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

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
O
Syracuse, NY

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,737enrollment
  • $19,644net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1300SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Elizabethtown College
E
Elizabethtown, PA
 

Elizabethtown College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,152enrollment
  • $27,019net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1280SAT range
  • 19-29ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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Springfield College
S
Springfield, MA

Springfield College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,785enrollment
  • $29,198net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1260SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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CUNY Brooklyn College
B
Brooklyn, NY

CUNY Brooklyn College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 13,935enrollment
  • $4,105net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1420SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Saint Anselm College
S
Manchester, NH

Saint Anselm College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in New Hampshire

  • 2,078enrollment
  • $35,091net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 25-27ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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CUNY City College
C
New York, NY

CUNY City College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 15,012enrollment
  • $4,599net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1460SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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CUNY Hunter College
H
New York, NY

CUNY Hunter College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 22,879enrollment
  • $4,127net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1470SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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State University of New York at New Paltz
S
New Paltz, NY

State University of New York at New Paltz

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 7,420enrollment
  • $17,848net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Alfred University
A
Alfred, NY

Alfred University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#34 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,843enrollment
  • $26,127net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1280SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Lycoming College
L
Williamsport, PA

Lycoming College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,063enrollment
  • $20,733net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1273SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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DeSales University
D
Center Valley, PA

DeSales University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,919enrollment
  • $30,524net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1290SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Juniata College
J
Huntingdon, PA

Juniata College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#24 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,292enrollment
  • $28,925net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1280SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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SUNY at Purchase College
P
Purchase, NY

SUNY at Purchase College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 3,229enrollment
  • $18,651net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1178-1363SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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Salve Regina University
S
Newport, RI

Salve Regina University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 2,836enrollment
  • $37,794net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1295SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

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SUNY Polytechnic Institute
S
Utica, NY

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,704enrollment
  • $14,646net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Saint Joseph's College New York
S
Brooklyn, NY
 

Saint Joseph's College New York

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#35 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 4,050enrollment
  • $18,324net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1280SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

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Rider University
R
Lawrenceville, NJ

Rider University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 4,083enrollment
  • $26,618net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1310SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

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Siena College
S
Loudonville, NY

Siena College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#36 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 3,623enrollment
  • $32,602net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1093-1360SAT range
  • 26-29ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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