The Best Colleges

The Best Colleges in America for 2024

These are the top ranked public and private four-year colleges in the United States as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the list for 2024 as the best overall college in America is Princeton University. The top rated public state college is University of Michigan. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


1,040 results nationwide

Pepperdine University
P
Malibu, CA

Pepperdine University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 10,030enrollment
  • $47,804net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1285-1480SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
P
Pittsburgh, PA

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#24 Best Public Universities in America

  • 33,767enrollment
  • $24,286net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
R
Terre Haute, IN

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,188enrollment
  • $41,678net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1483SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Northeastern University
N
Boston, MA

Northeastern University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 30,013enrollment
  • $35,827net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Stony Brook University
S
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#25 Best Public Universities in America

  • 25,710enrollment
  • $17,213net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1500SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Sarah Lawrence College
S
Bronxville, NY

Sarah Lawrence College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,696enrollment
  • $42,781net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Clemson University
C
Clemson, SC

Clemson University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 28,466enrollment
  • $24,577net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Ohio State University
O
Columbus, OH

Ohio State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 60,540enrollment
  • $19,582net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.76Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Wofford College
W
Spartanburg, SC

Wofford College

Private 4 Year

8 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,823enrollment
  • $31,192net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1353SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Seattle University
S
Seattle, WA

Seattle University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Washington

  • 7,121enrollment
  • $35,412net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1380SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of San Francisco
S
San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,688enrollment
  • $42,953net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Fairfield University
F
Fairfield, CT

Fairfield University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 6,019enrollment
  • $46,065net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1370SAT range
  • 28-31ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus
G
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 45,296enrollment
  • $17,402net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1550SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

University of Minnesota Twin Cities
M
Minneapolis, MN

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Minnesota

  • 54,955enrollment
  • $16,018net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1500SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Saint Joseph's University
S
Philadelphia, PA

Saint Joseph's University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,861enrollment
  • $33,777net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Virginia Tech
V
Blacksburg, VA

Virginia Tech

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 38,170enrollment
  • $19,301net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

St Mary's College of Maryland
S
St. Mary's City, MD

St Mary's College of Maryland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Maryland

  • 1,520enrollment
  • $20,714net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1370SAT range
  • 28-30ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Illinois Wesleyan University
I
Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,527enrollment
  • $30,096net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1330SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA