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

CUNY City College
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C
New York, NY

CUNY City College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 15,012enrollment
  • $4,599net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1460SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Missouri Kansas City
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M
Kansas City, MO

University of Missouri Kansas City

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 15,277enrollment
  • $14,201net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1540SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 15

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CUNY Hunter College
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H
New York, NY

CUNY Hunter College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 22,879enrollment
  • $4,127net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1470SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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Miami University
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M
Oxford, OH

Miami University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 18,618enrollment
  • $27,928net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1380SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.85Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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State University of New York at New Paltz
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S
New Paltz, NY

State University of New York at New Paltz

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 7,420enrollment
  • $17,848net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Louisiana State University
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L
Baton Rouge, LA

Louisiana State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Louisiana

  • 39,418enrollment
  • $21,808net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Truman State University
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T
Kirksville, MO

Truman State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Missouri

  • 3,636enrollment
  • $12,798net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1126-1318SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

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University of Kansas
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K
Lawrence, KS

University of Kansas

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#1 Best Value in Kansas

  • 28,406enrollment
  • $18,322net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1290SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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SUNY at Purchase College
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P
Purchase, NY

SUNY at Purchase College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 3,229enrollment
  • $18,651net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1178-1363SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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University of Hawaii at Manoa
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H
Honolulu, HI

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Value in Hawaii

  • 19,256enrollment
  • $14,557net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

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Auburn University
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A
Auburn University, AL

Auburn University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 33,015enrollment
  • $24,524net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1380SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of North Carolina School of the Arts
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N
Winston-Salem, NC

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 1,074enrollment
  • $11,163net price
  • 33%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1350SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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SUNY Polytechnic Institute
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S
Utica, NY

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,704enrollment
  • $14,646net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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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

#7 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 5,521enrollment
  • $17,348net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1270SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Nebraska Lincoln
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N
Lincoln, NE

University of Nebraska Lincoln

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Nebraska

  • 23,986enrollment
  • $18,029net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1330SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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C
Charleston, SC

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 3,727enrollment
  • $21,041net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1250SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

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Massachusetts Maritime Academy
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M
Buzzards Bay, MA

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 1,362enrollment
  • $20,759net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1185SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

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University of Wyoming
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W
Laramie, WY

University of Wyoming

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Wyoming

  • 10,913enrollment
  • $13,299net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 10

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