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

Marist College
Connect Me
M
Poughkeepsie, NY

Marist College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 6,452enrollment
  • $40,106net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1360SAT range
  • 27-30ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Moravian University
Connect Me
M
Bethlehem, PA

Moravian University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,658enrollment
  • $30,720net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1230SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Marquette University
Connect Me
M
Milwaukee, WI

Marquette University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 11,373enrollment
  • $32,031net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1360SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Nazareth College
Connect Me
N
Rochester, NY

Nazareth College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,439enrollment
  • $31,321net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1330SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Mercer University
Connect Me
M
Macon, GA

Mercer University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Georgia

  • 9,124enrollment
  • $24,197net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1350SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.98Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
The University of Tennessee
Connect Me
T
Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Tennessee

  • 36,304enrollment
  • $20,885net price
  • 46%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.66Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Connect Me
O
Norman, OK

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma

  • 29,145enrollment
  • $19,900net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Loyola University Chicago
Connect Me
L
Chicago, IL

Loyola University Chicago

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 17,397enrollment
  • $37,592net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1340SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Iowa
Connect Me
I
Iowa City, IA

University of Iowa

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Iowa

  • 30,042enrollment
  • $20,121net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1320SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Oklahoma City University
Connect Me
O
Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Oklahoma

  • 2,763enrollment
  • $23,143net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1233SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Michigan State University
Connect Me
S
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Michigan

  • 51,316enrollment
  • $24,630net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1350SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Redlands
Connect Me
R
Redlands, CA

University of Redlands

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 3,192enrollment
  • $28,054net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1078-1323SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Connect Me
M
Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 2,834enrollment
  • $26,122net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1405SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Azusa Pacific University
Connect Me
A
Azusa, CA
 

Azusa Pacific University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 6,487enrollment
  • $26,117net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 994-1314SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Ohio Northern University
Connect Me
O
Ada, OH

Ohio Northern University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 3,042enrollment
  • $26,396net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1173-1376SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.78Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Linfield University
Connect Me
L
McMinnville, OR

Linfield University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Oregon

  • 1,726enrollment
  • $31,462net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1210SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Kalamazoo College
Connect Me
K
Kalamazoo, MI

Kalamazoo College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,196enrollment
  • $26,050net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1188-1373SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Rutgers University Camden
Connect Me
R
Camden, NJ

Rutgers University Camden

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 5,776enrollment
  • $18,735net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1255SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 

Explore the best colleges by state: