The Best Colleges

The Best Colleges in America for 2024

These are the top ranked public and private four-year colleges in the United States as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the list for 2024 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

1,040 results nationwide

University of Scranton
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S
Scranton, PA

University of Scranton

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 4,731enrollment
  • $35,526net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1320SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Saint Anselm College
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S
Manchester, NH

Saint Anselm College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in New Hampshire

  • 1,977enrollment
  • $35,080net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1290SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Seton Hall University
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S
South Orange, NJ

Seton Hall University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 9,623enrollment
  • $33,472net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1390SAT range
  • 28-31ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Clarkson University
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C
Potsdam, NY

Clarkson University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#28 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 3,719enrollment
  • $32,450net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1370SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Kalamazoo College
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K
Kalamazoo, MI

Kalamazoo College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,210enrollment
  • $26,981net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1370SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of California Santa Cruz
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C
Santa Cruz, CA

University of California Santa Cruz

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in California

  • 19,478enrollment
  • $17,975net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Loyola University Chicago
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L
Chicago, IL

Loyola University Chicago

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 16,899enrollment
  • $37,511net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1370SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

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University of Iowa
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I
Iowa City, IA

University of Iowa

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Iowa

  • 30,015enrollment
  • $19,587net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1340SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Linfield University
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L
McMinnville, OR

Linfield University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Oregon

  • 1,754enrollment
  • $31,585net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1210SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Missouri University of Science and Technology
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M
Rolla, MO

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 7,080enrollment
  • $14,023net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1173-1370SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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SUNY at Geneseo
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G
Geneseo, NY

SUNY at Geneseo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 4,184enrollment
  • $19,557net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1320SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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George Mason University
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G
Fairfax, VA

George Mason University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 39,049enrollment
  • $18,479net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
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N
Socorro, NM

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in New Mexico

  • 1,689enrollment
  • $10,429net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.63Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of Dayton
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D
Dayton, OH

University of Dayton

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 11,674enrollment
  • $30,590net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1158-1363SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Bradley University
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B
Peoria, IL

Bradley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 5,552enrollment
  • $24,053net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1280SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

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The University of Tennessee
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T
Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Tennessee

  • 33,805enrollment
  • $21,880net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1330SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.66Estimated Avg GPA

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New York Institute of Technology
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N
Old Westbury, NY

New York Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#29 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 6,906enrollment
  • $22,494net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1118-1360SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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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

  • 33,747enrollment
  • $10,384net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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