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
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Rapid City, SD
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

South Dakota Mines is a public science and engineering university known for undergraduate mining, geological, and materials engineering. The Rapid City campus lies at the edge of the Black Hills.

#1 Best Public Universities in South Dakota 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $20,267
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Towson University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Towson, MD
  • 3.8 | 4 reviews
  • Apr 1 application deadline

Towson is a public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and communications. The suburban campus sits just north of Baltimore.

#5 Best Public Universities in Maryland 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1235
  • Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $16,653
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Arizona State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Tempe, AZ
  • 3.3 | 6 reviews

ASU is a large public university known for undergraduate journalism, business, and sustainability. The Tempe campus sits in the Phoenix metro area.

#3 Best Colleges in Arizona 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $17,779
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University of New Hampshire Main Campus Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Durham, NH
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

UNH is a large public university known for undergraduate marine science, environmental studies, and business. Durham is a classic New England college town built around the campus near the seacoast.

#1 Best Public Universities in New Hampshire 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $24,999
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Washington State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Pullman, WA
  • 4.3 | 3 reviews
  • Jan 31 application deadline

WSU is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and communications. Pullman is a classic college town set in the Palouse region of eastern Washington.

#3 Best Public Universities in Washington 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $18,171
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University of Louisville Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Louisville, KY
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

UofL is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering and business. Most undergraduates study on the urban Belknap Campus in Louisville.

#1 Best Public Universities in Kentucky 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 79%
  • Net Price $19,785
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Indiana University Indianapolis Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 15 application deadline

IU Indianapolis is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and philanthropic studies. The urban campus is located in downtown Indianapolis.

#3 Best Public Universities in Indiana 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.52
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $12,228
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University of South Florida Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Tampa, FL
  • 4.0 | 4 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

USF is a large public university known for undergraduate public health, business, and engineering. The main campus is a large urban site in Tampa near Tampa Bay.

#3 Best Public Universities in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1320
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $11,579
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University of Central Florida Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Orlando, FL
  • 4.2 | 6 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

UCF is a large public university known for undergraduate hospitality management, aerospace engineering, and digital media. The large suburban campus sits in east Orlando near the region's tourism industry.

#4 Best Public Universities in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1350
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 40%
  • Net Price $13,351
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The University of Alabama Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Tuscaloosa, AL
  • 5.0 | 7 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Alabama is a large public university known for undergraduate business and communications. Tuscaloosa is a classic college town built around the historic campus.

#1 Best Value in Alabama 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1400
  • Avg GPA 3.76
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $22,559
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SUNY Brockport Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Brockport, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

SUNY Brockport is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, nursing, and exercise science. The residential campus sits in the college town of Brockport along the Erie Canal.

#18 Best Public Universities in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1280
  • Avg GPA 2.79
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $15,725
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University of Alabama at Birmingham Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Birmingham, AL
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

UAB is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and biomedical programs. The urban campus is anchored by a major academic medical center in Birmingham.

#2 Best Value Colleges in Alabama 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1210-1450
  • Avg GPA 3.82
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $17,997
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University of Missouri St Louis Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Saint Louis, MO
  • | 0 reviews

UMSL is a public university known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The suburban campus is in St. Louis County.

#3 Best Value Colleges in Missouri 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1060-1290
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $14,008
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State University of New York at Cortland Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Cortland, NY
  • | 0 reviews

SUNY Cortland is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, physical education, and sport management. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Cortland in central New York.

#19 Best Public Universities in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $19,847
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University of Rhode Island Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Kingston, RI
  • 4.0 | 7 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

URI is a public university known for undergraduate oceanography, marine science, and pharmacy. The main campus sits in the college town of Kingston in southern Rhode Island.

#1 Best Public Universities in Rhode Island 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $24,118
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University of Cincinnati Main Campus Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • 4.7 | 3 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

University of Cincinnati is a large public university known for undergraduate architecture, design, and music. The urban campus occupies a hillside site in Cincinnati's Uptown area.

#3 Best Public Universities in Ohio 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $24,696
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Oklahoma State University Main Campus Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Stillwater, OK
  • 3.0 | 1 reviews

Oklahoma State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and business. Stillwater is a classic college town built around the campus.

#2 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.63
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $19,561
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University of Kentucky Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Lexington, KY
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Kentucky is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and business. Lexington is a midsize city in the state's Bluegrass horse country.

#2 Best Public Universities in Kentucky 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1290
  • Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $21,958
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