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
Colorado Mesa University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Grand Junction, CO
  • | 0 reviews

Colorado Mesa is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and outdoor recreation. The Grand Junction campus sits on Colorado's Western Slope near the Colorado National Monument.

#9 Best Public Universities in Colorado 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.28
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $15,590
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East Texas A&M University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Commerce, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

East Texas A&M is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, business, and agricultural sciences. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Commerce in Northeast Texas.

#19 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $12,327
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Tarleton State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Stephenville, TX
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Tarleton State is a public university known for undergraduate agriculture, animal science, and nursing. The main campus anchors the college town of Stephenville in north-central Texas.

#20 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1160
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.21
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $16,159
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Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Magnolia, AR
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 27 application deadline

SAU is a public university known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The campus is in the small college town of Magnolia.

#4 Best Public Universities in Arkansas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 875-1105
  • Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $13,442
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Southeastern Oklahoma State University Campus

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

Southeastern Oklahoma State is a public university known for undergraduate education and aviation. The small-city campus in Durant lies near the Oklahoma-Texas border.

#6 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1186
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $9,075
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Southern Oregon University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Ashland, OR
  • | 0 reviews

SOU is a public university known for undergraduate theater, performing arts, and environmental studies. Ashland is a college town closely tied to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the campus.

#6 Best Public Universities in Oregon 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.34
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $17,959
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Indiana University East Campus
 

  • Public 4 Year
  • Richmond, IN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 18 application deadline

IU East is a public regional campus of Indiana University known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus sits in Richmond near Indiana's border with Ohio.

#10 Best Public Universities in Indiana 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 67%
  • Net Price $8,718
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Metropolitan State University of Denver Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Denver, CO
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

MSU Denver is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, aviation, and business. Most students commute to the shared Auraria Campus in downtown Denver.

#10 Best Public Universities in Colorado 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1130
  • Avg GPA 3.03
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $14,584
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Northern State University Campus
 

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

Northern State is a public university known for undergraduate education, business, and fine arts. The campus is in Aberdeen, a small city in northeastern South Dakota.

#5 Best Public Universities in South Dakota 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.37
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $15,990
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Austin Peay State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Clarksville, TN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 4 application deadline

Austin Peay is a public university known for undergraduate education and nursing. The Clarksville campus is close to Fort Campbell and draws many military-connected students.

#8 Best Public Universities in Tennessee 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 843-1126
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $9,882
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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Edinburg, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

UTRGV is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and engineering. Campuses span the Rio Grande Valley near the U.S.-Mexico border.

#21 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1090
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.16
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $5,282
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The University of Texas at San Antonio Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • San Antonio, TX
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

UTSA is a large public university known for undergraduate cybersecurity and business. The main campus sits in northwest San Antonio near the Texas Hill Country.

#22 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1220
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $10,959
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Angelo State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • San Angelo, TX
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Angelo State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and agriculture. The campus is in the West Texas city of San Angelo.

#23 Best Public Universities in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $14,048
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University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Pine Bluff, AR
  • | 0 reviews

UAPB is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate aquaculture and agriculture. Students study on a residential campus in Pine Bluff in southeastern Arkansas.

#5 Best Public Universities in Arkansas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 845-1108
  • Avg GPA 2.9
  • Acceptance Rate 41%
  • Net Price $12,373
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Northwestern State University of Louisiana Campus

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

Northwestern State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The campus is in historic Natchitoches, a small city along the Cane River.

#9 Best Public Universities in Louisiana 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 866-1163
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $13,134
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SUNY College of Technology at Canton Campus

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

SUNY Canton is a public college of technology known for undergraduate nursing, engineering technology, and veterinary science technology. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Canton in northern New York.

#35 Best Public Universities in New York 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $14,754
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Arkansas State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Jonesboro, AR
  • | 0 reviews

Arkansas State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, agriculture, and business. The campus is located in Jonesboro in northeast Arkansas.

#6 Best Public Universities in Arkansas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $12,410
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California State University Los Angeles Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 19 application deadline

Cal State LA is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and criminal justice. The urban campus sits in the hills east of downtown Los Angeles.

#26 Best Public Universities in California 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 870-1060
  • Avg GPA 3.31
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $4,460
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