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

University of California Santa Barbara
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C
Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#19 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,420enrollment
  • $16,874net price
  • 26%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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R
Troy, NY

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 6,968enrollment
  • $39,127net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1520SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg 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

  • 10,014enrollment
  • $45,033net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1400SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Rutgers University New Brunswick
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R
New Brunswick, NJ

Rutgers University New Brunswick

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#20 Best Public Universities in America

  • 50,637enrollment
  • $17,535net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.3Estimated Avg GPA

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Bentley University
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B
Waltham, MA

Bentley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,165enrollment
  • $44,233net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1258-1420SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Babson College
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B
Wellesley, MA

Babson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,989enrollment
  • $28,400net price
  • 22%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1510SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Texas A&M University College Station
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T
College Station, TX

Texas A&M University College Station

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#21 Best Public Universities in America

  • 74,014enrollment
  • $20,375net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1390SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.68Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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Elon University
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E
Elon, NC

Elon University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 7,123enrollment
  • $41,527net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1360SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.65Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

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Creighton University
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C
Omaha, NE

Creighton University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Nebraska

  • 8,397enrollment
  • $32,877net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1206-1420SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

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Fordham University
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F
Bronx, NY

Fordham University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 16,556enrollment
  • $43,943net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1480SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Rhodes College
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R
Memphis, TN

Rhodes College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,008enrollment
  • $30,672net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1470SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Portland
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P
Portland, OR

University of Portland

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Oregon

  • 3,793enrollment
  • $33,717net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1228-1410SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Providence College
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P
Providence, RI

Providence College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 4,473enrollment
  • $43,970net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1420SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Hobart William Smith Colleges
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H
Geneva, NY

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,607enrollment
  • $34,259net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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North Carolina State University at Raleigh
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N
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#22 Best Public Universities in America

  • 36,700enrollment
  • $14,852net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1460SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Drexel University
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D
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 22,344enrollment
  • $39,267net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.67Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Brigham Young University Provo
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B
Provo, UT

Brigham Young University Provo

Private 4 Year

15 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Utah

  • 34,464enrollment
  • $13,521net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1468SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 16

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SUNY at Binghamton
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B
Vestal, NY

SUNY at Binghamton

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#23 Best Public Universities in America

  • 18,312enrollment
  • $19,535net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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