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.
University of St Thomas
- Private 4 Year
- Houston, TX
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 15 application deadline
University of St. Thomas is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and the liberal arts. The urban campus sits in Houston's Museum District.
- SAT Range 980-1210
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $20,599
Utica University
- Private 4 Year
- Utica, NY
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3.9 | 9 reviews
Utica is a private university known for undergraduate cybersecurity, economic crime investigation, and nursing. The residential campus sits in the small city of Utica in central New York.
- SAT Range 990-1250
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 92%
- Net Price $20,295
University of South Dakota
- Public 4 Year
- Vermillion, SD
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| 0 reviews
USD is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and fine arts. Most students live on a residential campus in the college town of Vermillion.
- SAT Range 1125-1315
- Avg GPA 3.43
- Acceptance Rate 99%
- Net Price $19,133
Minot State University
- Public 4 Year
- Minot, ND
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| 0 reviews
- Jun 30 application deadline
Minot State is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, nursing, and business. The compact campus sits in the small city of Minot in north-central North Dakota.
- SAT Range 930-1140
- Avg GPA 3.42
- Acceptance Rate 65%
- Net Price $13,092
University of Indianapolis
- Private 4 Year
- Indianapolis, IN
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4.0 | 2 reviews
University of Indianapolis is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, physical therapy, and education. The compact campus sits on a wooded site on Indianapolis's south side.
- SAT Range 960-1170
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 66%
- Net Price $22,662
The Evergreen State College
- Public 4 Year
- Olympia, WA
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3.7 | 3 reviews
Evergreen is a public liberal arts college known for interdisciplinary programs and environmental studies. The forested campus includes Puget Sound waterfront near Olympia.
- SAT Range 1035-1253
- Avg GPA 3.12
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $18,350
South Dakota State University
- Public 4 Year
- Brookings, SD
-
| 0 reviews
South Dakota State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and pharmacy. Most undergrads study on a residential campus in the college town of Brookings.
- SAT Range 1060-1240
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 98%
- Net Price $19,932
Montana State University
- Public 4 Year
- Bozeman, MT
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5.0 | 2 reviews
Montana State is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, agriculture, and architecture. Bozeman is a mountain college town near the Bridger Mountains and Yellowstone National Park.
- SAT Range 1065-1285
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $20,142
Central Washington University
- Public 4 Year
- Ellensburg, WA
-
| 0 reviews
- Mar 1 application deadline
Central Washington is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and aviation. Ellensburg is a residential college town in the Kittitas Valley of central Washington.
- SAT Range 930-1150
- Avg GPA 3.08
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $19,898
College of Staten Island CUNY
- Public 4 Year
- Staten Island, NY
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| 0 reviews
College of Staten Island is a public CUNY college known for undergraduate nursing, teacher education, and business. Its large Staten Island campus is one of New York City's most spacious college grounds.
- SAT Range 890-1250
- Avg GPA 3.0
- Acceptance Rate 92%
- Net Price $6,525
Bridgewater College
- Private 4 Year
- Bridgewater, VA
-
| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
Bridgewater is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate programs in biology, business, and education. The Church of the Brethren-affiliated campus sits in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.
- SAT Range 1020-1360
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 92%
- Net Price $11,316
Saint Peter's University
- Private 4 Year
- Jersey City, NJ
-
| 0 reviews
Saint Peter's is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and education. The urban Jersey City campus sits across the Hudson River from Manhattan.
- SAT Range 970-1150
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $13,775
Ave Maria University
- Private 4 Year
- Ave Maria, FL
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3.0 | 2 reviews
Ave Maria is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate theology, philosophy, and the liberal arts. The campus anchors the planned town of Ave Maria in southwest Florida.
- SAT Range 1018-1240
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 41%
- Net Price $25,294
McKendree University
- Private 4 Year
- Lebanon, IL
-
| 0 reviews
McKendree is a small private university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The historic campus in Lebanon is Illinois's oldest college and sits near the St. Louis metro area.
- SAT Range 871-1277
- Avg GPA 3.38
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $22,444
Ashland University
- Private 4 Year
- Ashland, OH
-
| 0 reviews
Ashland is a private university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The residential campus sits in the small college city of Ashland in north-central Ohio.
- SAT Range 1035-1208
- Avg GPA 3.54
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $22,610
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
- Private 4 Year
- Daytona Beach, FL
-
| 0 reviews
Embry-Riddle Worldwide is a private university known for undergraduate aviation, aeronautics, and aerospace programs offered mainly online. Most students complete degrees through flexible distance learning rather than a traditional residential campus.
- SAT Range 1040-1240
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 58%
- Net Price $19,458
Texas Lutheran University
- Private 4 Year
- Seguin, TX
-
| 0 reviews
Texas Lutheran is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The residential campus is in Seguin, a small city northeast of San Antonio.
- SAT Range 1030-1230
- Avg GPA 3.9
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $25,119
Ball State University
- Public 4 Year
- Muncie, IN
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4.6 | 5 reviews
Ball State is a public university known for undergraduate architecture, education, and telecommunications. The college-town campus is in Muncie.
- SAT Range 1080-1260
- Avg GPA 3.52
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $13,599