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

Messiah College
M
Grantham, PA

Messiah College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#28 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,344enrollment
  • $29,882net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1340SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

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Saint Vincent College
S
Latrobe, PA

Saint Vincent College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,442enrollment
  • $23,857net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 993-1231SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham
F
Madison, NJ

Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 2,778enrollment
  • $26,472net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1310SAT range
  • 19-30ACT range
  • 3.42Estimated Avg GPA

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University of Saint Joseph
S
West Hartford, CT

University of Saint Joseph

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 1,939enrollment
  • $27,558net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 960-1250SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

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Monmouth University
M
West Long Branch, NJ

Monmouth University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 4,981enrollment
  • $33,228net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1125-1270SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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College of Our Lady of the Elms
O
Chicopee, MA

College of Our Lady of the Elms

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,332enrollment
  • $22,311net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1320SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

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Central Connecticut State University
C
New Britain, CT

Central Connecticut State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Connecticut

  • 9,712enrollment
  • $17,207net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 960-1180SAT range
  • 19-29ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 26

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Western New England University
W
Springfield, MA

Western New England University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#26 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,574enrollment
  • $31,548net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1310SAT range
  • 25-27ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

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St John's University New York
S
Queens, NY

St John's University New York

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#39 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 19,691enrollment
  • $28,206net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Canisius College
C
Buffalo, NY

Canisius College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#40 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,545enrollment
  • $19,321net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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SUNY College at Oneonta
O
Oneonta, NY

SUNY College at Oneonta

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#15 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 5,514enrollment
  • $17,918net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1250SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

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SUNY College at Cortland
C
Cortland, NY

SUNY College at Cortland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,780enrollment
  • $18,474net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1240SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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SUNY Maritime College
S
Throggs Neck, NY

SUNY Maritime College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 1,350enrollment
  • $20,398net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1091-1285SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

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Emmanuel College
E
Boston, MA

Emmanuel College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,059enrollment
  • $33,214net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1330SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Hartwick College
H
Oneonta, NY

Hartwick College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#41 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,113enrollment
  • $26,818net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1280SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.36Estimated Avg GPA

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Widener University Main Campus
W
Chester, PA

Widener University Main Campus

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 5,610enrollment
  • $30,720net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

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Wilkes University
W
Wilkes-Barre, PA

Wilkes University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 5,198enrollment
  • $28,508net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1023-1270SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

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Pace University New York
P
New York, NY

Pace University New York

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#42 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 14,092enrollment
  • $34,299net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1328SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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