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

Drexel University
Connect Me
D
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 21,703enrollment
  • $42,342net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.67Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Wisconsin Madison
Connect Me
W
Madison, WI

University of Wisconsin Madison

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Public Universities in America

  • 49,605enrollment
  • $14,216net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1510SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Creighton University
Connect Me
C
Omaha, NE

Creighton University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Nebraska

  • 8,255enrollment
  • $33,364net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1400SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of California Santa Barbara
Connect Me
C
Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#18 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,068enrollment
  • $15,283net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Compare Calculate my chances 
Rutgers University New Brunswick
Connect Me
R
New Brunswick, NJ

Rutgers University New Brunswick

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#19 Best Public Universities in America

  • 50,617enrollment
  • $19,052net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.3Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Stevens Institute of Technology
Connect Me
S
Hoboken, NJ

Stevens Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in New Jersey

  • 8,842enrollment
  • $43,665net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
Connect Me
R
Terre Haute, IN

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,250enrollment
  • $44,016net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1470SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of San Francisco
Connect Me
S
San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,212enrollment
  • $44,104net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Babson College
Connect Me
B
Wellesley, MA

Babson College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,943enrollment
  • $30,220net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1500SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

Compare Calculate my chances 
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Connect Me
N
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#20 Best Public Universities in America

  • 37,323enrollment
  • $14,860net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Providence College
Connect Me
P
Providence, RI

Providence College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 4,635enrollment
  • $46,645net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1400SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Connect Me
I
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#21 Best Public Universities in America

  • 56,563enrollment
  • $14,297net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Compare Calculate my chances 
Texas A&M University College Station
Connect Me
T
College Station, TX

Texas A&M University College Station

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#22 Best Public Universities in America

  • 76,633enrollment
  • $21,610net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1380SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.68Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Simmons University
Connect Me
S
Boston, MA

Simmons University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,053enrollment
  • $29,575net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
SUNY at Binghamton
Connect Me
B
Vestal, NY

SUNY at Binghamton

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#23 Best Public Universities in America

  • 18,456enrollment
  • $18,860net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1490SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Connect Me
R
Troy, NY

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 7,024enrollment
  • $35,940net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1500SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Brigham Young University Provo
Connect Me
B
Provo, UT

Brigham Young University Provo

Private 4 Year

15 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Utah

  • 35,074enrollment
  • $14,643net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1450SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 16

Compare Calculate my chances 
Fordham University
Connect Me
F
Bronx, NY

Fordham University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 16,153enrollment
  • $45,368net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1490SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 

Explore the best colleges by state: