Top Rated U.S. Private Colleges

The Best Private Colleges in America for 2025

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the United States. Leading the rankings for 2025 as the highest ranked private college in America is Princeton University. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
Private 4 year

601 results nationwide

Princeton University
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P
Princeton, NJ

Princeton University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in America

  • 8,922enrollment
  • $19,811net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.93Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Stanford University
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S
Stanford, CA

Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,446enrollment
  • $17,998net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Duke University
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D
Durham, NC

Duke University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in America

  • 17,112enrollment
  • $23,422net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Harvard University
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H
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in America

  • 30,386enrollment
  • $17,900net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Yale University
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Y
New Haven, CT

Yale University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in America

  • 15,081enrollment
  • $26,044net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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California Institute of Technology
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C
Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,463enrollment
  • $23,397net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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M
Cambridge, MA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in America

  • 11,920enrollment
  • $21,519net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of Chicago
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C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,339enrollment
  • $27,979net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

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Rice University
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R
Houston, TX

Rice University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in America

  • 8,556enrollment
  • $20,587net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Johns Hopkins University
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J
Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in America

  • 30,362enrollment
  • $22,844net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Brown University
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B
Providence, RI

Brown University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in America

  • 11,516enrollment
  • $26,608net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Dartmouth College
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D
Hanover, NH

Dartmouth College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in America

  • 6,746enrollment
  • $17,322net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Williams College
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W
Williamstown, MA

Williams College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,168enrollment
  • $16,988net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

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Vanderbilt University
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V
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in America

  • 13,456enrollment
  • $26,689net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1560SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Amherst College
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A
Amherst, MA

Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,910enrollment
  • $17,965net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1550SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Northwestern University
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N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in America

  • 23,203enrollment
  • $23,341net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Claremont McKenna College
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C
Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,384enrollment
  • $29,978net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Wellesley College
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W
Wellesley, MA

Wellesley College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,418enrollment
  • $21,501net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

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