Top Rated U.S. Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in America for 2024

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the United States as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2024 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

444 results nationwide

Penn State Main Campus
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P
University Park, PA

Penn State Main Campus

Public 4 Year

11 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 50,028enrollment
  • $26,747net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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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

  • 7,629enrollment
  • $22,273net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.29Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Massachusetts Amherst
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M
Amherst, MA

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 32,229enrollment
  • $22,291net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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New Jersey Institute of Technology
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N
Newark, NJ

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 12,332enrollment
  • $17,762net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1450SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Rutgers University Camden
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R
Camden, NJ

Rutgers University Camden

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in New Jersey

  • 5,966enrollment
  • $14,151net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1280SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

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Rutgers University Newark
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R
Newark, NJ

Rutgers University Newark

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 11,017enrollment
  • $16,578net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1270SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

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University of Vermont
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V
Burlington, VT

University of Vermont

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Vermont

  • 14,088enrollment
  • $21,849net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
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B
New York, NY

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 19,854enrollment
  • $4,991net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1360SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
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O
Norman, OK

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma

  • 28,308enrollment
  • $22,601net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Colorado Boulder
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C
Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 39,585enrollment
  • $21,836net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1390SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Florida State University
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F
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Florida

  • 44,161enrollment
  • $14,003net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1370SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Indiana University Bloomington
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I
Bloomington, IN

Indiana University Bloomington

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 47,005enrollment
  • $16,234net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

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Ramapo College of New Jersey
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R
Mahwah, NJ

Ramapo College of New Jersey

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 5,478enrollment
  • $16,262net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1295SAT range
  • 23-32ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
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O
Syracuse, NY

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 1,976enrollment
  • $20,928net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1300SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of South Carolina Columbia
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S
Columbia, SC

University of South Carolina Columbia

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 35,653enrollment
  • $22,427net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1380SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.69Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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Rowan University
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R
Glassboro, NJ

Rowan University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 19,535enrollment
  • $20,963net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1300SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

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University of California Santa Cruz
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C
Santa Cruz, CA

University of California Santa Cruz

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in California

  • 19,478enrollment
  • $17,975net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of Iowa
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I
Iowa City, IA

University of Iowa

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Iowa

  • 30,015enrollment
  • $19,587net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1340SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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