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
Otterbein University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Westerville, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Otterbein is a private university known for undergraduate theatre, musical theatre, and nursing. The historic campus sits in Westerville, a suburb of Columbus.

#19 Best Private Colleges in Ohio 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1035-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $20,457
Details
Dallas Baptist University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Dallas, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Dallas Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate business, education, and biblical studies. The hilltop campus overlooks Mountain Creek Lake in southwest Dallas.

#13 Best Private Colleges in Texas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1213
  • Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $30,057
Details
University of Minnesota Duluth Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Duluth, MN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

UMD is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and the natural sciences. The hillside campus overlooks Lake Superior above the city of Duluth.

#3 Best Public Universities in Minnesota 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1180-1350
  • Avg GPA 3.51
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $20,128
Details
University of Nebraska at Kearney Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Kearney, NE
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

UNK is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The residential campus is set in the college town of Kearney.

#2 Best Public Universities in Nebraska 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 905-1125
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $16,287
Details
SUNY Buffalo State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Buffalo, NY
  • | 0 reviews

Buffalo State is a public SUNY university known for undergraduate teacher education, design, and the arts. The urban campus in Buffalo includes the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

#24 Best Public Universities in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1240
  • Avg GPA 2.84
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $12,023
Details
Central Connecticut State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • New Britain, CT
  • 4.7 | 3 reviews
  • Aug 26 application deadline

CCSU is a public university known for undergraduate education, business, and nursing. The New Britain campus sits in central Connecticut.

#3 Best Public Universities in Connecticut 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.2
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $17,528
Details
Eastern Connecticut State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Willimantic, CT
  • | 0 reviews

Eastern is a public liberal arts university known for undergraduate education and environmental earth science. The residential campus sits in the small town of Willimantic in eastern Connecticut.

#4 Best Public Universities in Connecticut 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $21,512
Details
Southwestern College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Winfield, KS
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 22 application deadline

Southwestern College is a small private liberal arts college with undergraduate programs in education and business. Students live on a residential campus in the small town of Winfield, Kansas.

#1 Best Private Colleges in Kansas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $29,488
Details
Southwest Baptist University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Bolivar, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Southwest Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry programs. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Bolivar in southwest Missouri.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 810-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.55
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $21,336
Details
Walsh University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • North Canton, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Walsh is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The suburban campus sits in North Canton near Canton, Ohio.

#20 Best Private Colleges in Ohio 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1280
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.38
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $23,933
Details
Wayne State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Detroit, MI
  • 4.2 | 4 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Wayne State is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, pharmacy, and business. The urban campus is in Midtown Detroit near the city's cultural district.

#6 Best Public Universities in Michigan 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1060-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $14,416
Details
University of Wisconsin La Crosse Campus

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

UW-La Crosse is a public university known for undergraduate exercise science, biology, and teacher education. The campus sits along the Mississippi River at the base of wooded bluffs.

#2 Best Public Universities in Wisconsin 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $14,712
Details
Bridgewater State University Campus

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

Bridgewater State is a public university known for undergraduate education and aviation science. The campus is set in the small town of Bridgewater in southeastern Massachusetts.

#7 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1060-1263
  • Avg GPA 3.21
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $15,646
Details
Wayland Baptist University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Plainview, TX
  • 2.5 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Wayland Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate education, business, and Christian studies. The campus is in the small city of Plainview on the Texas High Plains.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Texas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.14
  • Acceptance Rate 56%
  • Net Price $20,446
Details
Catawba College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Salisbury, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Catawba is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate environmental science and ecology. The residential campus sits in Salisbury in North Carolina's Piedmont region.

#8 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $18,447
Details
Mount Vernon Nazarene University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Mount Vernon, OH
  • 3.5 | 2 reviews

Mount Vernon Nazarene is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry. Most students live on the residential campus in the small city of Mount Vernon.

#21 Best Private Colleges in Ohio 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1046-1315
  • Avg GPA 3.55
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $22,961
Details
Westminster College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • New Wilmington, PA
  • | 0 reviews

Westminster is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate education, business, and the sciences. The residential campus sits in the small college town of New Wilmington.

#43 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1258
  • Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $20,394
Details
Worcester State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Worcester, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

Worcester State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The urban campus sits in Worcester, a mid-sized Massachusetts city west of Boston.

#8 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1026-1283
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $12,778
Details