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

Pepperdine University
Connect Me
P
Malibu, CA

Pepperdine University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 10,030enrollment
  • $47,804net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1285-1480SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Connect Me
P
Pittsburgh, PA

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#24 Best Public Universities in America

  • 33,767enrollment
  • $24,286net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg 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

  • 2,188enrollment
  • $41,678net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1483SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Northeastern University
Connect Me
N
Boston, MA

Northeastern University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 30,013enrollment
  • $35,827net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Stony Brook University
Connect Me
S
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#25 Best Public Universities in America

  • 25,710enrollment
  • $17,213net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1500SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Sarah Lawrence College
Connect Me
S
Bronxville, NY

Sarah Lawrence College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,696enrollment
  • $42,781net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Clemson University
Connect Me
C
Clemson, SC

Clemson University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 28,466enrollment
  • $24,577net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Ohio State University
Connect Me
O
Columbus, OH

Ohio State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 60,540enrollment
  • $19,582net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.76Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Wofford College
Connect Me
W
Spartanburg, SC

Wofford College

Private 4 Year

8 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,823enrollment
  • $31,192net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1353SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Seattle University
Connect Me
S
Seattle, WA

Seattle University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Washington

  • 7,121enrollment
  • $35,412net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1380SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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

University of San Francisco

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,688enrollment
  • $42,953net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Fairfield University
Connect Me
F
Fairfield, CT

Fairfield University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 6,019enrollment
  • $46,065net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1370SAT range
  • 28-31ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus
Connect Me
G
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 45,296enrollment
  • $17,402net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1550SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Connect Me
M
Minneapolis, MN

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Minnesota

  • 54,955enrollment
  • $16,018net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1500SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Saint Joseph's University
Connect Me
S
Philadelphia, PA

Saint Joseph's University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,861enrollment
  • $33,777net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Virginia Tech
Connect Me
V
Blacksburg, VA

Virginia Tech

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 38,170enrollment
  • $19,301net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
St Mary's College of Maryland
Connect Me
S
St. Mary's City, MD

St Mary's College of Maryland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Maryland

  • 1,520enrollment
  • $20,714net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1370SAT range
  • 28-30ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Illinois Wesleyan University
Connect Me
I
Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,527enrollment
  • $30,096net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1330SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 

Explore the best colleges by state: