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
The University of Tennessee Knoxville Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Knoxville, TN
  • 4.8 | 5 reviews

Tennessee is a large public university known for undergraduate supply chain management, business, and nuclear engineering. The campus borders the Tennessee River in Knoxville.

#1 Best Public Universities in Tennessee 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1370
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 42%
  • Net Price $21,648
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Citadel Military College of South Carolina Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Charleston, SC
  • | 0 reviews

The Citadel is a public military college known for undergraduate engineering, business, and criminal justice. Most undergrads join the Corps of Cadets and live in barracks under a structured military system on the historic Charleston campus.

#3 Best Public Universities in South Carolina 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1085-1285
  • Avg GPA 3.8
  • Acceptance Rate 23%
  • Net Price $22,124
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University of Iowa Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Iowa City, IA
  • 3.0 | 3 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Iowa is a large public university known for undergraduate creative writing and journalism. The campus sits in the college town of Iowa City along the Iowa River.

#1 Best Public Universities in Iowa 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.81
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $21,765
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Michigan State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • East Lansing, MI
  • 4.5 | 6 reviews

Michigan State is a large public university known for undergraduate supply chain management, education, and agriculture. The campus spreads across the college town of East Lansing with the Red Cedar River running through it.

#2 Best Public Universities in Michigan 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1180-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.72
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $23,657
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The University of Texas at Dallas Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Richardson, TX
  • 4.3 | 3 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

UT Dallas is a public university known for undergraduate computer science, engineering, and business. The suburban Richardson campus sits in the Dallas area's tech corridor.

#3 Best Public Universities in Texas 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1410
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.78
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $14,916
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George Mason University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Fairfax, VA
  • 3.7 | 3 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

George Mason is a large public university known for undergraduate economics, public policy, and computer science. The suburban Fairfax campus sits near Washington, D.C.

#5 Best Public Universities in Virginia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $18,823
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University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Norman, OK
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

OU is a large public university known for undergraduate meteorology and petroleum engineering. Norman is a classic college town built around the campus.

#1 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $18,574
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James Madison University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Harrisonburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

JMU is a large public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and education. Harrisonburg is a college town in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

#6 Best Public Universities in Virginia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1340
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $18,856
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Ramapo College of New Jersey Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Mahwah, NJ
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Ramapo is a public liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing, business, and communication arts. The wooded suburban campus sits in the Ramapo Mountains foothills near the New York border.

#6 Best Public Universities in New Jersey 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.47
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $17,566
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University of Missouri Kansas City Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Kansas City, MO
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 15 application deadline

UMKC is a public university known for its Conservatory and undergraduate programs in music, pharmacy, and business. The urban campus sits in Kansas City.

#2 Best Public Universities in Missouri 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1290-1550
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $14,748
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University of California Santa Cruz Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Santa Cruz, CA
  • 4.3 | 6 reviews
  • Nov 30 application deadline

UC Santa Cruz is a public university known for undergraduate marine science, environmental studies, and astronomy. The residential-college campus sits among redwood forests overlooking Monterey Bay.

#8 Best Public Universities in California 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.63
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $18,059
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Truman State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Kirksville, MO
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Truman State is a public liberal arts university known for undergraduate sciences, business, and education. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Kirksville.

#2 Best Value Colleges in Missouri 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.81
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $13,602
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University of Maryland Baltimore County Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • 3.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

UMBC is a public university known for undergraduate computer science, information systems, and engineering. The suburban campus sits in Baltimore County just outside the city.

#3 Best Public Universities in Maryland 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1420
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $18,770
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University of Utah Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Salt Lake City, UT
  • 4.3 | 3 reviews
  • Apr 1 application deadline

Utah is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and ballet. The campus sits in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains overlooking Salt Lake City.

#1 Best Public Universities in Utah 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $16,583
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University of Mary Washington Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Fredericksburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Mary Washington is a public liberal arts university known for undergraduate historic preservation and education. The historic campus sits in Fredericksburg near the Rappahannock River.

#7 Best Public Universities in Virginia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $21,800
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Rowan University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Glassboro, NJ
  • 2.7 | 6 reviews

Rowan is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and education. Glassboro is a South Jersey college town built around the campus.

#7 Best Public Universities in New Jersey 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1110-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.44
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $23,761
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University of Missouri Columbia Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Columbia, MO
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews

Mizzou is a large public university known for undergraduate journalism and agriculture. Columbia is a Midwestern college town built around the campus.

#4 Best Public Universities in Missouri 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1330
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $22,169
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University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Denver, CO
  • 3.0 | 5 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

CU Denver is a public university known for undergraduate architecture, business, and engineering. The urban campuses include downtown Denver and the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.

#3 Best Value Colleges in Colorado 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1220
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $14,831
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