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

Oregon State University
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O
Corvallis, OR

Oregon State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Oregon

  • 35,622enrollment
  • $21,868net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1370SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Berry College
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B
Mount Berry, GA

Berry College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 2,370enrollment
  • $25,383net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1278SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Florida Institute of Technology
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F
Melbourne, FL

Florida Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 8,516enrollment
  • $36,364net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1320SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

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Central Connecticut State University
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C
New Britain, CT

Central Connecticut State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Connecticut

  • 9,712enrollment
  • $17,207net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 960-1180SAT range
  • 19-29ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 26

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Western New England University
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W
Springfield, MA

Western New England University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#26 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,574enrollment
  • $31,548net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1310SAT range
  • 25-27ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

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Arizona State University
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A
Tempe, AZ

Arizona State University

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Arizona

  • 79,593enrollment
  • $16,401net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1320SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

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Washington State University
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W
Pullman, WA

Washington State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Washington

  • 26,490enrollment
  • $18,155net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1210SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

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Elmhurst College
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E
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,906enrollment
  • $22,760net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 960-1210SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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University of Central Florida
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C
Orlando, FL

University of Central Florida

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 69,233enrollment
  • $13,110net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1350SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.64Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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St John's University New York
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S
Queens, NY

St John's University New York

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#39 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 19,691enrollment
  • $28,206net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Canisius College
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C
Buffalo, NY

Canisius College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#40 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,545enrollment
  • $19,321net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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University of North Carolina at Wilmington
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N
Wilmington, NC

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 17,987enrollment
  • $18,606net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1360SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.56Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Colorado Denver
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C
Denver, CO

University of Colorado Denver

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 23,409enrollment
  • $15,303net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 980-1220SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.46Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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SUNY College at Oneonta
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O
Oneonta, NY

SUNY College at Oneonta

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#15 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 5,514enrollment
  • $17,918net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1250SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

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Taylor University
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T
Upland, IN

Taylor University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,398enrollment
  • $25,698net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1340SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

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Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
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N
Omaha, NE
 

Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Nebraska

  • 1,040enrollment
  • $20,650net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

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Clarke University
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C
Dubuque, IA
 

Clarke University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,025enrollment
  • $25,692net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 890-1045SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

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SUNY College at Cortland
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C
Cortland, NY

SUNY College at Cortland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,780enrollment
  • $18,474net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1240SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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