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

Queens University of Charlotte
Connect Me
Q
Charlotte, NC

Queens University of Charlotte

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,873enrollment
  • $29,459net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1255SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.41Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 7

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Saint Joseph
Connect Me
S
West Hartford, CT

University of Saint Joseph

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 1,992enrollment
  • $25,860net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1275SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Connect Me
N
Winston-Salem, NC

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 1,104enrollment
  • $11,251net price
  • 32%acceptance rate
  • 1115-1350SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Point Loma Nazarene University
Connect Me
P
San Diego, CA

Point Loma Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 4,319enrollment
  • $34,933net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1350SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Michigan Technological University
Connect Me
M
Houghton, MI

Michigan Technological University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Michigan

  • 7,063enrollment
  • $18,235net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1350SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.78Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Arizona
Connect Me
A
Tucson, AZ

University of Arizona

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Arizona

  • 49,403enrollment
  • $17,075net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1370SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
The University of Texas at Dallas
Connect Me
T
Richardson, TX

The University of Texas at Dallas

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 31,570enrollment
  • $13,555net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1430SAT range
  • 24-32ACT range
  • 3.78Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Baldwin Wallace College
Connect Me
B
Berea, OH

Baldwin Wallace College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 3,220enrollment
  • $28,705net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1043-1298SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Saint Johns University
Connect Me
S
Collegeville, MN

Saint Johns University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,645enrollment
  • $27,982net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 915-1185SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Connect Me
C
Charleston, SC

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 3,721enrollment
  • $21,846net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Indiana Wesleyan University
Connect Me
I
Marion, IN

Indiana Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,603enrollment
  • $21,755net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1190SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Saint Joseph's College New York
Connect Me
S
Brooklyn, NY
 

Saint Joseph's College New York

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#34 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 4,348enrollment
  • $18,001net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1093-1306SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Augustana College
Connect Me
A
Rock Island, IL

Augustana College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,349enrollment
  • $24,660net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
CUNY Hunter College
Connect Me
H
New York, NY

CUNY Hunter College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 22,970enrollment
  • $4,848net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Connect Me
M
Baltimore, MD

University of Maryland Baltimore County

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Maryland

  • 13,991enrollment
  • $17,692net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1390SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Whitworth University
Connect Me
W
Spokane, WA

Whitworth University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 2,415enrollment
  • $28,299net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1350SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
CUNY City College
Connect Me
C
New York, NY

CUNY City College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 14,489enrollment
  • $5,181net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Connect Me
N
Lincoln, NE

University of Nebraska Lincoln

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Nebraska

  • 23,805enrollment
  • $16,805net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1340SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Compare Calculate my chances 

Explore the best colleges by state: