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

Providence College
P
Providence, RI

Providence College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 4,635enrollment
  • $46,645net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1400SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Simmons University
S
Boston, MA

Simmons University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,053enrollment
  • $29,575net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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SUNY at Binghamton
B
Vestal, NY

SUNY at Binghamton

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#23 Best Public Universities in America

  • 18,456enrollment
  • $18,860net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1490SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
R
Troy, NY

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 7,024enrollment
  • $35,940net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1500SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Fordham University
F
Bronx, NY

Fordham University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 16,153enrollment
  • $45,368net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1490SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Sarah Lawrence College
S
Bronxville, NY

Sarah Lawrence College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,743enrollment
  • $43,571net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1440SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Fairfield University
F
Fairfield, CT

Fairfield University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 6,289enrollment
  • $47,630net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1380SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
P
Pittsburgh, PA

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#25 Best Public Universities in America

  • 34,525enrollment
  • $24,338net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

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Northeastern University
N
Boston, MA

Northeastern University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 31,159enrollment
  • $34,770net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Hobart William Smith Colleges
H
Geneva, NY

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,669enrollment
  • $33,172net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1360SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Stony Brook University
S
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 25,865enrollment
  • $18,601net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1490SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Touro College
T
New York, NY

Touro College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 11,953enrollment
  • $25,934net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1275-1440SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.17Avg GPA

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Manhattan College
M
Riverdale, NY

Manhattan College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 3,495enrollment
  • $28,349net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1340SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 31

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Clark University
C
Worcester, MA

Clark University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 4,124enrollment
  • $32,767net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1400SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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St Lawrence University
S
Canton, NY

St Lawrence University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,089enrollment
  • $36,175net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1255-1410SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Syracuse University
S
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 22,948enrollment
  • $51,520net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Saint Joseph's University
S
Philadelphia, PA

Saint Joseph's University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,201enrollment
  • $36,392net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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The College of New Jersey
N
Ewing, NJ

The College of New Jersey

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 7,652enrollment
  • $22,379net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.29Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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