The Best U.S. Colleges

The Best Colleges in America for 2021

These are the top ranked public and private four-year colleges in the United States as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the list for 2021 as the best overall college in America is Princeton University. The top rated public state college is University of Michigan. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
Public Private 4 year

1,036 results nationwide

Princeton University
Yes, connect me!
P
Princeton, NJ
Princeton University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in America

  • 8,374enrollment
  • $18,712net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Stanford University
Yes, connect me!
S
Stanford, CA
Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in America

  • 17,381enrollment
  • $16,779net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1570SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 4.18Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Duke University
Yes, connect me!
D
Durham, NC
Duke University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in America

  • 16,606enrollment
  • $24,386net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.94*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Harvard University
Yes, connect me!
H
Cambridge, MA
Harvard University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in America

  • 31,566enrollment
  • $18,030net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 4.04Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Yale University
Y
New Haven, CT
Yale University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in America

  • 13,433enrollment
  • $18,073net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.95*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Chicago
Yes, connect me!
C
Chicago, IL
University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in America

  • 17,002enrollment
  • $34,719net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
California Institute of Technology
C
Pasadena, CA
California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,233enrollment
  • $27,438net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1560SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Rice University
R
Houston, TX
Rice University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in America

  • 7,124enrollment
  • $20,335net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.96*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M
Cambridge, MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in America

  • 11,574enrollment
  • $20,465net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1570SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Brown University
Yes, connect me!
B
Providence, RI
Brown University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in America

  • 10,257enrollment
  • $27,218net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.94*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Dartmouth College
D
Hanover, NH
Dartmouth College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in America

  • 6,572enrollment
  • $23,869net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1560SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.9*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Johns Hopkins University
Yes, connect me!
J
Baltimore, MD
Johns Hopkins University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in America

  • 26,152enrollment
  • $28,999net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Williams College
W
Williamstown, MA
Williams College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,149enrollment
  • $17,303net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.94*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Vanderbilt University
Yes, connect me!
V
Nashville, TN
Vanderbilt University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in America

  • 12,824enrollment
  • $25,855net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Northwestern University
N
Evanston, IL
Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in America

  • 22,127enrollment
  • $26,196net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Pennsylvania
P
Philadelphia, PA
University of Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in America

  • 25,860enrollment
  • $24,771net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Amherst College
A
Amherst, MA
Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,855enrollment
  • $16,339net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1520SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.91*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Cornell University
C
Ithaca, NY
Cornell University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in America

  • 23,600enrollment
  • $28,921net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1560SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.9*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances