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

Hope College
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H
Holland, MI

Hope College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 3,368enrollment
  • $28,643net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1310SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

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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

  • 2,078enrollment
  • $35,091net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 25-27ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Lake Forest College
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L
Lake Forest, IL

Lake Forest College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,818enrollment
  • $29,894net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1365SAT range
  • 28-31ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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University of Missouri Columbia
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M
Columbia, MO

University of Missouri Columbia

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 31,013enrollment
  • $20,006net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.61Estimated Avg GPA

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Saint Johns University
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S
Collegeville, MN

Saint Johns University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,624enrollment
  • $29,473net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1145-1280SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

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CUNY City College
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C
New York, NY

CUNY City College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 15,012enrollment
  • $4,599net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1460SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Detroit Mercy
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D
Detroit, MI

University of Detroit Mercy

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 5,528enrollment
  • $17,987net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1260SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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The College of Saint Scholastica
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S
Duluth, MN

The College of Saint Scholastica

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 2,979enrollment
  • $23,913net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1310SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Xavier University
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X
Cincinnati, OH

Xavier University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 6,000enrollment
  • $31,542net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1298SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

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John Brown University
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J
Siloam Springs, AR

John Brown University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Arkansas

  • 2,341enrollment
  • $21,464net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1345SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

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University of Missouri Kansas City
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M
Kansas City, MO

University of Missouri Kansas City

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 15,277enrollment
  • $14,201net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1540SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 15

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St Catherine University
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S
Saint Paul, MN

St Catherine University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 3,533enrollment
  • $22,357net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1155-1450SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

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CUNY Hunter College
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H
New York, NY

CUNY Hunter College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 22,879enrollment
  • $4,127net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1470SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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Miami University
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M
Oxford, OH

Miami University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 18,618enrollment
  • $27,928net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1380SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.85Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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State University of New York at New Paltz
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S
New Paltz, NY

State University of New York at New Paltz

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 7,420enrollment
  • $17,848net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Queens University of Charlotte
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Q
Charlotte, NC

Queens University of Charlotte

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,846enrollment
  • $27,178net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1300SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.41Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 7

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Louisiana State University
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L
Baton Rouge, LA

Louisiana State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Louisiana

  • 39,418enrollment
  • $21,808net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Truman State University
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T
Kirksville, MO

Truman State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Missouri

  • 3,636enrollment
  • $12,798net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1126-1318SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

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