Top Rated U.S. Public Colleges

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the United States as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2027 as the best public college in America is University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.

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Public 4 Year
University of Idaho Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Moscow, ID
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Idaho is a public university known for undergraduate agriculture, natural resources, and engineering. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Moscow in northern Idaho.

#1 Best Public Universities in Idaho 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.47
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $15,111
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University of South Dakota Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Vermillion, SD
  • | 0 reviews

USD is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and fine arts. Most students live on a residential campus in the college town of Vermillion.

#3 Best Colleges in South Dakota 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1125-1315
  • Avg GPA 3.43
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $19,133
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Minot State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Minot, ND
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 30 application deadline

Minot State is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, nursing, and business. The compact campus sits in the small city of Minot in north-central North Dakota.

#3 Best Public Universities in North Dakota 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $13,092
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The Evergreen State College Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Olympia, WA
  • 3.7 | 3 reviews

Evergreen is a public liberal arts college known for interdisciplinary programs and environmental studies. The forested campus includes Puget Sound waterfront near Olympia.

#4 Best Public Universities in Washington 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1035-1253
  • Avg GPA 3.12
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $18,350
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South Dakota State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Brookings, SD
  • | 0 reviews

South Dakota State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and pharmacy. Most undergrads study on a residential campus in the college town of Brookings.

#3 Best Public Universities in South Dakota 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1060-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $19,932
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Montana State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Bozeman, MT
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews

Montana State is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, agriculture, and architecture. Bozeman is a mountain college town near the Bridger Mountains and Yellowstone National Park.

#3 Best Colleges in Montana 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1065-1285
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $20,142
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Central Washington University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Ellensburg, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Central Washington is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and aviation. Ellensburg is a residential college town in the Kittitas Valley of central Washington.

#5 Best Public Universities in Washington 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.08
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $19,898
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College of Staten Island CUNY Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Staten Island, NY
  • | 0 reviews

College of Staten Island is a public CUNY college known for undergraduate nursing, teacher education, and business. Its large Staten Island campus is one of New York City's most spacious college grounds.

#27 Best Public Universities in New York 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $6,525
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Ball State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Muncie, IN
  • 4.6 | 5 reviews

Ball State is a public university known for undergraduate architecture, education, and telecommunications. The college-town campus is in Muncie.

#4 Best Public Universities in Indiana 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1080-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.52
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $13,599
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SUNY College of Technology at Delhi Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Delhi, NY
  • | 0 reviews

SUNY Delhi is a public college of technology known for undergraduate veterinary science technology, hospitality management, and architectural technology. The residential campus sits in a small village in New York's Catskill Mountains region.

#28 Best Public Universities in New York 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $16,371
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Sonoma State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Rohnert Park, CA
  • | 0 reviews

Sonoma State is a public university known for undergraduate wine business and environmental studies. The campus sits in Rohnert Park in Sonoma County wine country.

#14 Best Public Universities in California 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $14,614
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University of Nebraska at Omaha Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Omaha, NE
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

UNO is a public university known for undergraduate business, criminal justice, and information technology. The urban campus sits in midtown Omaha.

#3 Best Public Universities in Nebraska 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.44
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $13,662
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Louisiana Tech University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Ruston, LA
  • 3.3 | 3 reviews

Louisiana Tech is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and architecture. Ruston is a college town in northern Louisiana built around the campus.

#3 Best Colleges in Louisiana 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $12,325
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University of California Merced Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Merced, CA
  • 3.0 | 1 reviews
  • Nov 30 application deadline

UC Merced is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, biology, and psychology. The newest University of California campus is located in California's Central Valley.

#15 Best Public Universities in California 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.55
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $13,690
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Western Michigan University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Kalamazoo, MI
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews

Western Michigan is a large public university known for undergraduate aviation, engineering, and education. The residential campus sits on a hillside overlooking Kalamazoo in southwestern Michigan.

#7 Best Public Universities in Michigan 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $17,331
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Longwood University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Farmville, VA
  • | 0 reviews

Longwood is a public university known for undergraduate education, business, and nursing. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Farmville.

#12 Best Public Universities in Virginia 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $20,847
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University of North Carolina at Greensboro Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Greensboro, NC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

UNCG is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and the performing arts. The urban campus is located in Greensboro.

#9 Best Public Universities in North Carolina 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1355
  • Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $11,404
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East Tennessee State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Johnson City, TN
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

ETSU is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and bluegrass music. The campus sits in the Appalachian Highlands of northeastern Tennessee.

#3 Best Public Universities in Tennessee 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1200
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $16,286
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