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
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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
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Stanford University
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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
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Duke University
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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
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Harvard University
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H
Cambridge, MA
Harvard University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in America

  • 31,566enrollment
  • $18,030net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 4.04Avg GPA
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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
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University of Chicago
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Brown University
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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
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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
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Johns Hopkins University
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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
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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
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Vanderbilt University
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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