Best Eastern Colleges

There are 630 colleges and universities in the East enrolling 3,155,660 students. Explore the list of top colleges in the East below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in East offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

The  East is home to nationally ranked institutions like Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The highest ranked college in the East is Princeton University and the top rated public state college is University at Buffalo.

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List of the Best East Colleges

Bucknell University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Lewisburg, PA
  • 3.7 | 3 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Bucknell is a selective private university known for undergraduate engineering, management, and the liberal arts. Most undergrads live on a residential campus in the small college town of Lewisburg.

#37 Best Colleges in the East 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1310-1470
  • Avg GPA 3.62
  • Acceptance Rate 29%
  • Net Price $39,003
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Boston University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • 3.4 | 11 reviews
  • Jan 4 application deadline

Boston University is a private university known for undergraduate communications, business, and international relations. The urban campus stretches along Commonwealth Avenue beside the Charles River.

#38 Best Colleges in the East 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1420-1530
  • Avg GPA 3.79
  • Acceptance Rate 11%
  • Net Price $24,420
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Dickinson College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Carlisle, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Dickinson is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate international studies, foreign languages, and environmental science. The historic campus sits in the small college town of Carlisle in central Pennsylvania.

#39 Best Colleges in the East 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1310-1460
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 42%
  • Net Price $38,483
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College of the Holy Cross Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Worcester, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Holy Cross is a highly selective Jesuit liberal arts college known for undergraduate economics, political science, and history. The hilltop campus overlooks the city of Worcester.

#40 Best Colleges in the East 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1410
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 18%
  • Net Price $36,014
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Gettysburg College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Gettysburg, PA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Gettysburg is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate history and political science. The campus borders Gettysburg National Military Park and the Civil War battlefield.

#41 Best Colleges in the East 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1270-1460
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 39%
  • Net Price $32,769
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Mount Holyoke College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • South Hadley, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Mount Holyoke is a private women's liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences, international relations, and economics. The South Hadley campus is part of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, and UMass Amherst.

#42 Best Colleges in the East 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1380-1530
  • Avg GPA 3.87
  • Acceptance Rate 36%
  • Net Price $32,526
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Bryn Mawr College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Bryn Mawr, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Bryn Mawr is a highly selective private women's liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences, archaeology, and classics. The suburban Main Line campus outside Philadelphia shares courses and resources with nearby Haverford and Swarthmore.

#43 Best Colleges in the East 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1280-1510
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.85
  • Acceptance Rate 29%
  • Net Price $33,221
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Union College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Schenectady, NY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Union is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate engineering alongside the sciences and social sciences. Most students belong to Minerva Houses that organize dining and campus social life.

#44 Best Colleges in the East 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1310-1480
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 44%
  • Net Price $42,137
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Brandeis University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Waltham, MA
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Brandeis is a private university known for undergraduate neuroscience, biology, and the social sciences. The suburban campus in Waltham sits just west of Boston.

#45 Best Colleges in the East 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1390-1520
  • Avg GPA 3.84
  • Acceptance Rate 40%
  • Net Price $43,550
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Rhode Island School of Design Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Providence, RI
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

RISD is a highly selective private art and design college known for undergraduate fine arts, industrial design, and architecture. The urban Providence campus borders Brown University and offers a dual-degree program with it.

#46 Best Colleges in the East 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1396-1530
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 19%
  • Net Price $43,492
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Connecticut College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • New London, CT
  • 4.8 | 4 reviews
  • Jan 1 application deadline

Connecticut College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate environmental studies and international relations. Much of the campus sits within a large arboretum overlooking the Thames River.

#47 Best Colleges in the East 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1350-1500
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 37%
  • Net Price $45,700
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Muhlenberg College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Allentown, PA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Muhlenberg is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate theater, biology, and media and communication. The residential campus sits in Allentown in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley.

#48 Best Colleges in the East 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1250-1410
  • Avg GPA 3.44
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $34,739
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University at Buffalo Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Buffalo, NY
  • 3.4 | 8 reviews

University at Buffalo is a large public university known for undergraduate pharmacy, engineering, and architecture. Most undergrads are based on the suburban North Campus in Amherst.

#49 Best Colleges in the East 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1210-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 74%
  • Net Price $20,529
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University of Connecticut Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Storrs, CT
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

UConn is a large public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and engineering. Most students live on the residential campus in the college town of Storrs.

#50 Best Colleges in the East 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1210-1440
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 52%
  • Net Price $25,310
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Bentley University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Waltham, MA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Bentley is a private university known for undergraduate business, accounting, and finance. The suburban campus sits in Waltham just west of Boston.

#51 Best Colleges in the East 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1280-1430
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 45%
  • Net Price $45,802
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Babson College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Wellesley, MA
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 3 application deadline

Babson is a private college known for undergraduate entrepreneurship and business. The suburban campus is in Wellesley near Boston.

#52 Best Colleges in the East 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1390-1530
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.79
  • Acceptance Rate 17%
  • Net Price $32,019
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Simmons University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Simmons is a private women's university known for undergraduate nursing, social work, and health sciences. The urban campus sits in Boston's Fenway neighborhood.

#53 Best Colleges in the East 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1220-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.87
  • Acceptance Rate 70%
  • Net Price $28,691
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Rutgers University New Brunswick Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • New Brunswick, NJ
  • 4.8 | 4 reviews

Rutgers is a large public university known for undergraduate pharmacy, engineering, and life sciences. Students take classes across multiple campuses in New Brunswick and Piscataway linked by campus buses.

#54 Best Colleges in the East 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1310-1500
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 58%
  • Net Price $20,522
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