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

  • Public 4 Year
  • Nashville, TN
  • | 0 reviews

Tennessee State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate nursing, business, and engineering. The urban campus is in Nashville.

#9 Best Public Universities in Tennessee
  • SAT Range 880-1050
  • Avg GPA 3.22
  • Acceptance Rate 70%
  • Net Price $14,586
Details
Arizona Christian University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Glendale, AZ
  • | 0 reviews

Arizona Christian is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies and education. The suburban campus sits in Glendale in the Phoenix metro area.

#2 Best Private Colleges in Arizona 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.16
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $32,514
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Atlanta, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Apr 1 application deadline

Clark Atlanta is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate social work, business, and mass media arts. The urban Atlanta campus is part of the Atlanta University Center consortium with neighboring HBCUs.

#17 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1120
  • Avg GPA 3.28
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $31,223
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Youngstown, OH
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Youngstown State is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and education. The urban campus sits in Youngstown in northeastern Ohio.

#11 Best Public Universities in Ohio
  • SAT Range 1010-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.51
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $12,757
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • New Orleans, LA
  • | 0 reviews

Dillard is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing, public health, and the sciences. The urban campus sits in New Orleans's Gentilly neighborhood.

#3 Best Private Colleges in Louisiana 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 968-1202
  • Avg GPA 3.31
  • Acceptance Rate 42%
  • Net Price $21,842
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Cape Girardeau, MO
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

SEMO is a public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The campus overlooks the Mississippi River in Cape Girardeau.

#10 Best Public Universities in Missouri 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-1030
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 74%
  • Net Price $16,185
Details

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

Claflin is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate biology, business, and education. The residential campus is located in Orangeburg in central South Carolina.

#12 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 840-1040
  • Avg GPA 3.28
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $17,272
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Athens, WV
  • | 0 reviews

Concord is a small public university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The residential campus sits in the college town of Athens in southern West Virginia.

#8 Best Public Universities in West Virginia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 830-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $11,379
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Hammond, LA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Southeastern Louisiana is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The residential campus is in Hammond, a smaller city between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

#10 Best Public Universities in Louisiana 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $13,116
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Kenosha, WI
  • | 0 reviews

UW-Parkside is a public university known for undergraduate business, criminal justice, and biological sciences. The wooded Kenosha campus sits between Milwaukee and Chicago.

#13 Best Public Universities in Wisconsin 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.31
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $10,234
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Lincoln University, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Lincoln University is a public HBCU known for undergraduate programs in education, business, and the sciences. The rural campus is set in Chester County in southern Pennsylvania.

#19 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 820-960
  • Avg GPA 3.06
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $14,473
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Americus, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 21 application deadline

Georgia Southwestern is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The residential campus sits in the small city of Americus in southwest Georgia.

#8 Best Public Universities in Georgia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.17
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $11,769
Details
Avila University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Kansas City, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Avila is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The compact campus sits in southern Kansas City.

#13 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 800-960
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $17,004
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Alexandria, LA
  • | 0 reviews

LSUA is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits in Alexandria in central Louisiana.

#11 Best Public Universities in Louisiana 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.16
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $8,296
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Newberry, SC
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews

Newberry is a private liberal arts college with undergraduate programs in education and business. The residential campus sits in the small town of Newberry and has long ties to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

#13 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 820-1060
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $21,943
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Norfolk, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 31 application deadline

Norfolk State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing, social work, and communications. The urban campus sits in Norfolk near downtown and the Elizabeth River.

#15 Best Public Universities in Virginia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 823-1030
  • Avg GPA 2.9
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $9,124
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Barbourville, KY
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews

Union Commonwealth is a small private university with undergraduate programs in education, business, and nursing. The residential campus sits in the Appalachian college town of Barbourville.

#9 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 920-1105
  • Avg GPA 3.15
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $17,124
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Williamsburg, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 31 application deadline

University of the Cumberlands is a private Christian university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. Students live on a residential campus in the small Appalachian town of Williamsburg.

#10 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.47
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $14,743
Details