Resources for Students by State

Looking for a comprehensive list of schools and resources? Find all the best colleges, online colleges, and resources for students by state.

Search the Best Colleges by State

With so many colleges and universities to choose from in the U.S., it can be tricky to find the school that’s right for you. Maybe you want to know which colleges will serve you best in your state. Or maybe you’re interested in out-of-state colleges and you don’t know which state to begin your search in. Either way, you’re in luck.

We’ve created an all-encompassing resource to help you locate and identify the best colleges by state. This includes sections like the best online colleges, the best public and private colleges, and even the best community colleges. Continue reading to explore these resources for students by state.

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Best Online Colleges and Universities in Your State

Best Online Colleges and Universities in Your State

Find the top-ranked online college for every state this year from BestColleges. See our picks for the 50 best online schools by state and find the right match for you.

Stefanie Grodman

by Stefanie Grodman

Updated October 13, 2023


Best Online Colleges by State

Best Colleges by State

Resources for Students in California

Reese Lopez

by Reese Lopez

Updated August 1, 2023

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Resources for Students in Florida

James Mielke

by James Mielke

Updated July 28, 2023

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Resources for Students in Georgia

Nalea Ko

by Nalea Ko

Updated August 9, 2023

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Resources for Students in Illinois

Alison Plaut

by Alison Plaut

Updated July 6, 2023

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Resources for Students in New York

Thomas Broderick

by Thomas Broderick

Updated August 4, 2023

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Resources for Students in North Carolina

Thomas Broderick

by Thomas Broderick

Updated July 28, 2023

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Resources for Students in Ohio

Staff Writers

by Staff Writers

Updated August 29, 2023

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Resources for Students in Pennsylvania

Reese Lopez

by Reese Lopez

Updated August 21, 2023

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Resources for Students in Puerto Rico

James Mielke

by James Mielke

Updated July 17, 2023

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Resources for Students in Texas

Juliann Scholl, Ph.D.

by Juliann Scholl, Ph.D.

Updated July 7, 2023

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Resources by State

Find Your State and School

Frequently Asked Questions About U.S. Colleges

What is the oldest college in the U.S.?

Harvard University is the oldest college in the U.S. It was founded in 1636, 140 years before the United States Declaration of Independence. Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard remains a prestigious institution of higher learning and one of the top-ranked colleges in the U.S.

What state has the most colleges?

California has the most colleges of any state. There are 416 colleges in California. That means that California has more colleges than many other states combined. California has 151 public colleges and universities, including 115 community colleges, with a total enrollment of 2.1 million students.

California’s top-ranked private colleges include Stanford University, the University of Southern California, and the California Institute of Technology.

How many colleges are in the U.S.?

There are 3,982 degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the US. According to the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES), there were 5,999 Title IV institutions in the U.S. as of the 2019-20 academic year, including non-degree granting institutions. The majority of U.S. colleges are non-profit private institutions.

According to NCES, in the academic year 2021-22, there were 3,542 degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the United States with first-year undergraduates.

How many college students are in the U.S.?

As of fall 2021, there were 19 million students attending colleges and universities (including non-degree-granting institutions), according to the National Center of Education Statistics. Of those students, 11.6 million students attended full-time, while 7.4 million students attended part-time.

There were 3.2 million students attending graduate programs and 15.8 million students enrolled in undergraduate programs. The majority of students, 14 million, attended four-year institutions.

All U.S. Student Resources

Newsom Signs Bill Banning Legacy Admissions at Private California Colleges, Universities

Newsom Signs Bill Banning Legacy Admissions at Private California Colleges, Universities

Margaret Attridge

by Margaret Attridge

Updated October 4, 2024

Newsom Vetoes Bill Allowing Undocumented Student Employment at California Public Universities

Newsom Vetoes Bill Allowing Undocumented Student Employment at California Public Universities

Evan Castillo

by Evan Castillo

Updated September 24, 2024

Students File Lawsuits, Complaints Against Universities Over Pro-Palestinian Protest Response

Students File Lawsuits, Complaints Against Universities Over Pro-Palestinian Protest Response

Margaret Attridge

by Margaret Attridge

Updated September 24, 2024

Students for Fair Admissions Threatens Princeton, Yale, Duke With Legal Action

Students for Fair Admissions Threatens Princeton, Yale, Duke With Legal Action

Mark J. Drozdowski, Ed.D.

by Mark J. Drozdowski, Ed.D.

Updated September 24, 2024

Pac-12 Adds Four Teams, Staves Off Extinction

Pac-12 Adds Four Teams, Staves Off Extinction

Mark J. Drozdowski, Ed.D.

by Mark J. Drozdowski, Ed.D.

Updated September 23, 2024

Notre Dame Introduces New Initiatives to Increase Affordability, Accessibility

Notre Dame Introduces New Initiatives to Increase Affordability, Accessibility

Margaret Attridge

by Margaret Attridge

Updated September 19, 2024

College Enrollment Rates Rebound Slightly

College Enrollment Rates Rebound Slightly

Mark J. Drozdowski, Ed.D.

by Mark J. Drozdowski, Ed.D.

Updated September 18, 2024

College Graduates Enjoy More Civic Engagement

College Graduates Enjoy More Civic Engagement

Mark J. Drozdowski, Ed.D.

by Mark J. Drozdowski, Ed.D.

Updated September 17, 2024

Declining Diversity at Top Colleges: What’s Going On?

Declining Diversity at Top Colleges: What’s Going On?

Mark J. Drozdowski, Ed.D.

by Mark J. Drozdowski, Ed.D.

Updated September 14, 2024

Our Editorial Policy and Standards

Accuracy and editorial integrity are just a few of the values we at BestColleges pledge to uphold for the students who rely on us. We are committed to providing students with the educational resources they need to achieve their goals.

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