Top Rated U.S. Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in America for 2024

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the United States as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2024 as the best public college in America is University of Michigan. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


444 results nationwide

SUNY College at Oneonta
O
Oneonta, NY

SUNY College at Oneonta

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#19 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 5,430enrollment
  • $18,129net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1250SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Virginia Commonwealth University
V
Richmond, VA

Virginia Commonwealth University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 28,082enrollment
  • $21,294net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1290SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 18

University of Nevada Reno
N
Reno, NV

University of Nevada Reno

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Value in Nevada

  • 20,945enrollment
  • $16,670net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1270SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 7

University of North Carolina at Asheville
N
Asheville, NC

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 2,914enrollment
  • $14,730net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1145-1340SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Towson University
T
Towson, MD

Towson University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Maryland

  • 19,793enrollment
  • $14,443net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1230SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

University of Michigan Dearborn
M
Dearborn, MI

University of Michigan Dearborn

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Michigan

  • 8,223enrollment
  • $12,444net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1290SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

University of Massachusetts Boston
M
Boston, MA

University of Massachusetts Boston

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 15,586enrollment
  • $17,123net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1300SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Texas Tech University
T
Lubbock, TX

Texas Tech University

Public 4 Year

8 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 40,378enrollment
  • $17,896net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1280SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

University of Houston
H
Houston, TX

University of Houston

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 46,700enrollment
  • $14,056net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due May 31

Northern Illinois University
N
Dekalb, IL

Northern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 15,649enrollment
  • $13,884net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 940-1170SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
M
North Dartmouth, MA

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 7,457enrollment
  • $19,700net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1260SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

University of Arkansas
A
Fayetteville, AR

University of Arkansas

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Arkansas

  • 30,936enrollment
  • $16,208net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1220SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

SUNY at Fredonia
F
Fredonia, NY

SUNY at Fredonia

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 3,491enrollment
  • $15,795net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1300SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Montana Tech of the University of Montana
M
Butte, MT
 

Montana Tech of the University of Montana

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Montana

  • 1,625enrollment
  • $16,045net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
O
Alfred, NY

SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 3,348enrollment
  • $17,262net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 960-1180SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Western Connecticut State University
W
Danbury, CT

Western Connecticut State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Connecticut

  • 4,417enrollment
  • $15,862net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1230SAT range
  • 19-29ACT range
  • 3.38Avg GPA

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
S
Carbondale, IL

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 11,107enrollment
  • $16,990net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 900-1140SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

SUNY College at Oswego
O
Oswego, NY

SUNY College at Oswego

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,906enrollment
  • $17,376net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1260SAT range
  • 19-29ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15