The Best Big Colleges

The Best Large Colleges in America for 2025

These are the top ranked large, public and private, four-year colleges in the United States as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment over 15,000. Leading the list for 2025 is Stanford University. Learn how the Best Large Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


193 results nationwide

Saint Louis University Main Campus
S
Saint Louis, MO

Saint Louis University Main Campus

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Missouri

  • 17,202enrollment
  • $30,911net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1430SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.95Avg GPA

University of Minnesota Twin Cities
M
Minneapolis, MN

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Minnesota

  • 54,890enrollment
  • $16,730net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Syracuse University
S
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 22,948enrollment
  • $51,520net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

University of Georgia
G
Athens, GA

University of Georgia

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Georgia

  • 41,615enrollment
  • $16,303net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1390SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Baylor University
B
Waco, TX

Baylor University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 20,824enrollment
  • $49,727net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.74Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Penn State Main Campus
P
University Park, PA

Penn State Main Campus

Public 4 Year

11 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 50,399enrollment
  • $27,450net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

University of Massachusetts Amherst
M
Amherst, MA

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 31,810enrollment
  • $22,954net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Rochester Institute of Technology
R
Rochester, NY

Rochester Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#24 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 16,863enrollment
  • $39,753net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1460SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
B
New York, NY

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 19,698enrollment
  • $3,989net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Colorado Boulder
C
Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 41,432enrollment
  • $22,640net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1420SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Illinois at Chicago
I
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 33,522enrollment
  • $11,499net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1340SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Florida State University
F
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Florida

  • 43,234enrollment
  • $14,903net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1390SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Indiana University Bloomington
I
Bloomington, IN

Indiana University Bloomington

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 47,527enrollment
  • $16,282net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

University of South Carolina Columbia
S
Columbia, SC

University of South Carolina Columbia

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 36,579enrollment
  • $26,068net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1380SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.69Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

The University of Tennessee
T
Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Tennessee

  • 36,304enrollment
  • $20,885net price
  • 46%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.66Estimated Avg GPA

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
O
Norman, OK

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma

  • 29,145enrollment
  • $19,900net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Loyola University Chicago
L
Chicago, IL

Loyola University Chicago

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 17,397enrollment
  • $37,592net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1340SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

University of Iowa
I
Iowa City, IA

University of Iowa

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Iowa

  • 30,042enrollment
  • $20,121net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1320SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1