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.


189 results nationwide

CUNY Queens College
Q
Flushing, NY

CUNY Queens College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 17,001enrollment
  • $6,434net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1190SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA

University of Cincinnati Main Campus
C
Cincinnati, OH

University of Cincinnati Main Campus

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 41,155enrollment
  • $20,149net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

University of Missouri St Louis
M
Saint Louis, MO

University of Missouri St Louis

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 15,181enrollment
  • $13,211net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1210SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

University of South Florida Main Campus
S
Tampa, FL

University of South Florida Main Campus

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 49,600enrollment
  • $11,004net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.64Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

University of Alabama at Birmingham
A
Birmingham, AL

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value Colleges in Alabama

  • 21,639enrollment
  • $16,834net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1410SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

Nova Southeastern University
N
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Nova Southeastern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 20,948enrollment
  • $29,589net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1310SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Virginia Commonwealth University
V
Richmond, VA

Virginia Commonwealth University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 28,082enrollment
  • $21,294net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1290SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 18

University of Nevada Reno
N
Reno, NV

University of Nevada Reno

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Value in Nevada

  • 20,945enrollment
  • $16,670net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1270SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 7

Towson University
T
Towson, MD

Towson University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Maryland

  • 19,793enrollment
  • $14,443net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1230SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

University of Massachusetts Boston
M
Boston, MA

University of Massachusetts Boston

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 15,586enrollment
  • $17,123net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1300SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Texas Tech University
T
Lubbock, TX

Texas Tech University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 40,378enrollment
  • $17,896net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1280SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

University of Houston
H
Houston, TX

University of Houston

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 46,700enrollment
  • $14,056net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due May 31

Northern Illinois University
N
Dekalb, IL

Northern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 15,649enrollment
  • $13,884net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 940-1170SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

University of Arkansas
A
Fayetteville, AR

University of Arkansas

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Arkansas

  • 30,936enrollment
  • $16,208net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1220SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
I
Indianapolis, IN

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 25,979enrollment
  • $11,462net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1250SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due May 15

Illinois State University
I
Normal, IL

Illinois State University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 20,683enrollment
  • $20,551net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1210SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

West Chester University of Pennsylvania
W
West Chester, PA

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 17,275enrollment
  • $22,973net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1260SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.43Avg GPA

California State University Long Beach
C
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in California

  • 38,973enrollment
  • $9,346net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30