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

SUNY at Albany
A
Albany, NY

SUNY at Albany

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 16,658enrollment
  • $17,714net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1320SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica Rome
S
Utica, NY

SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica Rome

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,842enrollment
  • $13,799net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1400SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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

State University of New York at New Paltz

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,964enrollment
  • $19,592net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1340SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

CUNY Hunter College
H
New York, NY

CUNY Hunter College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 22,970enrollment
  • $4,848net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

CUNY City College
C
New York, NY

CUNY City College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 14,489enrollment
  • $5,181net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

SUNY at Purchase College
P
Purchase, NY

SUNY at Purchase College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 3,182enrollment
  • $19,434net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1350SAT range
  • 29-31ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

CUNY Brooklyn College
B
Brooklyn, NY

CUNY Brooklyn College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 14,195enrollment
  • $5,972net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1180SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Massachusetts Maritime Academy
M
Buzzards Bay, MA

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 1,425enrollment
  • $21,668net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1185SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

University of New Hampshire Main Campus
N
Durham, NH

University of New Hampshire Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in New Hampshire

  • 13,953enrollment
  • $24,507net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1320SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Rhode Island
R
Kingston, RI

University of Rhode Island

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Rhode Island

  • 17,473enrollment
  • $20,695net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1270SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

SUNY Maritime College
S
Throggs Neck, NY

SUNY Maritime College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 1,427enrollment
  • $19,712net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1300SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

SUNY College at Plattsburgh
P
Plattsburgh, NY

SUNY College at Plattsburgh

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 4,474enrollment
  • $17,625net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • 3.11Avg GPA

SUNY College at Cortland
C
Cortland, NY

SUNY College at Cortland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,690enrollment
  • $18,304net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1240SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

University of Massachusetts Lowell
M
Lowell, MA

University of Massachusetts Lowell

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 17,153enrollment
  • $17,240net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1348SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

CUNY Queens College
Q
Flushing, NY

CUNY Queens College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 17,001enrollment
  • $6,434net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1190SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA

Eastern Connecticut State University
E
Willimantic, CT

Eastern Connecticut State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Connecticut

  • 4,082enrollment
  • $18,628net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 980-1190SAT range
  • 16-28ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

SUNY College at Brockport
B
Brockport, NY

SUNY College at Brockport

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,424enrollment
  • $16,261net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1240SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 2.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

SUNY College at Oneonta
O
Oneonta, NY

SUNY College at Oneonta

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#19 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 5,430enrollment
  • $18,129net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1250SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA