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

University of Nevada Reno
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N
Reno, NV

University of Nevada Reno

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Value in Nevada

  • 21,778enrollment
  • $16,801net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1270SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 7

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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

#2 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma

  • 26,043enrollment
  • $18,291net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1240SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.63Avg 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

#1 Best Value in Alabama

  • 39,622enrollment
  • $21,761net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1400SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.76Avg 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

  • 22,139enrollment
  • $18,808net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1250SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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University of South Florida Main Campus
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S
Tampa, FL

University of South Florida Main Campus

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 48,572enrollment
  • $11,578net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.64Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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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

  • 32,703enrollment
  • $19,838net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1290SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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University of Massachusetts Boston
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M
Boston, MA

University of Massachusetts Boston

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 15,810enrollment
  • $17,554net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1290SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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University of Massachusetts Lowell
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M
Lowell, MA

University of Massachusetts Lowell

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 16,770enrollment
  • $17,624net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1350SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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University of Alabama at Birmingham
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A
Birmingham, AL

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Alabama

  • 21,160enrollment
  • $17,413net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1400SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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University of Cincinnati Main Campus
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C
Cincinnati, OH

University of Cincinnati Main Campus

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 43,338enrollment
  • $21,511net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1360SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Nova Southeastern University
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N
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Nova Southeastern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 20,877enrollment
  • $32,756net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1310SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

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University of Arkansas
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A
Fayetteville, AR

University of Arkansas

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Arkansas

  • 32,140enrollment
  • $17,475net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1220SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Mississippi State University
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M
Mississippi State, MS

Mississippi State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Mississippi

  • 22,657enrollment
  • $16,480net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1410SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Kansas State University
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K
Manhattan, KS

Kansas State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Kansas

  • 19,745enrollment
  • $18,745net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1260SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

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Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
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I
Indianapolis, IN

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 25,497enrollment
  • $11,592net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1230SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due May 15

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Texas Tech University
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T
Lubbock, TX

Texas Tech University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 40,773enrollment
  • $16,773net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

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University of Houston
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H
Houston, TX

University of Houston

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 46,676enrollment
  • $13,738net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due May 31

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Virginia Commonwealth University
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V
Richmond, VA

Virginia Commonwealth University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 28,238enrollment
  • $22,852net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1270SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 18

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