Finding the best university to attend may seem like a complicated process, but it doesn’t have to be. The US News and World Report recently published Best Regional Colleges Rankings for 2022-2023. Using this powerful tool along with Niche.com‘s comprehensive college rating system, Impactful News has simplified the search.
We sifted through universities from both the Regional Universities North and Regional Universities South rankings to find the top 50 institutions within the Atlantic coastal states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
Whether you’re on the hunt for a university close to home or simply looking for the best institution on this side of the country, these are the top institutions in the region.
Best Universities on the East Coast
Florida National University
- Tuition + fees: $15,864
- Location: Hialeah, FL
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 25:1
- Enrollment: 2,770
- Graduation rate: 47%
- Median earnings: $23,800
- Two-year employment rate: 85%
SUNY–New Paltz
- Tuition: $18,435
- Location: New Paltz, NY
- Acceptance rate: 62%
- Acceptance rate: 62%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1
- Enrollment: 6,256
- Graduation rate: 76%
- Median earnings: $45,000
- Two-year employment rate: 93%
University of West Florida
- Tuition + fees: $18,628
- Location: Pensacola, FL
- Acceptance rate: 58%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 17:1
- Enrollment: 9,325
- Graduation rate: 48%
- Median earnings: $38,900
- Two-year employment rate: 91%
SUNY–Geneseo
- Tuition + fees: $18,837
- Location: Geneseo, NY
- Acceptance rate: 61%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 17:1
- Enrollment: 4,468
- Graduation rate: 78%
- Median earnings: $48,800
- Two-year employment rate: 94%
CUNY–Hunter College
- Tuition + fees: $19,050
- Location: New York, NY
- Acceptance rate: 40%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Enrollment: 18,152
- Graduation rate: 56%
- Median earnings: $47,200
- Two-year employment rate: 89%
CUNY–Baruch College
- Tuition + fees: $19,131
- Location: New York, NY
- Acceptance rate: 41%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 20:1
- Enrollment: 15,859
- Graduation rate: 73%
- Median earnings: $57,200
- Two-year employment rate: 89%
SUNY Polytechnic Institute–Utica/Albany
- Tuition + fees: $19,321
- Location: Utica, NY
- Acceptance rate: 73%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
- Enrollment: 2,043
- Graduation rate: 54%
- Median earnings: $51,000
- Two-year employment rate: 92%
Columbia College (SC)
- Tuition + fees: $21,250
- Location: Columbia, SC
- Acceptance rate: 97%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
- Enrollment: 1,065
- Graduation rate: 66%
- Median earnings: $34,600
- Two-year employment rate: 90%
Bob Jones University
- Tuition + fees: $21,890
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
- Enrollment: 2,705
- Graduation rate: 65%
- Median earnings: $30,400
- Two-year employment rate: 90%
Appalachian State University
- Tuition + fees: $23,974
- Location: Boone, NC
- Acceptance rate: 80%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Enrollment: 18,555
- Graduation rate: 73%
- Median earnings: $38,800
- Two-year employment rate: 94%
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
- Tuition + fees: $24,664
- Location: Buzzards Bay, MA
- Acceptance rate: 92%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
- Enrollment: 1,440
- Graduation rate: 85%
- Median earnings: $86,600
- Two-year employment rate: 97%
Columbia International University
- Tuition + fees: $26,740
- Location: Columbia, SC
- Acceptance rate: 51%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
- Enrollment: 905
- Graduation rate: 68%
- Median earnings: $29,900
- Two-year employment rate: 86%
Longwood University
- Tuition + fees: $27,777
- Location: Farmville, VA
- Acceptance rate: 87%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
- Enrollment: 3,486
- Graduation rate: 67%
- Median earnings: $41,500
- Two-year employment rate: 96%
Georgia College & State University
- Tuition + fees: $
- Location: Milledgeville, GA
- Acceptance rate: 86%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Enrollment: 5,586
- Graduation: 62%
- Median earnings: $40,500
- Two-year employment rate: 94%
Christopher Newport University
- Tuition + fees: $28,263
- Location: Newport News, VA
- Acceptance rate: 76%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
- Enrollment: 4,472
- Graduation rate: 80%
- Median earnings: $46,900
- Two-year employment rate: 96%
Coastal Carolina University
- Tuition + fees: $28,490
- Location: Conway, SC
- Acceptance rate: 70%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 17:1
- Enrollment: 9,790
- Graduation rate: 46%
- Median earnings: $38,500
- Two-year employment rate: 94%
Winthrop University
- Tuition + fees: $30,196
- Location: Rock Hill, SC
- Acceptance rate: 64%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
- Enrollment: 3,976
- Graduation rate: 61%
- Median earnings: $35,900
- Two-year employment rate: 93%
The College of New Jersey
- Tuition + fees: $30,774
- Location: Ewing, NJ
- Acceptance rate: 51%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
- Enrollment: 6,959
- Graduation rate: 86%
- Median earnings: $58,500
- Two-year employment rate: 95%
Anderson University
- Tuition + fees: $31,720
- Location: Anderson, SC
- Acceptance rate: 59%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
- Enrollment: 3,157
- Graduation rate: 57%
- Median earnings: $35,200
- Two-year employment rate: 93%
Canisius College
- Tuition + fees: $31,800
- Location: Buffalo, NY
- Acceptance rate: 76%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
- Enrollment: 1,866
- Graduation rate: 69%
- Median earnings: $47,300
- Two-year employment rate: 95%
University of Tampa
- Tuition + fees: $32,318
- Location: Tampa, FL
- Acceptance rate: 56%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Enrollment: 9,838
- Graduation rate: 60%
- Median earnings: $48,600
- Two-year employment rate: 93%
Emory & Henry College
- Tuition + fees: $35,350
- Location: Emory, VA
- Acceptance rate: 75%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
- Enrollment: 1,084
- Graduation rate: 54%
- Median earnings: $40,700
- Two-year employment rate: 93%
College of Charleston
- Tuition + fees: $35,798
- Location: Charleston, SC
- Acceptance rate: 74%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1
- Enrollment: 9,667
- Graduation rate: 66%
- Median earnings: $40,700
- Two-year employment rate: 91%
Le Moyne College
- Tuition + fees: $37,450
- Location: Syracuse, NY
- Acceptance rate: 75%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
- Enrollment: 2,713
- Graduation rate: 78%
- Median earnings: $49,600
- Two-year employment rate: 96%
Endicott College
- Tuition + fees: $37,776
- Location: Beverly, MA
- Acceptance rate: 71%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
- Enrollment: 3,270
- Graduation rate: 79%
- Median earnings: $51,100
- Two-year employment rate: 96%
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina
- Tuition + fees: $38,174
- Location: Charleston, SC
- Acceptance rate: 80%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
- Enrollment: 2,718
- Graduation rate: 71%
- Median earnings: $56,800
- Two-year employment rate: 96%
St. Bonaventure University
- Tuition + fees: $38,770
- Location: St. Bonaventure, NY
- Acceptance rate: 76%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
- Enrollment: 1,800
- Graduation rate: 74%
- Median earnings: $47,700
- Two-year employment rate: 96%
Savannah College of Art and Design
- Tuition + fees: $39,105
- Location: Savannah, GA
- Acceptance rate: 78%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Enrollment: 12,830
- Graduation rate: 73%
- Median earnings: $36,400
- Two-year employment rate: 91%
Berry College
- Tuition + fees: $39,376
- Location: Mount Berry, GA
- Acceptance rate: 77%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
- Enrollment: 2,172
- Graduation rate: 70%
- Median earnings: $40,000
- Two-year employment rate: 93%
Florida Southern College
- Tuition + fees: $40,500
- Location: Lakeland, FL
- Acceptance rate: 50%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
- Enrollment: 2,811
- Graduation rate: 68%
- Median earnings: $41,400
- Two-year employment rate: 94
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University — Daytona Beach
- Tuition + fees: $40,564
- Location: Daytona. Beach, FL
- Acceptance rate: 61%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 19:1
- Enrollment: 6,926
- Graduation rate: 62%
- Median earnings: $66,200
- Two-year employment rate: 94%
Queens University of Charlotte
- Tuition + fees: $40,830
- Location: Charlotte, NC
- Acceptance rate: 68%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 19:1
- Enrollment: 6,926
- Graduation rate: 62%
- Median earnings: $66,200
- Two-year employment rate: 94%
Eastern Mennonite University
- Tuition + fees: $40,990
- Location: Harrisonburg, VA
- Acceptance rate: 72%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
- Enrollment: 958
- Graduation rate: 60%
- Median earnings: $40,300
- Two-year employment rate: 93%
Siena College
- Tuition + fees: $41,245
- Location: Loudonville, NY
- Acceptance rate: 81%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
- Enrollment: 3,498
- Graduation rate: 81%
- Median earnings: $57,100
- Two-year employment rate: 97%
New York Institute of Technology
- Tuition + fees: $42,360
- Location: Old Westbury, NY
- Acceptance rate: 75%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
- Enrollment: 3,414
- Graduation rate: 50%
- Median earnings: $55,100
- Two-year employment rate: $89%
Monmouth University
- Tuition + fees: $43,216
- Location: West Long Branch, NJ
- Acceptance rate: 79%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
- Enrollment: 4,080
- Graduation rate: 74%
- Median earnings: $50,500
- Two-year employment rate: 95%
Jacksonville University
- Tuition + fees: $44,645
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
- Acceptance rate: 78%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
- Enrollment: 2,650
- Graduation rate: 51%
- Median earnings: $50,500
- Two-year employment rate: 93%
Marist College
- Tuition + fees: $44,660
- Location: Poughkeepsie, NY
- Acceptance rate: 55%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Enrollment: 5,510
- Graduation rate: 85%
- Median earnings: $56,900
- Two-year employment rate: 95%
Rider University
- Tuition + fees: $44,810
- Location: Lawrenceville, NJ
- Acceptance rate: 76%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
- Enrollment: 3,232
- Graduation rate: 65%
- Median earnings: $50,600
- Two-year employment rate: 94%
Ithaca College
- Tuition + fees: $48,126
- Location: Ithaca, NY
- Acceptance rate: 76%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
- Enrollment: 4,818
- Graduation rate: 78%
- Median earnings: $52,300
- Two-year employment rate: 96%
Berklee College of Music
- Tuition + fees: $48,330
- Location: Boston, MA
- Acceptance rate: 52%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
- Enrollment: 7,177
- Graduation rate: 65%
- Median earnings: $30,300
- Two-year employment rate: 86%
Bryant University
- Tuition + fees: $49,329
- Location: Smithfield, RI
- Acceptance rate: 76%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Enrollment: 3,022
- Graduation rate: 82%
- Median earnings: $69,300
- Two-year employment rate: 97%
Manhattan College
- Tuition + fees: $50,900
- Location: Riverdale, NY
- Acceptance rate: 78%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
- Enrollment: 3,166
- Graduation rate: 70%
- Median earnings: $65,500
- Two-year employment rate: 95%
Stetson University
- Tuition + fees: $52,320
- Location: DeLand, FL
- Acceptance rate: 81%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
- Enrollment: 2,884
- Graduation rate: 64%
- Median earnings: $43,200
- Two-year employment rate: 92%
Emerson College
- Tuition + fees: $53,232
- Location: Boston, MA
- Acceptance rate: 41%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
- Enrollment: 4,117
- Graduation rate: 79%
- Median earnings: $46,600
- Two-year employment rate: 95%
Loyola University Maryland
- Tuition + fees: $53,430
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Acceptance rate: 80%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
- Enrollment: 3,787
- Graduation rate: 81%
- Median earnings: $68,100
- Two-year employment rate: 96%
Rollins College
- Tuition + fees: $56,110
- Location: Winter Park, FL
- Acceptance rate: 61%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
- Enrollment: 2,145
- Graduation rate: 81%
- Median earnings: $45,700
- Two-year employment rate: 91%
Bentley University
- Tuition + fees: $56,500
- Location: Waltham, MA
- Acceptance rate: 58%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
- Enrollment: 3,996
- Graduation rate: 90%
- Median earnings: $86,900
- Two-year employment rate: 97%
Rhode Island School of Design
- Tuition + fees: $57,505
- Location: Providence, RI
- Acceptance rate: 27%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
- Enrollment: 2,044
- Graduation rate: 89%
- Median earnings: $51,100
- Two-year employment rate: 89%
Providence College
- Tuition + fees: $57,928
- Location: Providence, RI
- Acceptance rate: 54%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
- Enrollment: 4,245
- Graduation rate: 85%
- Median earnings: $64,100
- Two-year employment rate: 96%
