Top Rated U.S. Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in America for 2025

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the United States as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2025 as the best public college in America is University of Michigan. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
Public 4 year

448 results nationwide

University of Wisconsin Green Bay
Connect Me
W
Green Bay, WI

University of Wisconsin Green Bay

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in Wisconsin

  • 10,326enrollment
  • $10,289net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.16Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Southern Utah University
Connect Me
S
Cedar City, UT

Southern Utah University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Utah

  • 15,033enrollment
  • $12,375net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1240SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 8

Compare Calculate my chances 
Colorado Mesa University
Connect Me
C
Grand Junction, CO

Colorado Mesa University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 8,995enrollment
  • $15,076net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 930-1180SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.28Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Akron Main Campus
Connect Me
A
Akron, OH

University of Akron Main Campus

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 13,518enrollment
  • $15,292net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 950-1190SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Arkansas State University Main Campus
Connect Me
A
Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas State University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Arkansas

  • 14,032enrollment
  • $13,002net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1180SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne
Connect Me
I
Fort Wayne, IN

Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 8,874enrollment
  • $12,619net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 960-1190SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Western Oregon University
Connect Me
W
Monmouth, OR

Western Oregon University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Oregon

  • 3,857enrollment
  • $15,249net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 868-1108SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Connect Me
N
Alva, OK
 

Northwestern Oklahoma State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma

  • 1,929enrollment
  • $12,067net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 868-1090SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Connect Me
N
Natchitoches, LA

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in Louisiana

  • 8,847enrollment
  • $13,156net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 925-1243SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Southern Mississippi
Connect Me
S
Hattiesburg, MS

University of Southern Mississippi

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Mississippi

  • 13,110enrollment
  • $14,050net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Northern State University
Connect Me
N
Aberdeen, SD
 

Northern State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in South Dakota

  • 3,521enrollment
  • $16,873net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 800-1150SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Connect Me
W
Stevens Point, WI

University of Wisconsin Stevens Point

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in Wisconsin

  • 8,109enrollment
  • $14,347net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.27Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Eastern Kentucky University
Connect Me
E
Richmond, KY

Eastern Kentucky University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Kentucky

  • 15,008enrollment
  • $10,852net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 930-1190SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Indiana University Kokomo
Connect Me
I
Kokomo, IN

Indiana University Kokomo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 2,892enrollment
  • $6,459net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 970-1180SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.29Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Texas Woman's University
Connect Me
T
Denton, TX

Texas Woman's University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#17 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 15,664enrollment
  • $10,763net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 930-1140SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Indiana University East
Connect Me
I
Richmond, IN
 

Indiana University East

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 2,985enrollment
  • $9,484net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1220SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 18

Compare Calculate my chances 
The University of Texas Pan American
Connect Me
T
Edinburg, TX

The University of Texas Pan American

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 31,931enrollment
  • $6,978net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 910-1110SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.16Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
West Texas A & M University
Connect Me
W
Canyon, TX

West Texas A & M University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#19 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 8,997enrollment
  • $17,182net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 960-1160SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 

Explore the best public colleges by state: