The Best Big Colleges
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 2027 is Duke University. Learn how the Best Large Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
California State University Fresno
- Public 4 Year
- Fresno, CA
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4.0 | 2 reviews
- Dec 15 application deadline
Fresno State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, viticulture, and business. Students attend classes on a large campus in California's Central Valley.
- SAT Range 890-1100
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.12
- Acceptance Rate 95%
- Net Price $7,834
University of Memphis
- Public 4 Year
- Memphis, TN
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
University of Memphis is a large public university known for undergraduate music, business, and journalism. The urban campus is in Midtown Memphis.
- SAT Range 915-1180
- Avg GPA 3.48
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $12,756
Eastern Kentucky University
- Public 4 Year
- Richmond, KY
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
EKU is a public university known for undergraduate criminal justice, fire protection, and safety programs. The campus sits in the college town of Richmond in central Kentucky.
- SAT Range 880-1080
- Avg GPA 3.39
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $12,279
California State University San Bernardino
- Public 4 Year
- San Bernardino, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- Nov 30 application deadline
CSUSB is a public university known for undergraduate business, education, and criminal justice. The campus sits at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California's Inland Empire.
- SAT Range 910-1080
- Avg GPA 3.41
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $5,231
California State University Northridge
- Public 4 Year
- Northridge, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Nov 30 application deadline
CSUN is a large public university known for undergraduate film and television, business, and education. The suburban campus lies in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.
- SAT Range 900-1110
- Avg GPA 3.38
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $7,536
Boise State University
- Public 4 Year
- Boise, ID
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Boise State is a large public university known for undergraduate business, engineering, and nursing. The urban campus borders the Boise River in Idaho's capital city.
- SAT Range 1030-1210
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.37
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $21,583
Tarleton State University
- Public 4 Year
- Stephenville, TX
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Tarleton State is a public university known for undergraduate agriculture, animal science, and nursing. The main campus anchors the college town of Stephenville in north-central Texas.
- SAT Range 980-1160
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.21
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $16,159
Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Public 4 Year
- Denver, CO
-
| 0 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
MSU Denver is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, aviation, and business. Most students commute to the shared Auraria Campus in downtown Denver.
- SAT Range 880-1130
- Avg GPA 3.03
- Acceptance Rate 99%
- Net Price $14,584
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Public 4 Year
- Edinburg, TX
-
| 0 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
UTRGV is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and engineering. Campuses span the Rio Grande Valley near the U.S.-Mexico border.
- SAT Range 880-1090
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.16
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $5,282
The University of Texas at San Antonio
- Public 4 Year
- San Antonio, TX
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
UTSA is a large public university known for undergraduate cybersecurity and business. The main campus sits in northwest San Antonio near the Texas Hill Country.
- SAT Range 1000-1220
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.36
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $10,959
Arkansas State University
- Public 4 Year
- Jonesboro, AR
-
| 0 reviews
Arkansas State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, agriculture, and business. The campus is located in Jonesboro in northeast Arkansas.
- SAT Range 970-1190
- Avg GPA 3.66
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $12,410
California State University Los Angeles
- Public 4 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- Jan 19 application deadline
Cal State LA is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and criminal justice. The urban campus sits in the hills east of downtown Los Angeles.
- SAT Range 870-1060
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $4,460
Lamar University
- Public 4 Year
- Beaumont, TX
-
1.7 | 3 reviews
Lamar is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and nursing. The campus is located in Beaumont in southeast Texas.
- SAT Range 930-1140
- Avg GPA 3.4
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $9,814
Georgia Southern University
- Public 4 Year
- Statesboro, GA
-
| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
Georgia Southern is a large public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and logistics. The main campus anchors the college town of Statesboro in southeast Georgia.
- SAT Range 986-1133
- Avg GPA 3.36
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $15,971
Western Kentucky University
- Public 4 Year
- Bowling Green, KY
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
WKU is a public university known for undergraduate journalism, photojournalism, and broadcasting. The hilltop campus overlooks Bowling Green in south-central Kentucky.
- SAT Range 840-1050
- Avg GPA 3.42
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $12,548
University of the Cumberlands
- Private 4 Year
- Williamsburg, KY
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 31 application deadline
University of the Cumberlands is a private Christian university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. Students live on a residential campus in the small Appalachian town of Williamsburg.
- SAT Range 960-1160
- Avg GPA 3.47
- Acceptance Rate 99%
- Net Price $14,743
The University of Texas at El Paso
- Public 4 Year
- El Paso, TX
-
| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
UTEP is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering. The campus features distinctive Bhutanese-style architecture in El Paso near the U.S.-Mexico border.
- SAT Range 860-1080
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $9,305