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

Concordia University Seward
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C
Seward, NE

Concordia University Seward

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Nebraska

  • 3,423enrollment
  • $24,099net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1235SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of South Carolina Upstate
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S
Spartanburg, SC
 

University of South Carolina Upstate

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 4,946enrollment
  • $13,794net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1170SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 2.53Avg GPA

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Greenville University
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G
Greenville, IL

Greenville University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,053enrollment
  • $21,442net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 811-1219SAT range
  • 14-24ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

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Fisher College
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F
Boston, MA

Fisher College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#32 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,501enrollment
  • $27,827net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 800-1070SAT range
  • 15-24ACT range
  • 2.72Avg GPA

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The University of Texas of the Permian Basin
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T
Odessa, TX

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 5,899enrollment
  • $10,143net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 910-1110SAT range
  • 16-20ACT range
  • 3.27Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 23

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Cleveland State University
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C
Cleveland, OH

Cleveland State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 14,117enrollment
  • $16,307net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 880-1130SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.31Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Carson Newman College
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C
Jefferson City, TN
 

Carson Newman College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,735enrollment
  • $19,755net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 940-1130SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

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University of Arkansas at Little Rock
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A
Little Rock, AR

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Arkansas

  • 8,158enrollment
  • $11,225net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 890-1170SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 17

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Salem State University
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S
Salem, MA

Salem State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 6,239enrollment
  • $19,324net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 990-1160SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.17Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Saint Mary of the Woods College
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S
Saint Mary of the Woods, IN
 

Saint Mary of the Woods College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,227enrollment
  • $18,470net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 875-1070SAT range
  • 15-18ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

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University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
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W
Oshkosh, WI

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Wisconsin

  • 13,761enrollment
  • $12,942net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

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California State University Fullerton
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C
Fullerton, CA

California State University Fullerton

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Public Universities in California

  • 41,962enrollment
  • $6,283net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1180SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Indiana University Southeast
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I
New Albany, IN
 

Indiana University Southeast

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 3,752enrollment
  • $8,829net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1190SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

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Texas Wesleyan University
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T
Fort Worth, TX

Texas Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 2,595enrollment
  • $21,169net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 970-1150SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

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McMurry University
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M
Abilene, TX

McMurry University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 2,549enrollment
  • $20,817net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1170SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Missouri State University Springfield
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M
Springfield, MO

Missouri State University Springfield

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 23,418enrollment
  • $17,104net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 990-1220SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

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Brenau University
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B
Gainesville, GA

Brenau University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 2,420enrollment
  • $20,860net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 990-1170SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

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CUNY Medgar Evers College
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M
Brooklyn, NY

CUNY Medgar Evers College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 3,846enrollment
  • $6,207net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 780-1000SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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