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

University of Cincinnati Main Campus
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C
Cincinnati, OH

University of Cincinnati Main Campus

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 43,338enrollment
  • $21,511net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1360SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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College of Charleston
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C
Charleston, SC

College of Charleston

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 11,729enrollment
  • $20,806net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1300SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Pittsburgh Johnstown
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P
Johnstown, PA

University of Pittsburgh Johnstown

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 1,940enrollment
  • $17,909net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1255SAT range
  • 19-32ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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University of Missouri St Louis
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M
Saint Louis, MO

University of Missouri St Louis

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 14,800enrollment
  • $11,577net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1220SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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SUNY College at Brockport
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B
Brockport, NY

SUNY College at Brockport

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,931enrollment
  • $15,343net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1240SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 2.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of Pittsburgh Bradford
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P
Bradford, PA

University of Pittsburgh Bradford

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 1,003enrollment
  • $17,015net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1260SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.28Avg GPA

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University of Arkansas
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A
Fayetteville, AR

University of Arkansas

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Arkansas

  • 32,140enrollment
  • $17,475net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1220SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Radford University
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R
Radford, VA

Radford University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 7,531enrollment
  • $18,282net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 950-1170SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

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Eastern Connecticut State University
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E
Willimantic, CT

Eastern Connecticut State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Connecticut

  • 3,979enrollment
  • $21,205net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

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Mississippi State University
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M
Mississippi State, MS

Mississippi State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Mississippi

  • 22,657enrollment
  • $16,480net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1410SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Kansas State University
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K
Manhattan, KS

Kansas State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Kansas

  • 19,745enrollment
  • $18,745net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1260SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

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Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
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I
Indianapolis, IN

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 25,497enrollment
  • $11,592net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1230SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due May 15

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Texas Tech University
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T
Lubbock, TX

Texas Tech University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 40,773enrollment
  • $16,773net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

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University of Illinois at Springfield
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I
Springfield, IL

University of Illinois at Springfield

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 4,661enrollment
  • $9,241net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1210SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

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University of Houston
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H
Houston, TX

University of Houston

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 46,676enrollment
  • $13,738net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due May 31

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Virginia Commonwealth University
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V
Richmond, VA

Virginia Commonwealth University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 28,238enrollment
  • $22,852net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1270SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 18

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SUNY College at Oswego
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O
Oswego, NY

SUNY College at Oswego

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,756enrollment
  • $16,923net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1270SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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SUNY College at Plattsburgh
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P
Plattsburgh, NY

SUNY College at Plattsburgh

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 4,417enrollment
  • $15,982net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1270SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.11Avg GPA

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