The 25 best state universities in the US, ranked

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the best public universities in the country. Alex Slitz/Getty Images US News & World Report ranks the best universities across the US every year. While many of the top schools are private, every state in the union has its own public system. We used US News' ranking to compile a list of the 25 best public schools. This back-to-school season, the cost and value of higher education are top of mind. In a time when going to college can put you in…