The Best Big Colleges

The Best Large Colleges in America for 2023

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 2023 is Stanford University. Learn how the Best Large Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


192 results nationwide

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
C
San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in California

  • 22,231enrollment
  • $20,491net price
  • 33%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Baylor University
B
Waco, TX

Baylor University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 20,626enrollment
  • $40,133net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1350SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.74Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Rochester Institute of Technology
R
Rochester, NY

Rochester Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 16,790enrollment
  • $36,514net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1450SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Massachusetts Amherst
M
Amherst, MA

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 32,045enrollment
  • $22,505net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1460SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Iowa
I
Iowa City, IA

University of Iowa

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Iowa

  • 29,909enrollment
  • $17,452net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1350SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

University of Colorado Boulder
C
Boulder, CO

University of Colorado Boulder

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Colorado

  • 39,000enrollment
  • $21,198net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1390SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Indiana University Bloomington
I
Bloomington, IN

Indiana University Bloomington

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 45,328enrollment
  • $13,191net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1380SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Loyola University Chicago
L
Chicago, IL

Loyola University Chicago

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 17,498enrollment
  • $37,731net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

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

  • 19,969enrollment
  • $3,897net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1360SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Illinois at Chicago
I
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 34,199enrollment
  • $12,614net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1310SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of South Carolina Columbia
S
Columbia, SC

University of South Carolina Columbia

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 35,471enrollment
  • $21,784net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1360SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.69Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

The University of Tennessee
T
Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Tennessee

  • 31,701enrollment
  • $21,133net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.66Estimated Avg GPA

Florida State University
F
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Florida

  • 45,130enrollment
  • $12,815net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1340SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

University of California Santa Cruz
C
Santa Cruz, CA

University of California Santa Cruz

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in California

  • 19,841enrollment
  • $17,842net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
O
Norman, OK

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Oklahoma

  • 28,042enrollment
  • $21,836net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1340SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Hawaii at Manoa
H
Honolulu, HI

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Value in Hawaii

  • 19,098enrollment
  • $15,193net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1290SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

George Mason University
G
Fairfax, VA

George Mason University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 38,628enrollment
  • $18,285net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Michigan State University
S
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Michigan

  • 49,659enrollment
  • $16,655net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1320SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA