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
University of Massachusetts Amherst Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Amherst, MA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

UMass Amherst is a large public university known for undergraduate computer science, business, and engineering. Students can cross-register at nearby colleges through the Five College Consortium in the Pioneer Valley.

#1 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1310-1500
  • Avg GPA 3.99
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $22,948
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Rutgers University Camden Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Camden, NJ
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Rutgers-Camden is a public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and biology. The urban campus sits across the Delaware River from Philadelphia.

#2 Best Value Colleges in New Jersey 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1300
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.23
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $19,821
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The College of New Jersey Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Ewing, NJ
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

TCNJ is a public college known for undergraduate teacher education, nursing, and business. The suburban Ewing campus is primarily residential.

#3 Best Public Universities in New Jersey 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1340
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.29
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $25,580
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Florida State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Tallahassee, FL
  • 5.0 | 6 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

FSU is a large public university known for undergraduate film, criminology, and music. The campus is in Tallahassee, Florida's capital city.

#3 Best Colleges in Florida 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1270-1410
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 24%
  • Net Price $15,815
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Penn State Main Campus Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • University Park, PA
  • 4.2 | 12 reviews

Penn State is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and communications. The University Park campus anchors the college town of State College in central Pennsylvania.

#2 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1420
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 61%
  • Net Price $27,889
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CUNY Bernard M Baruch College Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • New York, NY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Baruch is a public CUNY college known for undergraduate business, finance, and accounting. The compact urban campus sits in Midtown Manhattan.

#4 Best Public Universities in New York 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1400
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 48%
  • Net Price $4,326
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Rutgers University Newark Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Newark, NJ
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Rutgers-Newark is a public university known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus is located in downtown Newark.

#4 Best Public Universities in New Jersey 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1270
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.23
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $18,276
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New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Socorro, NM
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

New Mexico Tech is a small public technological university known for undergraduate engineering, earth sciences, and physics. The campus is in the small town of Socorro in central New Mexico.

#1 Best Value in New Mexico 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1080-1310
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.63
  • Acceptance Rate 44%
  • Net Price $11,551
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New Jersey Institute of Technology Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Newark, NJ
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

NJIT is a public technological university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and architecture. The urban campus is located in Newark.

#3 Best Value Colleges in New Jersey 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1210-1460
  • Avg GPA 3.72
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $17,313
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University of Colorado Boulder Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Boulder, CO
  • 4.0 | 6 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

CU Boulder is a large public university known for undergraduate aerospace engineering, environmental sciences, and physics. The campus sits against the Flatirons in the college town of Boulder.

#2 Best Public Universities in Colorado 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1430
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $26,231
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Missouri University of Science and Technology Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Rolla, MO
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

Missouri S&T is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and the physical sciences. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in the college town of Rolla.

#1 Best Public Universities in Missouri 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1420
  • Avg GPA 3.81
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $17,366
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SUNY College at Geneseo Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Geneseo, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Geneseo is a public liberal arts college known for undergraduate education and the sciences. The residential campus sits in a small college town in western New York's Genesee Valley.

#5 Best Public Universities in New York 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.72
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $19,115
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University of Vermont Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Burlington, VT
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

UVM is a public university known for undergraduate environmental science, natural resources, and nursing. The hillside campus overlooks Lake Champlain in Burlington.

#1 Best Public Universities in Vermont 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1290-1440
  • Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $20,084
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Indiana University Bloomington Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Bloomington, IN
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews

IU is a large public university known for undergraduate business, music, and media. Bloomington is a classic college town built around a historic limestone campus.

#2 Best Public Universities in Indiana 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1400
  • Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $17,270
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University of Illinois Chicago Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Chicago, IL
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

UIC is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, architecture, and engineering. The urban campus sits on Chicago's Near West Side near the Illinois Medical District.

#2 Best Public Universities in Illinois 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1350
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $10,852
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University of South Carolina Columbia Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Dec 1 application deadline

South Carolina is a large public university known for undergraduate international business and hospitality management. The historic Horseshoe anchors the campus in downtown Columbia.

#2 Best Public Universities in South Carolina 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1180-1360
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $24,488
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University at Albany Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Albany, NY
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

University at Albany is a large public university known for undergraduate criminal justice, public policy, and atmospheric science. The campus is in New York's capital, with many programs oriented toward state government.

#6 Best Public Universities in New York 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $17,949
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SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Syracuse, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

ESF is a specialized public college known for undergraduate environmental science, forestry, and landscape architecture. The campus adjoins Syracuse University in Syracuse.

#7 Best Public Universities in New York 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $19,814
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