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 Hawaii at Manoa
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H
Honolulu, HI

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Value in Hawaii

  • 19,074enrollment
  • $13,639net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1290SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

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University of California Riverside
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C
Riverside, CA

University of California Riverside

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in California

  • 26,809enrollment
  • $14,487net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Whittier College
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W
Whittier, CA

Whittier College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,192enrollment
  • $28,368net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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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

#6 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 3,207enrollment
  • $24,578net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1310SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Hope College
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H
Holland, MI

Hope College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 3,251enrollment
  • $25,800net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1330SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

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St Catherine University
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S
Saint Paul, MN

St Catherine University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 3,577enrollment
  • $19,976net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1155-1450SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

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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

#9 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,964enrollment
  • $19,592net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1340SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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University of Missouri Columbia
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M
Columbia, MO

University of Missouri Columbia

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 31,304enrollment
  • $19,889net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.61Estimated Avg GPA

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Lipscomb University
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L
Nashville, TN

Lipscomb University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 4,704enrollment
  • $27,937net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1320SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

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Elizabethtown College
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E
Elizabethtown, PA
 

Elizabethtown College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,021enrollment
  • $26,723net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1280SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg 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

  • 19,107enrollment
  • $23,031net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1390SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.85Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Juniata College
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J
Huntingdon, PA

Juniata College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#24 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,212enrollment
  • $29,926net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1340SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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University of Mary Washington
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M
Fredericksburg, VA

University of Mary Washington

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 3,757enrollment
  • $21,863net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

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Calvin College
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C
Grand Rapids, MI

Calvin College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 3,231enrollment
  • $25,775net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1370SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

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Rockhurst University
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R
Kansas City, MO

Rockhurst University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Missouri

  • 3,405enrollment
  • $22,994net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1083-1288SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 30

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John Carroll University
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J
University Heights, OH

John Carroll University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,922enrollment
  • $30,496net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1320SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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College of Saint Benedict
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S
Saint Joseph, MN

College of Saint Benedict

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,470enrollment
  • $28,746net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1055-1245SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

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Chatham University
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C
Pittsburgh, PA

Chatham University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,387enrollment
  • $28,322net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1270SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

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