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

The New School
N
New York, NY

The New School

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 9,434enrollment
  • $62,226net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1360SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.59Estimated Avg GPA

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Ithaca College
I
Ithaca, NY

Ithaca College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 4,828enrollment
  • $34,297net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1370SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Penn State Main Campus
P
University Park, PA

Penn State Main Campus

Public 4 Year

12 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 50,399enrollment
  • $27,450net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
M
Boston, MA

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 6,321enrollment
  • $37,182net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1340SAT range
  • 23-33ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

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University of Massachusetts Amherst
M
Amherst, MA

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 31,810enrollment
  • $22,954net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Wheaton College
W
Norton, MA

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,778enrollment
  • $31,638net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1420SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Allegheny College
A
Meadville, PA

Allegheny College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,231enrollment
  • $27,929net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Pratt Institute Main
P
Brooklyn, NY

Pratt Institute Main

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 5,232enrollment
  • $51,702net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1420SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Bard College
B
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY

Bard College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,922enrollment
  • $25,218net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1440SAT range
  • 30-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Rochester Institute of Technology
R
Rochester, NY

Rochester Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#24 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 16,863enrollment
  • $39,753net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1460SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Clarkson University
C
Potsdam, NY

Clarkson University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 3,603enrollment
  • $33,192net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1198-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Quinnipiac University
Q
Hamden, CT

Quinnipiac University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 8,918enrollment
  • $39,632net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1300SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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SUNY at Geneseo
G
Geneseo, NY

SUNY at Geneseo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 3,928enrollment
  • $18,698net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1380SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Rutgers University Newark
R
Newark, NJ

Rutgers University Newark

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 10,809enrollment
  • $17,425net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1270SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

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Duquesne University
D
Pittsburgh, PA

Duquesne University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 8,137enrollment
  • $35,125net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1350SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
B
New York, NY

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 19,698enrollment
  • $3,989net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Adelphi University
A
Garden City, NY

Adelphi University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#26 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 7,406enrollment
  • $28,671net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1310SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

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Bryant University
B
Smithfield, RI

Bryant University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 3,592enrollment
  • $40,612net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1340SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.43Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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