Best Eastern Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in the East for 2025

There are 736 colleges and universities in the East enrolling 3,235,030 students. Explore the list of top colleges in the East below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in East offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

The  East is home to nationally ranked institutions like Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The highest ranked college in the East is Princeton University and the top rated public state college is University of Connecticut.

East Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

736 results

List of the Best East Colleges

Barnard College
Connect Me
B
New York, NY

Barnard College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in the East

  • 3,353enrollment
  • $27,738net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1453-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

Compare Calculate my chances 
Colby College
Connect Me
C
Waterville, ME

Colby College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#20 Best Colleges in the East

  • 2,284enrollment
  • $15,163net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Haverford College
Connect Me
H
Haverford, PA

Haverford College

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

#21 Best Colleges in the East

  • 1,424enrollment
  • $22,828net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
New York University
Connect Me
N
New York, NY

New York University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in the East

  • 57,335enrollment
  • $30,730net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Swarthmore College
Connect Me
S
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in the East

  • 1,644enrollment
  • $17,930net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1560SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

Compare Calculate my chances 
Carnegie Mellon University
Connect Me
C
Pittsburgh, PA

Carnegie Mellon University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#24 Best Colleges in the East

  • 15,596enrollment
  • $32,964net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Bates College
Connect Me
B
Lewiston, ME

Bates College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Colleges in the East

  • 1,753enrollment
  • $26,658net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1510SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Vassar College
Connect Me
V
Poughkeepsie, NY

Vassar College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#26 Best Colleges in the East

  • 2,456enrollment
  • $29,733net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1435-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Trinity College
Connect Me
T
Hartford, CT

Trinity College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#27 Best Colleges in the East

  • 2,276enrollment
  • $31,806net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 17

Compare Calculate my chances 
Boston College
Connect Me
B
Chestnut Hill, MA

Boston College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#28 Best Colleges in the East

  • 15,280enrollment
  • $32,590net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Skidmore College
Connect Me
S
Saratoga Springs, NY

Skidmore College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#29 Best Colleges in the East

  • 2,776enrollment
  • $32,368net price
  • 23%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Rochester
Connect Me
R
Rochester, NY

University of Rochester

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#30 Best Colleges in the East

  • 12,160enrollment
  • $40,900net price
  • 36%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1540SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Compare Calculate my chances 
Yeshiva University
Connect Me
Y
New York, NY

Yeshiva University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Colleges in the East

  • 6,826enrollment
  • $38,118net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1500SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Lehigh University
Connect Me
L
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#32 Best Colleges in the East

  • 7,590enrollment
  • $33,289net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1490SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Franklin and Marshall College
Connect Me
F
Lancaster, PA

Franklin and Marshall College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#33 Best Colleges in the East

  • 1,911enrollment
  • $37,475net price
  • 32%acceptance rate
  • 1298-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Villanova University
Connect Me
V
Villanova, PA

Villanova University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#34 Best Colleges in the East

  • 10,111enrollment
  • $37,946net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Lafayette College
Connect Me
L
Easton, PA

Lafayette College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#35 Best Colleges in the East

  • 2,764enrollment
  • $34,728net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1490SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Smith College
Connect Me
S
Northampton, MA

Smith College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#36 Best Colleges in the East

  • 2,830enrollment
  • $27,823net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1408-1540SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances