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

Louisiana State University Shreveport
Connect Me
L
Shreveport, LA

Louisiana State University Shreveport

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in Louisiana

  • 8,721enrollment
  • $7,587net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1140SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.38Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Mount Olive College
Connect Me
M
Mount Olive, NC
 

Mount Olive College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 2,239enrollment
  • $17,878net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 990-1150SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 2.85Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Georgia Southern University
Connect Me
G
Statesboro, GA

Georgia Southern University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 25,481enrollment
  • $15,352net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 980-1150SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
North Carolina Central University
Connect Me
N
HBCU
Durham, NC

North Carolina Central University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 7,553enrollment
  • $13,708net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 810-1130SAT range
  • 15-23ACT range
  • 3.27Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Crown College
Connect Me
C
Saint Bonifacius, MN

Crown College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,583enrollment
  • $25,504net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 960-1150SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.22Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Francis Marion University
Connect Me
F
Florence, SC

Francis Marion University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 4,045enrollment
  • $12,614net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 890-1123SAT range
  • 15-22ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
Connect Me
E
Portales, NM

Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in New Mexico

  • 5,106enrollment
  • $8,702net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 840-1100SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 24

Compare Calculate my chances 
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Connect Me
S
Durant, OK

Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma

  • 5,479enrollment
  • $10,004net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 920-1120SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
American International College
Connect Me
A
Springfield, MA
 

American International College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#34 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,010enrollment
  • $18,317net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 940-1110SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.91Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 7

Compare Calculate my chances 
Jacksonville State University
Connect Me
J
Jacksonville, AL

Jacksonville State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 9,632enrollment
  • $11,953net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 940-1200SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.43Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
California State University Los Angeles
Connect Me
C
Los Angeles, CA

California State University Los Angeles

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#26 Best Public Universities in California

  • 26,460enrollment
  • $5,801net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 870-1060SAT range
  • 15-20ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 19

Compare Calculate my chances 
Southwest Minnesota State University
Connect Me
S
Marshall, MN
 

Southwest Minnesota State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in Minnesota

  • 6,930enrollment
  • $15,004net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 935-1102SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.21Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 18

Compare Calculate my chances 
Barton College
Connect Me
B
Wilson, NC
 

Barton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,265enrollment
  • $23,443net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 970-1150SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Louisiana State University Alexandria
Connect Me
L
Alexandria, LA

Louisiana State University Alexandria

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in Louisiana

  • 4,289enrollment
  • $7,274net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 910-1110SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.16Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Houston Downtown
Connect Me
H
Houston, TX

University of Houston Downtown

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#24 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 14,208enrollment
  • $14,911net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 960-1100SAT range
  • 16-20ACT range
  • 3.29Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of the Cumberlands
Connect Me
T
Williamsburg, KY

University of the Cumberlands

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky

  • 18,053enrollment
  • $14,337net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 960-1160SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 31

Compare Calculate my chances 
Johnson C Smith University
Connect Me
J
HBCU
Charlotte, NC

Johnson C Smith University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,093enrollment
  • $20,045net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 800-980SAT range
  • 13-18ACT range
  • 2.48Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Concordia University Texas
Connect Me
C
Austin, TX

Concordia University Texas

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,863enrollment
  • $24,761net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1190SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 

Explore the best colleges by state: