Top Rated U.S. Private Colleges

The Best Private Colleges in America for 2020

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the United States. Leading the rankings for 2020 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

1,237 results found

Princeton University
Yes, connect me!
P
Princeton, NJ
Princeton University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in America

  • 8,374enrollment
  • $16,302net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1570SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
-advertisement-
Stanford University
Yes, connect me!
S
Stanford, CA
Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in America

  • 17,381enrollment
  • $16,562net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1570SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 4.18Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Duke University
Yes, connect me!
D
Durham, NC
Duke University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in America

  • 16,606enrollment
  • $22,011net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.94*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Harvard University
Yes, connect me!
H
Cambridge, MA
Harvard University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in America

  • 31,566enrollment
  • $17,030net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 4.04Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
-advertisement-
Yale University
Y
New Haven, CT
Yale University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in America

  • 13,433enrollment
  • $18,053net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.95*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Chicago
Yes, connect me!
C
Chicago, IL
University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in America

  • 17,002enrollment
  • $34,834net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
California Institute of Technology
C
Pasadena, CA
California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,233enrollment
  • $24,466net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
-advertisement-
Rice University
R
Houston, TX
Rice University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in America

  • 7,124enrollment
  • $24,131net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.96*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M
Cambridge, MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in America

  • 11,574enrollment
  • $22,230net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Brown University
Yes, connect me!
B
Providence, RI
Brown University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in America

  • 10,257enrollment
  • $25,651net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.94*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
-advertisement-
Dartmouth College
D
Hanover, NH
Dartmouth College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in America

  • 6,572enrollment
  • $22,303net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1560SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.9*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Johns Hopkins University
Yes, connect me!
J
Baltimore, MD
Johns Hopkins University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in America

  • 26,152enrollment
  • $29,066net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Williams College
W
Williamstown, MA
Williams College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,149enrollment
  • $20,380net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.94*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
-advertisement-
Vanderbilt University
Yes, connect me!
V
Nashville, TN
Vanderbilt University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in America

  • 12,824enrollment
  • $23,295net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Northwestern University
N
Evanston, IL
Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in America

  • 22,127enrollment
  • $26,099net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Pennsylvania
P
Philadelphia, PA
University of Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in America

  • 25,860enrollment
  • $24,539net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
-advertisement-
Amherst College
A
Amherst, MA
Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,855enrollment
  • $19,519net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.91*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances 
Washington University in St Louis
Yes, connect me!
W
Saint Louis, MO
Washington University in St Louis

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in America

  • 15,852enrollment
  • $27,777net price
  • 15%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.92*Avg GPA
Compare Calculate my chances