Top Rated East Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in the East for 2025

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the East as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2025 as the best public college in the East is University of Connecticut. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


93 results

University of Connecticut
C
Storrs, CT

University of Connecticut

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in America

  • 27,364enrollment
  • $22,324net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1420SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.74Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University at Buffalo
U
Buffalo, NY

University at Buffalo

Public 4 Year

8 reviews

#14 Best Public Universities in America

  • 31,889enrollment
  • $20,511net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1380SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Rutgers University New Brunswick
R
New Brunswick, NJ

Rutgers University New Brunswick

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#19 Best Public Universities in America

  • 50,617enrollment
  • $19,052net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.3Estimated Avg GPA

SUNY at Binghamton
B
Vestal, NY

SUNY at Binghamton

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#23 Best Public Universities in America

  • 18,456enrollment
  • $18,860net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1490SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
P
Pittsburgh, PA

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#25 Best Public Universities in America

  • 34,525enrollment
  • $24,338net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Stony Brook University
S
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 25,865enrollment
  • $18,601net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1490SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

The College of New Jersey
N
Ewing, NJ

The College of New Jersey

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 7,652enrollment
  • $22,379net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.29Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Penn State Main Campus
P
University Park, PA

Penn State Main Campus

Public 4 Year

11 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 50,399enrollment
  • $27,450net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

University of Massachusetts Amherst
M
Amherst, MA

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 31,810enrollment
  • $22,954net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

SUNY at Geneseo
G
Geneseo, NY

SUNY at Geneseo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 3,928enrollment
  • $18,698net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1380SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Rutgers University Newark
R
Newark, NJ

Rutgers University Newark

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 10,809enrollment
  • $17,425net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1270SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
B
New York, NY

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 19,698enrollment
  • $3,989net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Vermont
V
Burlington, VT

University of Vermont

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Vermont

  • 14,320enrollment
  • $22,062net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1420SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

New Jersey Institute of Technology
N
Newark, NJ

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in New Jersey

  • 13,007enrollment
  • $16,736net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1470SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Rutgers University Camden
R
Camden, NJ

Rutgers University Camden

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 5,776enrollment
  • $18,735net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1255SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

Rowan University
R
Glassboro, NJ

Rowan University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 19,660enrollment
  • $22,237net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1310SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

SUNY at Albany
A
Albany, NY

SUNY at Albany

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 16,880enrollment
  • $19,165net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1320SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
O
Syracuse, NY

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,737enrollment
  • $19,644net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1300SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1