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
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Tallahassee, FL
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

FAMU is a public HBCU known for undergraduate pharmacy, business, and engineering. The campus is located in Florida's capital city of Tallahassee.

#10 Best Public Universities in Florida 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 21%
  • Net Price $13,819
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West Virginia University Institute of Technology Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Beckley, WV
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

WVU Tech is a public college known for undergraduate engineering and technology. The campus sits in Beckley in the mountains of southern West Virginia.

#3 Best Colleges in West Virginia 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1120
  • Avg GPA 3.51
  • Acceptance Rate 37%
  • Net Price $11,281
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University of Central Arkansas Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Conway, AR
  • 3.0 | 1 reviews

UCA is a public university known for undergraduate education and nursing programs. The campus sits in Conway, a college town north of Little Rock.

#3 Best Public Universities in Arkansas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $16,546
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University of Akron Main Campus Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Akron, OH
  • 3.5 | 4 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

University of Akron is a large public university known for undergraduate polymer science and engineering. The urban campus sits near downtown Akron.

#9 Best Public Universities in Ohio
  • SAT Range 900-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.47
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $14,693
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University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Milwaukee, WI
  • | 0 reviews
  • Sep 1 application deadline

UWM is a large public university known for undergraduate architecture, nursing, and freshwater sciences. The urban East Side campus sits near Lake Michigan in Milwaukee.

#8 Best Public Universities in Wisconsin 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.16
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $16,263
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California State University San Marcos Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • San Marcos, CA
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Nov 30 application deadline

Cal State San Marcos is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The suburban hillside campus is in North San Diego County.

#20 Best Public Universities in California 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1130
  • Avg GPA 3.32
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $10,241
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Indiana University Southeast Campus
 

  • Public 4 Year
  • New Albany, IN
  • | 0 reviews

IU Southeast is a public regional campus of Indiana University known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The New Albany campus sits across the Ohio River from Louisville.

#6 Best Public Universities in Indiana 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.31
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $9,102
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Wright State University Main Campus Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Dayton, OH
  • 4.7 | 3 reviews
  • Aug 23 application deadline

Wright State is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and computer science. The suburban campus sits near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the Dayton area.

#10 Best Public Universities in Ohio
  • SAT Range 913-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $15,254
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Texas A & M International University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Laredo, TX
  • | 0 reviews

Texas A&M International is a public university known for undergraduate international business and nursing. Its campus is in Laredo on the U.S.-Mexico border.

#13 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 44%
  • Net Price $5,644
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University of Southern Indiana Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Evansville, IN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

University of Southern Indiana is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The suburban campus sits on the west side of Evansville near the Ohio River.

#7 Best Public Universities in Indiana 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.45
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $14,722
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University of Wisconsin Whitewater Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Whitewater, WI
  • | 0 reviews

UW-Whitewater is a public university known for undergraduate business and education. The campus is set in the small college town of Whitewater in southeastern Wisconsin.

#9 Best Public Universities in Wisconsin 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $12,709
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West Texas A & M University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Canyon, TX
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

West Texas A&M is a public university known for undergraduate agriculture, nursing, and business. The campus is in Canyon, a small college town in the Texas Panhandle.

#14 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $15,572
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California State University Sacramento Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Sacramento, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Nov 30 application deadline

Sacramento State is a large public university known for undergraduate government, criminal justice, and business. The urban campus sits along the American River in California's capital city.

#21 Best Public Universities in California 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1130
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $10,110
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East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • East Stroudsburg, PA
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • Apr 1 application deadline

East Stroudsburg is a public university known for undergraduate education, athletic training, and exercise science. The campus sits in the Pocono Mountains near the Delaware Water Gap.

#17 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $18,610
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Rhode Island College Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Providence, RI
  • 2.5 | 2 reviews
  • Mar 15 application deadline

Rhode Island College is a public college known for undergraduate teacher education, nursing, and social work. The campus sits in a residential area on the north side of Providence.

#2 Best Public Universities in Rhode Island 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 870-1120
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.08
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $10,346
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Texas Woman's University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Denton, TX
  • 4.7 | 3 reviews

TWU is a public university primarily for women, known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and education. The main campus is in Denton, a college town north of Dallas-Fort Worth.

#15 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $11,636
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Northwestern Oklahoma State University Campus
 

  • Public 4 Year
  • Alva, OK
  • | 0 reviews

Northwestern Oklahoma State is a small public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Alva in northwestern Oklahoma.

#4 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 803-1036
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $10,492
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Southern Utah University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Cedar City, UT
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Sep 8 application deadline

Southern Utah is a public university known for undergraduate theater, performing arts, and education. Cedar City is a small college town near southern Utah national parks.

#3 Best Public Universities in Utah 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $11,840
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