Top Rated East Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in the East for 2024

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the East as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2024 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.


91 results

University of Connecticut
C
Storrs, CT

University of Connecticut

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#12 Best Public Universities in America

  • 27,003enrollment
  • $23,985net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1440SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.74Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University at Buffalo
U
Buffalo, NY

University at Buffalo

Public 4 Year

8 reviews

#16 Best Public Universities in America

  • 32,099enrollment
  • $18,524net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1380SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Rutgers University New Brunswick
R
New Brunswick, NJ

Rutgers University New Brunswick

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#20 Best Public Universities in America

  • 50,637enrollment
  • $17,535net price
  • 66%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

  • 18,312enrollment
  • $19,535net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1510SAT 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

#24 Best Public Universities in America

  • 33,767enrollment
  • $24,286net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Stony Brook University
S
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#25 Best Public Universities in America

  • 25,710enrollment
  • $17,213net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1500SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Penn State Main Campus
P
University Park, PA

Penn State Main Campus

Public 4 Year

11 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 50,028enrollment
  • $26,747net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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

  • 7,629enrollment
  • $22,273net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.29Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Massachusetts Amherst
M
Amherst, MA

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 32,229enrollment
  • $22,291net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.99Avg 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 Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 12,332enrollment
  • $17,762net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1450SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Rutgers University Camden
R
Camden, NJ

Rutgers University Camden

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in New Jersey

  • 5,966enrollment
  • $14,151net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1280SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

Rutgers University Newark
R
Newark, NJ

Rutgers University Newark

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 11,017enrollment
  • $16,578net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1270SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

University of Vermont
V
Burlington, VT

University of Vermont

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Vermont

  • 14,088enrollment
  • $21,849net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
B
New York, NY

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 19,854enrollment
  • $4,991net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1360SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Ramapo College of New Jersey
R
Mahwah, NJ

Ramapo College of New Jersey

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 5,478enrollment
  • $16,262net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1295SAT range
  • 23-32ACT range
  • 3.47Avg 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

#5 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 1,976enrollment
  • $20,928net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1300SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Rowan University
R
Glassboro, NJ

Rowan University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 19,535enrollment
  • $20,963net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1300SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

SUNY at Geneseo
G
Geneseo, NY

SUNY at Geneseo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 4,184enrollment
  • $19,557net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1320SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1