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

University of Maryland College Park
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M
College Park, MD

University of Maryland College Park

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in America

  • 40,813enrollment
  • $15,833net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1520SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.84Estimated Avg GPA

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Muhlenberg College
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M
Allentown, PA

Muhlenberg College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,818enrollment
  • $31,814net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1400SAT range
  • 28-31ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of California Irvine
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C
Irvine, CA

University of California Irvine

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in America

  • 36,582enrollment
  • $14,647net price
  • 26%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Whitman College
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W
Walla Walla, WA

Whitman College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 1,544enrollment
  • $41,601net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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DePauw University
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D
Greencastle, IN

DePauw University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,819enrollment
  • $30,507net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1430SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Furman University
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F
Greenville, SC

Furman University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in South Carolina

  • 2,505enrollment
  • $32,901net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1425SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Chapman University
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C
Orange, CA

Chapman University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,961enrollment
  • $48,037net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Denison University
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D
Granville, OH

Denison University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,405enrollment
  • $42,177net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.76Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of California Davis
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C
Davis, CA

University of California Davis

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Public Universities in America

  • 39,707enrollment
  • $17,315net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1400SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of Connecticut
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C
Storrs, CT

University of Connecticut

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in America

  • 27,364enrollment
  • $22,324net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1420SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.74Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University at Buffalo
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U
Buffalo, NY

University at Buffalo

Public 4 Year

8 reviews

#14 Best Public Universities in America

  • 31,889enrollment
  • $20,511net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1380SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

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Brandeis University
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B
Waltham, MA

Brandeis University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,302enrollment
  • $44,668net price
  • 35%acceptance rate
  • 1390-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

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Purdue University Main Campus
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P
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#15 Best Public Universities in America

  • 52,905enrollment
  • $12,421net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1460SAT range
  • 27-34ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

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Macalester College
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M
Saint Paul, MN

Macalester College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Minnesota

  • 2,142enrollment
  • $38,571net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1510SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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The University of Texas at Austin
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T
Austin, TX

The University of Texas at Austin

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#16 Best Public Universities in America

  • 53,082enrollment
  • $18,036net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1490SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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University of Tulsa
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T
Tulsa, OK

University of Tulsa

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in Oklahoma

  • 3,559enrollment
  • $23,681net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1490SAT range
  • 24-33ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

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Texas Christian University
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T
Fort Worth, TX

Texas Christian University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 12,785enrollment
  • $39,005net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1375SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.68Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Bentley University
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B
Waltham, MA

Bentley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,264enrollment
  • $43,858net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1410SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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