Best U.S. Colleges

CollegeSimply ranks 1045 four-year colleges across the U.S. using a data-driven methodology focused on academics, graduation rates, and selectivity. Only nonprofit schools that offer bachelor's degrees and admit students selectively are included.

Leading our 2027 rankings is Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, ranked #1 nationally. The top rated public university is University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Also highly ranked: Duke University, Stanford University and Harvard University.

Compare tuition, acceptance rates, and enrollment across the full list below. See how rankings are calculated on our methodology page. Filter by state or sort by cost and selectivity to build your shortlist.

1,045 Results
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Public Private 4 Year

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews

Nova Southeastern is a private university known for undergraduate marine science, health sciences, and psychology. The suburban campus sits in the Fort Lauderdale area of South Florida.

#9 Best Private Colleges in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.99
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $31,858
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Paul, MN
  • 3.7 | 3 reviews

St. Catherine is a private Catholic women's university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. Most bachelor's programs enroll women on the urban Saint Paul campus.

#12 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.62
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $20,918
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Stillwater, OK
  • 3.0 | 1 reviews

Oklahoma State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and business. Stillwater is a classic college town built around the campus.

#2 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.63
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $19,561
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Indianola, IA
  • 2.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Simpson is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate music, business, and education. The residential campus is in the small college town of Indianola near Des Moines.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Iowa 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.62
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $23,282
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Lexington, KY
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Kentucky is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and business. Lexington is a midsize city in the state's Bluegrass horse country.

#2 Best Public Universities in Kentucky 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1290
  • Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $21,958
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

UMass Boston is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and environmental science. The urban waterfront campus sits on Columbia Point along Boston Harbor.

#4 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1290
  • Avg GPA 3.35
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $17,768
Details
Caldwell University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Caldwell, NJ
  • | 0 reviews

Caldwell is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The suburban campus in northern New Jersey has Dominican roots and a primarily residential feel.

#8 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $21,875
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Oswego, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

SUNY Oswego is a public university known for undergraduate meteorology, broadcasting, and education. The campus sits on the southern shore of Lake Ontario.

#20 Best Public Universities in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.49
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $15,853
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Davenport, IA
  • | 0 reviews

Saint Ambrose is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The residential campus sits in the Quad Cities along the Mississippi River.

#7 Best Private Colleges in Iowa 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $25,345
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Mequon, WI
  • | 0 reviews

Concordia Wisconsin is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The suburban campus sits on the Lake Michigan shoreline in Mequon.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.52
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $31,916
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Asheville, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

UNC Asheville is a public liberal arts university known for undergraduate environmental studies and the arts. The campus sits in the mountain city of Asheville in the Blue Ridge.

#5 Best Public Universities in North Carolina 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.49
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $13,798
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Abilene, TX
  • 3.7 | 6 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

ACU is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies, nursing, and business. Most undergrads live on its residential campus in Abilene, a city in West Texas.

#11 Best Private Colleges in Texas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $28,760
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • York, PA
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 23 application deadline

York College of Pennsylvania is a private college known for undergraduate nursing, business, and engineering. The campus is in the city of York in south-central Pennsylvania.

#34 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 74%
  • Net Price $20,096
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • La Crosse, WI
  • | 0 reviews

Viterbo is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and performing arts. The campus sits in La Crosse along the Mississippi River.

#7 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $21,933
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • | 0 reviews

Mount Saint Mary's is a private Catholic women's university known for undergraduate nursing and the health sciences. The hillside Chalon campus overlooks Los Angeles from the Brentwood area.

#24 Best Private Colleges in California 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $27,368
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Lubbock, TX
  • 3.9 | 10 reviews

Texas Tech is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, agriculture, and business. The Lubbock campus is marked by Spanish Renaissance architecture on the South Plains of West Texas.

#4 Best Public Universities in Texas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.76
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $16,919
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Houston, TX
  • 4.0 | 7 reviews
  • May 31 application deadline

University of Houston is a large public university known for undergraduate hospitality management, business, and engineering. The urban campus sits in southeast Houston.

#5 Best Public Universities in Texas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 74%
  • Net Price $14,309
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Fayetteville, AR
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Arkansas is a large public university known for undergraduate business and architecture. The campus sits in the college town of Fayetteville in the Ozark Mountains.

#1 Best Public Universities in Arkansas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 74%
  • Net Price $18,408
Details