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
Stephen F Austin State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Nacogdoches, TX
  • 3.8 | 8 reviews

SFA is a public university known for undergraduate forestry, education, and nursing. The residential campus sits in the historic East Texas college town of Nacogdoches.

#18 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1170
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.26
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $14,959
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University of Memphis Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Memphis, TN
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

University of Memphis is a large public university known for undergraduate music, business, and journalism. The urban campus is in Midtown Memphis.

#7 Best Public Universities in Tennessee 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 915-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $12,756
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Colorado State University Pueblo Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Pueblo, CO
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

CSU Pueblo is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and exercise science. Most students study on a campus in the southern Colorado city of Pueblo.

#8 Best Public Universities in Colorado 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 870-1100
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $13,079
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Eastern Kentucky University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Richmond, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

EKU is a public university known for undergraduate criminal justice, fire protection, and safety programs. The campus sits in the college town of Richmond in central Kentucky.

#5 Best Public Universities in Kentucky 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1080
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $12,279
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Jacksonville State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Jacksonville, AL
  • | 0 reviews

Jacksonville State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits in a small college town in the Appalachian foothills of northeast Alabama.

#7 Best Public Universities in Alabama 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1290
  • Avg GPA 3.43
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $14,221
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California State University San Bernardino Campus

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

CSUSB is a public university known for undergraduate business, education, and criminal justice. The campus sits at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California's Inland Empire.

#24 Best Public Universities in California 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1080
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $5,231
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Shepherd University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Shepherdstown, WV
  • | 0 reviews

Shepherd is a public university known for undergraduate nursing and teacher education. The campus sits in historic Shepherdstown along the Potomac River.

#4 Best Public Universities in West Virginia 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 878-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $11,744
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Bowie State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Bowie, MD
  • 3.0 | 1 reviews
  • May 15 application deadline

Bowie State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate education and nursing. The suburban campus sits between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

#8 Best Public Universities in Maryland 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 796-1083
  • Avg GPA 3.12
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $17,287
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McNeese State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Lake Charles, LA
  • | 0 reviews

McNeese is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, engineering, and business. The campus sits in Lake Charles in southwest Louisiana.

#7 Best Public Universities in Louisiana 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1198
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $12,430
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California State University Northridge Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Northridge, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Nov 30 application deadline

CSUN is a large public university known for undergraduate film and television, business, and education. The suburban campus lies in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.

#25 Best Public Universities in California 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.38
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $7,536
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Northwest Missouri State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Maryville, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Northwest Missouri State is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, business, and agriculture. The residential campus is in the small college town of Maryville.

#9 Best Public Universities in Missouri 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 976-1193
  • Avg GPA 3.45
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $16,790
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Southwest Minnesota State University Campus
 

  • Public 4 Year
  • Marshall, MN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 18 application deadline

SMSU is a public university known for undergraduate culinology, education, and business. The campus sits in the small city of Marshall in rural southwestern Minnesota.

#8 Best Public Universities in Minnesota 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 935-1102
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.21
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $15,547
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Nicholls State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Thibodaux, LA
  • | 0 reviews

Nicholls State is a public university known for undergraduate culinary arts and nursing. The campus is in Thibodaux, a small bayou city in south Louisiana.

#8 Best Public Universities in Louisiana 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 934-1196
  • Avg GPA 3.34
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $12,298
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Boise State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Boise, ID
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Boise State is a large public university known for undergraduate business, engineering, and nursing. The urban campus borders the Boise River in Idaho's capital city.

#3 Best Value Colleges in Idaho 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1210
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.37
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $21,583
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University of Southern Mississippi Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews

Southern Miss is a public university known for undergraduate polymer science and music. The main campus sits in the college town of Hattiesburg in southern Mississippi.

#4 Best Public Universities in Mississippi 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $15,095
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University of West Georgia Campus
 

  • Public 4 Year
  • Carrollton, GA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

West Georgia is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The residential campus is in Carrollton, a small city about an hour west of Atlanta.

#5 Best Public Universities in Georgia 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.31
  • Acceptance Rate 52%
  • Net Price $12,913
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West Liberty University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • West Liberty, WV
  • | 0 reviews

West Liberty is a small public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The residential campus is set in a small town in West Virginia's Northern Panhandle.

#5 Best Public Universities in West Virginia 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1123
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $13,655
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Auburn University at Montgomery Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Montgomery, AL
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

AUM is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus is located in Montgomery, Alabama's capital city.

#8 Best Public Universities in Alabama 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1036-1203
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $13,945
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