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

Penn State Main Campus
Connect Me
P
University Park, PA

Penn State Main Campus

Public 4 Year

11 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 50,399enrollment
  • $27,450net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Virginia Military Institute
Connect Me
V
Lexington, VA

Virginia Military Institute

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 1,560enrollment
  • $17,229net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1260SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Connect Me
M
Amherst, MA

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 31,810enrollment
  • $22,954net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
SUNY at Geneseo
Connect Me
G
Geneseo, NY

SUNY at Geneseo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 3,928enrollment
  • $18,698net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1380SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Rutgers University Newark
Connect Me
R
Newark, NJ

Rutgers University Newark

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 10,809enrollment
  • $17,425net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1270SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
Connect Me
B
New York, NY

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 19,698enrollment
  • $3,989net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Colorado Boulder
Connect Me
C
Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 41,432enrollment
  • $22,640net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1420SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Illinois at Chicago
Connect Me
I
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 33,522enrollment
  • $11,499net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1340SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Florida State University
Connect Me
F
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Florida

  • 43,234enrollment
  • $14,903net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1390SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Vermont
Connect Me
V
Burlington, VT

University of Vermont

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Vermont

  • 14,320enrollment
  • $22,062net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1420SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Connect Me
M
Rolla, MO

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 7,156enrollment
  • $14,414net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1378SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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

Indiana University Bloomington

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 47,527enrollment
  • $16,282net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of South Carolina Columbia
Connect Me
S
Columbia, SC

University of South Carolina Columbia

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 36,579enrollment
  • $26,068net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1380SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.69Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Connect Me
N
Newark, NJ

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in New Jersey

  • 13,007enrollment
  • $16,736net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1470SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Connect Me
N
Socorro, NM

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in New Mexico

  • 1,713enrollment
  • $9,133net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1290SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.63Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
The University of Tennessee
Connect Me
T
Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Tennessee

  • 36,304enrollment
  • $20,885net price
  • 46%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.66Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Connect Me
O
Norman, OK

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma

  • 29,145enrollment
  • $19,900net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Iowa
Connect Me
I
Iowa City, IA

University of Iowa

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Iowa

  • 30,042enrollment
  • $20,121net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1320SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Compare Calculate my chances 

Explore the best public colleges by state: