The Best Big Colleges

The Best Large Colleges in America for 2025

These are the top ranked large, public and private, four-year colleges in the United States as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment over 15,000. Leading the list for 2025 is Stanford University. Learn how the Best Large Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
large Public Private 4 year

193 results nationwide

Stanford University
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S
Stanford, CA

Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,446enrollment
  • $17,998net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Duke University
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D
Durham, NC

Duke University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in America

  • 17,112enrollment
  • $23,422net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Harvard University
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H
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in America

  • 30,386enrollment
  • $17,900net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Yale University
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Y
New Haven, CT

Yale University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in America

  • 15,081enrollment
  • $26,044net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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University of Chicago
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C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,339enrollment
  • $27,979net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

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Johns Hopkins University
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J
Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in America

  • 30,362enrollment
  • $22,844net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Northwestern University
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N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in America

  • 23,203enrollment
  • $23,341net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Cornell University
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C
Ithaca, NY

Cornell University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in America

  • 26,264enrollment
  • $26,455net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Washington University in St Louis
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W
Saint Louis, MO

Washington University in St Louis

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#21 Best Colleges in America

  • 16,500enrollment
  • $22,440net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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Columbia University in the City of New York
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C
New York, NY

Columbia University in the City of New York

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in America

  • 35,279enrollment
  • $20,869net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of Pennsylvania
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P
Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in America

  • 28,711enrollment
  • $26,017net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Emory University
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E
Atlanta, GA

Emory University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#24 Best Colleges in America

  • 15,046enrollment
  • $27,986net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Georgetown University
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G
Washington, DC

Georgetown University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#1 Best Value in District Of Columbia

  • 20,392enrollment
  • $37,967net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1390-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

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University of Southern California
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S
Los Angeles, CA

University of Southern California

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 47,147enrollment
  • $41,496net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

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New York University
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N
New York, NY

New York University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 57,335enrollment
  • $30,730net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

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Carnegie Mellon University
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C
Pittsburgh, PA

Carnegie Mellon University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 15,596enrollment
  • $32,964net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of Michigan
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M
Ann Arbor, MI

University of Michigan

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in America

  • 52,065enrollment
  • $19,005net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Boston College
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B
Chestnut Hill, MA

Boston College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 15,280enrollment
  • $32,590net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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