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.
large Public Private 4 year

193 results nationwide

Michigan State University
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S
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Michigan

  • 51,316enrollment
  • $24,630net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1350SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

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DePaul University
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D
Chicago, IL

DePaul University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 21,348enrollment
  • $32,129net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1340SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Rowan University
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R
Glassboro, NJ

Rowan University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 19,660enrollment
  • $22,237net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1310SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

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George Mason University
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G
Fairfax, VA

George Mason University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 39,527enrollment
  • $18,900net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Utah
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U
Salt Lake City, UT

University of Utah

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Value in Utah

  • 35,260enrollment
  • $13,341net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1398SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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SUNY at Albany
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A
Albany, NY

SUNY at Albany

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 16,880enrollment
  • $19,165net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1320SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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The University of Texas at Dallas
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T
Richardson, TX

The University of Texas at Dallas

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 30,885enrollment
  • $13,464net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1410SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.78Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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University of California Santa Cruz
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C
Santa Cruz, CA

University of California Santa Cruz

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in California

  • 19,764enrollment
  • $16,526net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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James Madison University
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J
Harrisonburg, VA

James Madison University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 22,758enrollment
  • $26,317net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1320SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.57Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of California Riverside
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C
Riverside, CA

University of California Riverside

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in California

  • 26,426enrollment
  • $13,533net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of Arizona
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A
Tucson, AZ

University of Arizona

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Arizona

  • 53,001enrollment
  • $18,144net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1420SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

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University of Missouri Columbia
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M
Columbia, MO

University of Missouri Columbia

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 31,013enrollment
  • $20,006net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.61Estimated Avg GPA

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CUNY City College
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C
New York, NY

CUNY City College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 15,012enrollment
  • $4,599net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1460SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Missouri Kansas City
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M
Kansas City, MO

University of Missouri Kansas City

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 15,277enrollment
  • $14,201net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1540SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 15

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CUNY Hunter College
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H
New York, NY

CUNY Hunter College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 22,879enrollment
  • $4,127net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1470SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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Miami University
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M
Oxford, OH

Miami University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 18,618enrollment
  • $27,928net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1380SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.85Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Louisiana State University
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L
Baton Rouge, LA

Louisiana State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Louisiana

  • 39,418enrollment
  • $21,808net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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University of Kansas
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K
Lawrence, KS

University of Kansas

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#1 Best Value in Kansas

  • 28,406enrollment
  • $18,322net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1290SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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