The Best Eastern Colleges

The Best Colleges in the East for 2025

These are the top ranked public and private four-year colleges in the East as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the list for 2025 as the best overall college in the East is Princeton University. The top rated public state college is University of Connecticut. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
East Public Private 4 year

291 results

Bay Path University
B
Longmeadow, MA

Bay Path University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,643enrollment
  • $14,935net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1140SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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West Chester University of Pennsylvania
W
West Chester, PA

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 17,076enrollment
  • $21,684net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1270SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.43Avg GPA

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D'Youville College
D
Buffalo, NY

D'Youville College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#51 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,544enrollment
  • $20,268net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 885-1190SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

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Penn State Erie Behrend College
P
Erie, PA

Penn State Erie Behrend College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 3,323enrollment
  • $20,964net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.49Estimated Avg GPA

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The College of Saint Rose
S
Albany, NY
 

The College of Saint Rose

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#52 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,538enrollment
  • $24,618net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1001-1228SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Georgian Court University
G
Lakewood, NJ

Georgian Court University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 1,910enrollment
  • $21,072net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1043-1251SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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Westminster College
W
New Wilmington, PA

Westminster College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#42 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,203enrollment
  • $21,089net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1258SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
J
New York, NY

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#25 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 13,510enrollment
  • $4,141net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1250SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

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University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
M
North Dartmouth, MA

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 7,759enrollment
  • $20,696net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1260SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

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Stockton University
S
Galloway, NJ
 

Stockton University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 8,788enrollment
  • $19,752net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1260SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 1

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Robert Morris University
R
Moon Township, PA

Robert Morris University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#43 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 4,737enrollment
  • $26,215net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1230SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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Worcester State University
W
Worcester, MA

Worcester State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 5,611enrollment
  • $14,307net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1008-1280SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Saint Thomas Aquinas College
S
Sparkill, NY
 

Saint Thomas Aquinas College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#53 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,950enrollment
  • $21,257net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 920-1270SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Framingham State University
F
Framingham, MA

Framingham State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 4,028enrollment
  • $16,640net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1255SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.07Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Cedar Crest College
C
Allentown, PA

Cedar Crest College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#44 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,248enrollment
  • $23,036net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1230SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

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Westfield State University
W
Westfield, MA

Westfield State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 4,555enrollment
  • $17,723net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 980-1190SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Penn State Harrisburg
P
Middletown, PA

Penn State Harrisburg

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 4,651enrollment
  • $22,406net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.48Estimated Avg GPA

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William Paterson University of New Jersey
W
Wayne, NJ

William Paterson University of New Jersey

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 9,426enrollment
  • $16,999net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 990-1345SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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