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

Rutgers University New Brunswick
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R
New Brunswick, NJ

Rutgers University New Brunswick

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#19 Best Public Universities in America

  • 50,617enrollment
  • $19,052net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.3Estimated Avg GPA

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North Carolina State University at Raleigh
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N
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#20 Best Public Universities in America

  • 37,323enrollment
  • $14,860net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
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I
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#21 Best Public Universities in America

  • 56,563enrollment
  • $14,297net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Texas A&M University College Station
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T
College Station, TX

Texas A&M University College Station

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#22 Best Public Universities in America

  • 76,633enrollment
  • $21,610net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1380SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.68Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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SUNY at Binghamton
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B
Vestal, NY

SUNY at Binghamton

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#23 Best Public Universities in America

  • 18,456enrollment
  • $18,860net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1490SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Clemson University
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C
Clemson, SC

Clemson University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#24 Best Public Universities in America

  • 28,747enrollment
  • $24,408net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1390SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
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P
Pittsburgh, PA

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#25 Best Public Universities in America

  • 34,525enrollment
  • $24,338net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

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Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus
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G
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 47,946enrollment
  • $15,901net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1530SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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Ohio State University
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O
Columbus, OH

Ohio State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 60,046enrollment
  • $19,575net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1480SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.76Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Stony Brook University
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S
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 25,865enrollment
  • $18,601net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1490SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Delaware
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D
Newark, DE

University of Delaware

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Delaware

  • 24,221enrollment
  • $17,716net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1360SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Virginia Tech
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V
Blacksburg, VA

Virginia Tech

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 38,294enrollment
  • $22,205net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1420SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
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C
San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in California

  • 22,485enrollment
  • $16,888net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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St Mary's College of Maryland
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S
St. Mary's City, MD

St Mary's College of Maryland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Maryland

  • 1,587enrollment
  • $20,679net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1330SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Minnesota Twin Cities
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M
Minneapolis, MN

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Minnesota

  • 54,890enrollment
  • $16,730net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Colorado School of Mines
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C
Golden, CO

Colorado School of Mines

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 7,599enrollment
  • $29,785net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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The College of New Jersey
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N
Ewing, NJ

The College of New Jersey

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 7,652enrollment
  • $22,379net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.29Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Georgia
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G
Athens, GA

University of Georgia

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Georgia

  • 41,615enrollment
  • $16,303net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1390SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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