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

DePaul University
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D
Chicago, IL

DePaul University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 21,348enrollment
  • $32,129net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1340SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Indiana Wesleyan University
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I
Marion, IN

Indiana Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,207enrollment
  • $23,364net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 970-1180SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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Rowan University
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R
Glassboro, NJ

Rowan University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 19,660enrollment
  • $22,237net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1310SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

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Washington & Jefferson College
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W
Washington, PA

Washington & Jefferson College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,162enrollment
  • $26,051net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

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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

  • 39,527enrollment
  • $18,900net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Utah
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U
Salt Lake City, UT

University of Utah

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Value in Utah

  • 35,260enrollment
  • $13,341net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1398SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Molloy College
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M
Rockville Centre, NY
 

Molloy College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#32 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 4,970enrollment
  • $25,938net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1310SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

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SUNY at Albany
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A
Albany, NY

SUNY at Albany

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 16,880enrollment
  • $19,165net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1320SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.3Avg 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

  • 9,494enrollment
  • $31,642net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1400SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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The University of Texas at Dallas
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T
Richardson, TX

The University of Texas at Dallas

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 30,885enrollment
  • $13,464net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1410SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.78Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Michigan Technological University
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M
Houghton, MI

Michigan Technological University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Michigan

  • 7,313enrollment
  • $17,928net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1330SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.78Avg GPA

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Seattle Pacific University
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S
Seattle, WA

Seattle Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Washington

  • 2,659enrollment
  • $26,155net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 11

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John Carroll University
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J
University Heights, OH

John Carroll University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,773enrollment
  • $30,790net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1350SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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Le Moyne College
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L
Syracuse, NY

Le Moyne College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#33 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 3,154enrollment
  • $22,139net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Howard University
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H
HBCU
Washington, DC

Howard University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in District Of Columbia

  • 13,416enrollment
  • $30,028net price
  • 35%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1298SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Kettering University
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K
Flint, MI

Kettering University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,605enrollment
  • $33,616net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1310SAT range
  • 26-29ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

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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

  • 19,764enrollment
  • $16,526net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Point Loma Nazarene University
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P
San Diego, CA

Point Loma Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 4,494enrollment
  • $36,370net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1410SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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