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
Lewis Clark State College Campus
 

  • Public 4 Year
  • Lewiston, ID
  • 1.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 8 application deadline

Lewis-Clark State is a small public college known for undergraduate nursing, teacher education, and business. The campus is in Lewiston at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers.

#3 Best Public Universities in Idaho 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.23
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $15,917
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Greensboro, NC
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

NC A&T is a large public HBCU known for undergraduate engineering and agriculture. The urban campus is in Greensboro.

#13 Best Public Universities in North Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 50%
  • Net Price $10,097
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Statesboro, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Georgia Southern is a large public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and logistics. The main campus anchors the college town of Statesboro in southeast Georgia.

#6 Best Public Universities in Georgia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 986-1133
  • Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $15,971
Details
Point University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • West Point, GA
  • | 0 reviews

Point is a small private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, business, and education. The campus is in the small town of West Point on the Georgia-Alabama border.

#16 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 972-1237
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 44%
  • Net Price $19,545
Details
Barton College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Wilson, NC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Barton is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing and education. The residential campus is in the small city of Wilson in eastern North Carolina.

#16 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.25
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $23,962
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Russellville, AR
  • | 0 reviews

Arkansas Tech is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, education, and emergency management. The campus is in Russellville, a small city in the Arkansas River Valley.

#7 Best Public Universities in Arkansas 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1100
  • Avg GPA 3.37
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $12,626
Details
North Carolina Wesleyan University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Rocky Mount, NC
  • | 0 reviews

North Carolina Wesleyan is a small private university known for undergraduate business, education, and criminal justice. The residential campus is located in Rocky Mount in eastern North Carolina.

#17 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1120
  • Avg GPA 3.2
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $18,472
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Hartsville, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Coker is a private university known for undergraduate liberal arts programs and round-table classroom teaching. The historic campus sits in the small town of Hartsville.

#11 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1160
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $19,823
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Elizabeth City, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jun 30 application deadline

ECSU is a public HBCU known for undergraduate aviation and teacher education. The campus is in the small coastal city of Elizabeth City in northeastern North Carolina.

#14 Best Public Universities in North Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 920-1080
  • Avg GPA 3.16
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $6,483
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Valdosta, GA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jun 15 application deadline

Valdosta State is a public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The campus is in the south Georgia city of Valdosta.

#7 Best Public Universities in Georgia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 920-1100
  • Avg GPA 3.23
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $11,144
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Bluffton, SC
  • | 0 reviews

A public university known for undergraduate nursing, hospitality management, and biology. The Bluffton campus sits in South Carolina's Lowcountry near Hilton Head Island.

#10 Best Public Universities in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.82
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $15,363
Details
Bethel University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • McKenzie, TN
  • | 0 reviews

Bethel is a private Christian university affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, known for undergraduate business and education programs. The campus is set in the small town of McKenzie in western Tennessee.

#18 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 830-1120
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $13,112
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Charlotte, NC
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews

Johnson C. Smith is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate business, computer science, and social work. The compact urban campus sits in Charlotte's historic West End.

#18 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 800-980
  • Avg GPA 2.48
  • Acceptance Rate 45%
  • Net Price $19,705
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • South Bend, IN
  • | 0 reviews

IU South Bend is a public regional campus of Indiana University known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus lies along the St. Joseph River in South Bend.

#11 Best Public Universities in Indiana 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $9,003
Details
Bluefield State University Campus
 

  • Public 4 Year
  • Bluefield, WV
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Bluefield State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate nursing, engineering technology, and education. The campus is in Bluefield, a small city in the Appalachian mountains of southern West Virginia.

#3 Best Value Colleges in West Virginia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 870-1080
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $15,814
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Bowling Green, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

WKU is a public university known for undergraduate journalism, photojournalism, and broadcasting. The hilltop campus overlooks Bowling Green in south-central Kentucky.

#6 Best Public Universities in Kentucky 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 840-1050
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $12,548
Details
Culver Stockton College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Canton, MO
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Culver-Stockton is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, education, and equestrian studies. The campus sits on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River.

#12 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1080
  • Avg GPA 3.37
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $21,996
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Fairmont, WV
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Fairmont State is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, nursing, and business. The hilltop campus overlooks the small city of Fairmont in north-central West Virginia.

#7 Best Public Universities in West Virginia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 810-1070
  • Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $11,328
Details