The Best Colleges

The Best Colleges in America for 2025

These are the top ranked public and private four-year colleges in the United States as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the list for 2025 as the best overall college in America is Princeton University. The top rated public state college is University of Michigan. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
Public Private 4 year

1,049 results nationwide

The College of Wooster
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W
Wooster, OH

The College of Wooster

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Value Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,876enrollment
  • $29,529net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1450SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Rochester Institute of Technology
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R
Rochester, NY

Rochester Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#24 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 16,863enrollment
  • $39,753net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1460SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Clarkson University
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C
Potsdam, NY

Clarkson University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 3,603enrollment
  • $33,192net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1198-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Quinnipiac University
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Q
Hamden, CT

Quinnipiac University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 8,918enrollment
  • $39,632net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1300SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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SUNY at Geneseo
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G
Geneseo, NY

SUNY at Geneseo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 3,928enrollment
  • $18,698net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1380SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Rutgers University Newark
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R
Newark, NJ

Rutgers University Newark

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 10,809enrollment
  • $17,425net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1270SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

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Lawrence University
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L
Appleton, WI

Lawrence University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in Wisconsin

  • 1,410enrollment
  • $27,393net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Loyola University Maryland
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L
Baltimore, MD

Loyola University Maryland

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Maryland

  • 5,107enrollment
  • $31,857net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1350SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Southwestern University
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S
Georgetown, TX

Southwestern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,457enrollment
  • $30,687net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Dallas
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D
Irving, TX

University of Dallas

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 2,182enrollment
  • $31,221net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1370SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Duquesne University
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D
Pittsburgh, PA

Duquesne University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 8,137enrollment
  • $35,125net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1350SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Bradley University
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B
Peoria, IL

Bradley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 5,217enrollment
  • $24,703net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1300SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

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CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
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B
New York, NY

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 19,698enrollment
  • $3,989net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Puget Sound
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P
Tacoma, WA

University of Puget Sound

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 1,914enrollment
  • $42,301net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1185-1390SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Adelphi University
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A
Garden City, NY

Adelphi University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#26 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 7,406enrollment
  • $28,671net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1310SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

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University of St Thomas
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S
Saint Paul, MN

University of St Thomas

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 9,121enrollment
  • $32,637net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1223-1416SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Colorado Boulder
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C
Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 41,432enrollment
  • $22,640net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1420SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Illinois at Chicago
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I
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 33,522enrollment
  • $11,499net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1340SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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