Learning about college and searching for the best college can be overwhelming. No matter where you are on your journey, a great place to look is the top colleges by state. Whether you want to stay in-state or venture elsewhere, looking at the best colleges by category is always helpful.

Not sure where to start? We’ve organized the best schools in the USA by state. 

Which States Have the Most Colleges? 

The states with the most colleges generally follow how populated a state is. Unsurprisingly, California tops the list by being the most populated and having the most institutions – 644.  According to IPEDs data, the next in the top 5 states with the most colleges in them are New York, Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania. All the colleges and universities on the following list are Title IV institutions. This means they must meet basic criteria such as being accredited by the U.S. Department of Education, offering at least one program leading to a degree, and more.

Below, you’ll find the number of colleges by state for the top 15 states with the most colleges: 

States With the Most Top-Ranked Universities 

1. California: Along with having the most colleges by state in the U.S., California also has the highest number of top-ranked institutions. Some of the top-ranked colleges on the list include Stanford University, Pomona College, and California Institute of Technology. Several public universities are also on the list, including University of California – Los Angeles, University of California – Berkeley, and University of Southern California, to name a few.  

2. New York: The state of New York has the second-most top ranked universities in the USA. Two of these are Ivy League schools: Cornell University and Columbia University in the City of New York. The state is also host to institutions such as the United States Military Academy, Barnard College, and schools in the State University of New York system. 

3. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania is home to Ivy League school, University of Pennsylvania, and several other highly-ranked colleges and universities like Carnegie Mellon University and Haverford College.  

4. Massachusetts: In terms of number of colleges by state, Massachusetts is number 11. However, when it comes to the number of top-ranked schools in the state, it ranks 4th. Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University regularly rank in the top 5 schools in the nation. It also has institutions like Amherst College, Boston College, and Boston University.  

5. Texas: Some of the most notable top-ranked institutions in Texas are: Rice University, University of Texas at Austin, and Southern Methodist University. 
 

How are the Top Colleges in Each State Chosen? 

Appily determines “Best Colleges” based on publicly-available information from the US Department of Education. Several factors include but are not limited to, data about admitted students’ academic calibers, students’ expected career outcomes after graduation, and colleges’ investments toward making their institution accessible to all students.

Explore the Best Colleges by State with Appily! 

Below is an organized list of colleges by state, featuring the top schools by state. You can use these lists as a starting point for your college research. You can also create an Appily account to save them to your list. 

Wondering where you stand when applying to the best universities in the USA? See your chances of acceptance when you make an Appily account. You’ll also be able to get insights into your target, reach, and likely schools.