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 Mississippi
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M
University, MS

University of Mississippi

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Value in Mississippi

  • 22,300enrollment
  • $14,289net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1220SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

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San Diego State University
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S
San Diego, CA

San Diego State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in California

  • 37,402enrollment
  • $13,017net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1300SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Iowa State University
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I
Ames, IA

Iowa State University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Iowa

  • 29,969enrollment
  • $15,310net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1350SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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Colorado State University Fort Collins
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C
Fort Collins, CO

Colorado State University Fort Collins

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 33,403enrollment
  • $16,926net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1290SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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University of Rhode Island
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R
Kingston, RI

University of Rhode Island

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Rhode Island

  • 17,473enrollment
  • $20,695net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1270SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Oregon State University
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O
Corvallis, OR

Oregon State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Oregon

  • 34,292enrollment
  • $21,163net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1370SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.61Avg 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

2 reviews

#1 Best Value in Louisiana

  • 37,348enrollment
  • $21,296net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1320SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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University of North Carolina at Wilmington
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N
Wilmington, NC

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 17,843enrollment
  • $18,709net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1370SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.56Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Central Florida
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C
Orlando, FL

University of Central Florida

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 68,346enrollment
  • $13,108net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1360SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.64Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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University of Louisville
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L
Louisville, KY

University of Louisville

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Kentucky

  • 22,017enrollment
  • $19,327net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1270SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Oklahoma State University Main Campus
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O
Stillwater, OK

Oklahoma State University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Oklahoma

  • 25,372enrollment
  • $16,718net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

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Washington State University
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W
Pullman, WA

Washington State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Washington

  • 27,539enrollment
  • $17,911net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1210SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

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University of Colorado Denver
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C
Denver, CO

University of Colorado Denver

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 23,744enrollment
  • $16,079net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1260SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.46Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Arizona State University
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A
Tempe, AZ

Arizona State University

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Arizona

  • 80,065enrollment
  • $14,808net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1320SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

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St John's University New York
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S
Queens, NY

St John's University New York

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#40 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 19,663enrollment
  • $26,052net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1310SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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The University of Alabama
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A
Tuscaloosa, AL

The University of Alabama

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Alabama

  • 38,644enrollment
  • $20,592net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1410SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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University of Massachusetts Lowell
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M
Lowell, MA

University of Massachusetts Lowell

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 17,153enrollment
  • $17,240net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1348SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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University of Kentucky
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K
Lexington, KY

University of Kentucky

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Kentucky

  • 31,547enrollment
  • $18,693net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1290SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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