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

Bucknell University
B
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,892enrollment
  • $38,486net price
  • 32%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1450SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Connecticut College
C
New London, CT

Connecticut College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 1,995enrollment
  • $42,941net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1470SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Boston University
B
Boston, MA

Boston University

Private 4 Year

11 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 36,624enrollment
  • $27,551net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1520SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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Gettysburg College
G
Gettysburg, PA

Gettysburg College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,895enrollment
  • $35,729net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1460SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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College of the Holy Cross
H
Worcester, MA

College of the Holy Cross

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,035enrollment
  • $35,455net price
  • 21%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1420SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Bryn Mawr College
B
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,666enrollment
  • $39,383net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Union College
U
Schenectady, NY

Union College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,082enrollment
  • $42,884net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Mount Holyoke College
M
South Hadley, MA

Mount Holyoke College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,330enrollment
  • $35,782net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1500SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Rhode Island School of Design
R
Providence, RI

Rhode Island School of Design

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 2,540enrollment
  • $42,106net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1540SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.71Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Muhlenberg College
M
Allentown, PA

Muhlenberg College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,818enrollment
  • $31,814net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1400SAT range
  • 28-31ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Connecticut
C
Storrs, CT

University of Connecticut

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in America

  • 27,364enrollment
  • $22,324net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1420SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.74Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University at Buffalo
U
Buffalo, NY

University at Buffalo

Public 4 Year

8 reviews

#14 Best Public Universities in America

  • 31,889enrollment
  • $20,511net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1380SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

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Brandeis University
B
Waltham, MA

Brandeis University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,302enrollment
  • $44,668net price
  • 35%acceptance rate
  • 1390-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

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Bentley University
B
Waltham, MA

Bentley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,264enrollment
  • $43,858net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1410SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Drexel University
D
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 21,703enrollment
  • $42,342net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.67Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Rutgers University New Brunswick
R
New Brunswick, NJ

Rutgers University New Brunswick

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#19 Best Public Universities in America

  • 50,617enrollment
  • $19,052net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.3Estimated Avg GPA

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Stevens Institute of Technology
S
Hoboken, NJ

Stevens Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in New Jersey

  • 8,842enrollment
  • $43,665net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

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Babson College
B
Wellesley, MA

Babson College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,943enrollment
  • $30,220net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1500SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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