The college search process can feel overwhelming. One practical approach is to start by looking at the top schools in your state. Many families prefer to stay close to home, and attending an in-state public university can often reduce tuition costs.
To identify the highest-ranked colleges by state, we used Niche’s 2021 Best Colleges in America rankings and selected the top university in each state along with notable runners-up.
Below are the best colleges in every state, summarized for easy comparison.
Alabama: Auburn University
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Location: Auburn
Net price per year: $23,205
Acceptance rate: 75 percent
Overall U.S. rank: 137
Auburn University is Alabama’s leading public university, serving more than 21,000 undergraduates. Founded in 1856 as East Alabama Male College, it remains a major academic and research institution in the state.
Alabama Runners-Up
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No. 2: The University of Alabama — Known for its Tuscaloosa campus and storied football program.
No. 3: University of Alabama, Huntsville — Recognized for strong value and outcomes.
No. 4: Samford University — A private university in Birmingham, founded in 1841.
No. 5: University of Alabama, Birmingham — A large research and medical center established in 1969.
Alaska: University of Alaska Southeast
University of Alaska Southeast/Lori Klein
Location: Juneau
Net price per year: $8,927
Acceptance rate: 63 percent
Overall U.S. rank: 335
A small campus with under 700 undergraduates, University of Alaska Southeast earns a strong Niche grade and focuses on liberal arts, business and nursing programs in a scenic Alaskan setting.
Alaska Runners-Up
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No. 2: University of Alaska Fairbanks — A research-focused campus with a 76% acceptance rate.
No. 3: University of Alaska Anchorage — Founded in 1954 with about 15,000 undergraduates.
No. 4: Alaska Pacific University — A private, Christian university in Anchorage.
No. 5: Ilisagvik College — Alaska’s only tribal college, located in Utqiaġvik (Barrow).
Arizona: Arizona State University
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Location: Tempe
Net price per year: $13,731
Acceptance rate: 85 percent
Overall U.S. rank: 144
Arizona State University is one of the nation’s largest public universities with nearly 40,000 undergraduates. ASU offers a broad array of programs and a lively campus culture.
Arizona Runners-Up
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No. 2: University of Arizona — A major research university in Tucson.
No. 3: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott — A leading institution for aviation and aerospace.
No. 4: ASU Downtown Phoenix Campus — Home to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.
No. 5: ASU West Campus — Known for programs in health, business, education and arts and sciences.
Arkansas: Hendrix College
Hendrix College
Location: Conway
Net price per year: $22,732
Acceptance rate: 72 percent
Overall U.S. rank: 152
Hendrix is a private liberal arts college with a close-knit campus of about 1,500 students. Founded in the 19th century, it maintains a strong academic reputation while offering a secular curriculum.
Arkansas Runners-Up
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No. 2: University of Arkansas — The state’s flagship land-grant university, founded in 1871.
No. 3: Ouachita Baptist University — A private Baptist liberal arts college in Arkadelphia.
No. 4: Harding University — A private Christian university in Searcy.
No. 5: John Brown University — A private interdenominational Christian university in Siloam Springs.
California: Stanford University
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Location: Palo Alto
Net price per year: $17,271
Acceptance rate: 4 percent
Overall U.S. rank: 3
Stanford is a premier private research university in the Bay Area with a highly selective admissions process and a global reputation for research and innovation.
California Runners-Up
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No. 2: California Institute of Technology (Caltech) — A leading science and engineering institute in Pasadena.
No. 3: University of Southern California (USC) — A large private research university in Los Angeles.
No. 4: Pomona College — A selective liberal arts college in Claremont.
No. 5: UCLA — A top public research university with highly competitive admissions.
Colorado: The Colorado School of Mines
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Location: Golden
Net price per year: $25,767
Acceptance rate: 49 percent
Overall U.S. rank: 79
Colorado School of Mines specializes in engineering and earth sciences and offers rigorous STEM programs with a solid record of student outcomes.
Colorado Runners-Up
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No. 2: Colorado College — A liberal arts college in Colorado Springs with a unique one-course-at-a-time block plan.
No. 3: University of Colorado Boulder — A large public research university and flagship campus.
No. 4: University of Denver — The oldest private university in the Rocky Mountain region.
No. 5: Colorado State University — A major public institution in Fort Collins.
Connecticut: Yale University
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Location: New Haven
Net price per year: $18,748
Acceptance rate: 6 percent
Overall U.S. rank: 3
Yale, an Ivy League institution and one of the nation’s oldest universities, offers a highly selective, research-rich environment and need-blind admissions.
Connecticut Runners-Up
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No. 2: Wesleyan University — A selective liberal arts college founded in 1831.
No. 3: University of Connecticut (UConn) — The state’s flagship public university in Storrs.
No. 4: Trinity College — A private liberal arts college founded in 1823.
No. 5: Fairfield University — A Jesuit university known for strong regional reputation.
Delaware: University of Delaware
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Location: Newark
Net price per year: $15,883
Acceptance rate: 66 percent
Overall U.S. rank: 131
The University of Delaware is the state’s flagship public university with popular programs in finance, liberal arts and marketing, and strong alumni outcomes.
Delaware Runners-Up
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No. 2: Goldey-Beacom College — A small private college in Pike Creek Valley.
No. 3: Delaware State University — A historically Black public university founded in 1891.
No. 4: Wilmington University — A career-focused institution with many working students.
No. 5: Delaware Technical Community College — A multi-campus technical college system serving the state.
District of Columbia: Georgetown University
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Net price per year: $28,509
Acceptance rate: 15 percent
Overall U.S. rank: 25
Georgetown is a private Catholic university in Washington, D.C., known for international relations, political science and public policy programs.
Washington, D.C., Runners-Up
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No. 2: George Washington University — Strong international relations and public affairs programs.
No. 3: American University — Known for public policy and international service.
No. 4: Catholic University of America — A leading Catholic research university.
No. 5: Howard University — A historic HBCU with a robust academic profile.
Florida: University of Florida
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Location: Gainesville
Net price per year: $11,313
Acceptance rate: 39 percent
Overall U.S. rank: 56
The University of Florida is the state’s flagship public university with more than 30,000 undergraduates and strong programs in agriculture and many STEM fields. UF is also highly competitive in collegiate athletics.
Florida Runners-Up
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No. 2: University of Miami — A major private research university in Coral Gables.
No. 3: Florida State University — A public research university with strong value rankings.
No. 4: University of South Florida — A large public university based in Tampa.
No. 5: University of Central Florida — Known for large enrollment and diverse program offerings.
Georgia: Georgia Institute of Technology
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Location: Atlanta
Net price per year: $16,950
Acceptance rate: 22 percent
Overall U.S. rank: 27
Georgia Tech is a top public research university with a strong emphasis on engineering, computing and technology—serving over 32,000 students across campuses and programs.
Georgia Runners-Up
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No. 2: Emory University — A private research university with strong health sciences and liberal arts programs.
No. 3: University of Georgia — The state flagship and one of the oldest public universities in the nation.
No. 4: Mercer University — A private institution in Macon with comprehensive undergraduate offerings.
No. 5: Spelman College — A prestigious historically Black college for women in Atlanta.