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.
East Public 4 year

93 results

CUNY Brooklyn College
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B
Brooklyn, NY

CUNY Brooklyn College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 13,935enrollment
  • $4,105net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1420SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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CUNY City College
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C
New York, NY

CUNY City College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 15,012enrollment
  • $4,599net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1460SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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CUNY Hunter College
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H
New York, NY

CUNY Hunter College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 22,879enrollment
  • $4,127net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1470SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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

State University of New York at New Paltz

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 7,420enrollment
  • $17,848net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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SUNY at Purchase College
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P
Purchase, NY

SUNY at Purchase College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 3,229enrollment
  • $18,651net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1178-1363SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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SUNY Polytechnic Institute
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S
Utica, NY

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,704enrollment
  • $14,646net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Ramapo College of New Jersey
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R
Mahwah, NJ

Ramapo College of New Jersey

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 5,521enrollment
  • $17,348net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1270SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Massachusetts Maritime Academy
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M
Buzzards Bay, MA

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 1,362enrollment
  • $20,759net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1185SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

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University of New Hampshire Main Campus
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N
Durham, NH

University of New Hampshire Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in New Hampshire

  • 13,626enrollment
  • $24,762net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1320SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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CUNY Queens College
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Q
Flushing, NY

CUNY Queens College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 16,481enrollment
  • $5,339net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1320SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA

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University of Rhode Island
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R
Kingston, RI

University of Rhode Island

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Rhode Island

  • 17,351enrollment
  • $20,964net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1270SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Central Connecticut State University
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C
New Britain, CT

Central Connecticut State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Connecticut

  • 9,712enrollment
  • $17,207net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 960-1180SAT range
  • 19-29ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 26

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SUNY College at Oneonta
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O
Oneonta, NY

SUNY College at Oneonta

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#15 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 5,514enrollment
  • $17,918net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1250SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

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SUNY College at Cortland
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C
Cortland, NY

SUNY College at Cortland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,780enrollment
  • $18,474net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1240SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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SUNY Maritime College
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S
Throggs Neck, NY

SUNY Maritime College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 1,350enrollment
  • $20,398net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1091-1285SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

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SUNY at Fredonia
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F
Fredonia, NY

SUNY at Fredonia

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 3,220enrollment
  • $15,830net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1290SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

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University of Massachusetts Boston
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M
Boston, MA

University of Massachusetts Boston

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 15,810enrollment
  • $17,554net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1290SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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University of Massachusetts Lowell
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M
Lowell, MA

University of Massachusetts Lowell

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 16,770enrollment
  • $17,624net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1350SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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