Top Rated U.S. Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in America for 2023

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the United States as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2023 as the best public college in America is University of Michigan. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


423 results nationwide

University of Michigan
M
Ann Arbor, MI

University of Michigan

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#19 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 50,278enrollment
  • $17,832net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1520SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Virginia Main Campus
V
Charlottesville, VA

University of Virginia Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,005enrollment
  • $19,043net price
  • 21%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1500SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

College of William and Mary
W
Williamsburg, VA

College of William and Mary

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in America

  • 9,517enrollment
  • $18,588net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1520SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

University of California Los Angeles
C
Los Angeles, CA

University of California Los Angeles

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in America

  • 46,116enrollment
  • $16,474net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1530SAT range
  • 29-35ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Berkeley
C
Berkeley, CA

University of California Berkeley

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in America

  • 45,036enrollment
  • $19,329net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1530SAT range
  • 30-35ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
N
Chapel Hill, NC

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 31,641enrollment
  • $10,038net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1380SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.83Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Florida
F
Gainesville, FL

University of Florida

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in America

  • 55,781enrollment
  • $10,075net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

University of Washington Seattle Campus
W
Seattle, WA

University of Washington Seattle Campus

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in America

  • 52,434enrollment
  • $9,661net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1453SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 16

University of California San Diego
C
La Jolla, CA

University of California San Diego

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in America

  • 41,885enrollment
  • $15,222net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of Connecticut
C
Storrs, CT

University of Connecticut

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,876enrollment
  • $22,233net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.74Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of California Irvine
C
Irvine, CA

University of California Irvine

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in America

  • 36,505enrollment
  • $13,106net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

The University of Texas at Austin
T
Austin, TX

The University of Texas at Austin

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#12 Best Public Universities in America

  • 51,991enrollment
  • $16,892net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1500SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

University of Maryland College Park
M
College Park, MD

University of Maryland College Park

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in America

  • 41,272enrollment
  • $17,643net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1510SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.84Estimated Avg GPA

University of California Davis
C
Davis, CA

University of California Davis

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Public Universities in America

  • 40,050enrollment
  • $17,026net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1400SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of Wisconsin Madison
W
Madison, WI

University of Wisconsin Madison

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Public Universities in America

  • 47,016enrollment
  • $14,030net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1500SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
I
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#16 Best Public Universities in America

  • 56,607enrollment
  • $13,517net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

University of California Santa Barbara
C
Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#17 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,124enrollment
  • $17,223net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus
G
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Public Universities in America

  • 43,859enrollment
  • $17,410net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1500SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4