The Best Big Colleges

The Best Large Colleges in America for 2024

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 2024 is Stanford University. Learn how the Best Large Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
large Public Private 4 year

189 results nationwide

University of Illinois at Chicago
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I
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 33,747enrollment
  • $10,384net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.41Avg 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 Public Universities in Utah

  • 34,734enrollment
  • $12,399net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1390SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Michigan State University
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S
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Michigan

  • 50,023enrollment
  • $22,803net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

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SUNY at Albany
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A
Albany, NY

SUNY at Albany

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 16,658enrollment
  • $17,714net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1320SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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DePaul University
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D
Chicago, IL

DePaul University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 20,917enrollment
  • $32,151net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1300SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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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

  • 26,708enrollment
  • $18,950net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1340SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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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

  • 22,224enrollment
  • $18,274net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1320SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.57Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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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

  • 15,703enrollment
  • $14,739net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1245-1550SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 15

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University of Hawaii at Manoa
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H
Honolulu, HI

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Value in Hawaii

  • 19,074enrollment
  • $13,639net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1290SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

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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

  • 26,809enrollment
  • $14,487net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of Missouri Columbia
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M
Columbia, MO

University of Missouri Columbia

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 31,304enrollment
  • $19,889net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.61Estimated Avg 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

  • 19,107enrollment
  • $23,031net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1390SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.85Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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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

  • 49,403enrollment
  • $17,075net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1370SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

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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

  • 31,570enrollment
  • $13,555net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1430SAT range
  • 24-32ACT range
  • 3.78Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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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

  • 22,970enrollment
  • $4,848net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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University of Nebraska Lincoln
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N
Lincoln, NE

University of Nebraska Lincoln

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Nebraska

  • 23,805enrollment
  • $16,805net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1340SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Auburn University
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A
Auburn University, AL

Auburn University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 31,764enrollment
  • $25,271net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1380SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Oregon
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O
Eugene, OR

University of Oregon

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Oregon

  • 23,163enrollment
  • $22,077net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1370SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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