Top Rated East Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in the East for 2024

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


91 results

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
J
New York, NY

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#23 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 13,921enrollment
  • $5,001net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1160SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

Penn State Altoona
P
Altoona, PA
 

Penn State Altoona

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 2,577enrollment
  • $20,621net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.4Estimated Avg GPA

Farmingdale State College
F
Farmingdale, NY

Farmingdale State College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#24 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 9,314enrollment
  • $8,111net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1178SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Penn State Harrisburg
P
Middletown, PA

Penn State Harrisburg

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 4,572enrollment
  • $22,096net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1310SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.48Estimated Avg GPA

Montclair State University
M
Montclair, NJ

Montclair State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 21,784enrollment
  • $13,742net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 950-1200SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

University of Connecticut Stamford
C
Stamford, CT

University of Connecticut Stamford

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Connecticut

  • 2,297enrollment
  • $13,933net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 990-1240SAT range
  • 18-27ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

CUNY Lehman College
L
Bronx, NY

CUNY Lehman College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 13,015enrollment
  • $4,974net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 960-1080SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.2Estimated Avg GPA

University of Maine at Farmington
M
Farmington, ME
 

University of Maine at Farmington

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Maine

  • 1,837enrollment
  • $14,486net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 990-1245SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.15Avg GPA

Penn State Berks
P
Reading, PA

Penn State Berks

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 2,077enrollment
  • $21,728net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1290SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.39Estimated Avg GPA

Kean University
K
Union, NJ

Kean University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in New Jersey

  • 12,884enrollment
  • $10,747net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 900-1160SAT range
  • 16-25ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

SUNY College at Buffalo
B
Buffalo, NY

SUNY College at Buffalo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#26 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 6,445enrollment
  • $13,812net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 940-1178SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.84Avg GPA

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
S
Shippensburg, PA

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 5,162enrollment
  • $21,462net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 980-1210SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
S
Slippery Rock, PA

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 8,221enrollment
  • $17,873net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 960-1160SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Bridgewater State University
B
Bridgewater, MA

Bridgewater State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 9,604enrollment
  • $17,225net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1210SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.21Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

University of Pittsburgh Greensburg
P
Greensburg, PA

University of Pittsburgh Greensburg

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 1,328enrollment
  • $18,194net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1275SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill
O
Cobleskill, NY

SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#27 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 1,783enrollment
  • $17,602net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 910-1150SAT range
  • 17-26ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Penn State Abington
P
Abington, PA

Penn State Abington

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 3,090enrollment
  • $20,460net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1310SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.42Estimated Avg GPA

Millersville University of Pennsylvania
M
Millersville, PA

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 6,775enrollment
  • $21,076net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1210SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.21Estimated Avg GPA