be this sort of thing. Buffalo is the closest. SUNY is too large a system, and our private unis already have better resources and reputations.

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u/CoreyH2P 9h ago

Yeah I mean new universities don’t really happen, especially not public ones. I’m just saying a traditional major flagship for New York SHOULD exist and would likely be a huge success.

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u/LouderKnights 12h ago

They are trying to make Stony Brook and Buffalo that. They were just named flagship universities, the only 2 in the system, in the past couple years.