Top Rated U.S. Private Colleges

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the United States. Leading the rankings for 2027 as the highest ranked private college in America is Princeton University. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.

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Private 4 Year
St. John Fisher University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Rochester, NY
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

St. John Fisher is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate pharmacy, nursing, and business. The suburban campus sits in the Rochester area of western New York.

#28 Best Private Colleges in New York 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $30,540
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University of Dallas Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Irving, TX
  • 4.2 | 5 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

University of Dallas is a private Catholic university known for a Great Books core curriculum and undergraduate work in philosophy, politics, and the humanities. The suburban campus sits in Irving just outside Dallas.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Texas 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.9
  • Acceptance Rate 53%
  • Net Price $29,209
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Seton Hall University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • South Orange, NJ
  • 3.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Seton Hall is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business and diplomacy. The suburban campus in South Orange sits a short train ride from New York City.

#3 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1220-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $33,896
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Rollins College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Winter Park, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Rollins is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business and international studies. Most undergrads live on a lakeside campus along Lake Virginia in Winter Park.

#2 Best Private Colleges in Florida 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 48%
  • Net Price $39,201
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Springfield College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Springfield, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Springfield College is a private college known for undergraduate physical education, exercise science, and health sciences. Basketball was invented on its campus, and the school keeps a long focus on sport and human services.

#21 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1080-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $30,039
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University of Scranton Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Scranton, PA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Scranton is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate health sciences, physical therapy, and business. The compact urban campus sits in downtown Scranton.

#19 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1318
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $34,234
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Marquette University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Milwaukee, WI
  • 4.3 | 3 reviews
  • Dec 1 application deadline

Marquette is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and communications. The urban campus sits in Milwaukee near Lake Michigan.

#3 Best Colleges in Wisconsin 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $34,322
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John Carroll University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • University Heights, OH
  • | 0 reviews

John Carroll is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and the sciences. The suburban campus sits in University Heights near Cleveland.

#7 Best Private Colleges in Ohio 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1180-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $30,030
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New York Institute of Technology Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Old Westbury, NY
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews

NYIT is a private university known for undergraduate architecture, engineering, and computer science. The suburban Old Westbury campus sits on Long Island.

#29 Best Private Colleges in New York 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1420
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $24,688
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Manhattan University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Riverdale, NY
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 31 application deadline

Manhattan University is a private Lasallian Catholic university known for undergraduate engineering. The residential campus is in the Riverdale section of the Bronx.

#30 Best Private Colleges in New York
  • SAT Range 1180-1358
  • Avg GPA 3.63
  • Acceptance Rate 79%
  • Net Price $29,717
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Ohio Northern University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Ada, OH
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Ohio Northern is a private university known for undergraduate pharmacy and engineering. The residential campus anchors the small college town of Ada in northwest Ohio.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Ohio 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1175-1400
  • Avg GPA 3.78
  • Acceptance Rate 74%
  • Net Price $25,941
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Pratt Institute Main Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Brooklyn, NY
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 5 application deadline

Pratt is a private college known for undergraduate architecture, art, and design. The compact urban campus occupies a city-block setting in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill.

#31 Best Private Colleges in New York 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.86
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $54,150
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Milwaukee School of Engineering Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Milwaukee, WI
  • | 0 reviews
  • Sep 1 application deadline

MSOE is a private university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and nursing. The urban campus is located in downtown Milwaukee.

#3 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1405
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 59%
  • Net Price $25,669
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Kalamazoo College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Kalamazoo, MI
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Kalamazoo is a private liberal arts college known for the K-Plan curriculum, extensive undergraduate study abroad, and a required senior individualized project. Most undergrads complete an extended off-campus study experience before graduation.

#1 Best Private Colleges in Michigan 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $26,956
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Kettering University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Flint, MI
  • | 0 reviews

Kettering is a private university known for undergraduate mechanical, electrical, and industrial engineering. The campus sits in Flint, a mid-sized Michigan city long tied to the auto industry.

#3 Best Colleges in Michigan 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.77
  • Acceptance Rate 79%
  • Net Price $35,609
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Luther College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Decorah, IA
  • | 0 reviews

Luther is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate music and the sciences. The residential campus sits among the bluffs of Decorah in northeast Iowa.

#3 Best Private Colleges in Iowa 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1078-1406
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $24,511
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Illinois Institute of Technology Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Chicago, IL
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Illinois Tech is a private university known for undergraduate engineering, architecture, and computer science. The urban Chicago campus is noted for its modernist buildings by Mies van der Rohe.

#7 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1180-1440
  • Avg GPA 3.84
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $24,796
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Linfield University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • McMinnville, OR
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Linfield is a private university known for undergraduate nursing and wine studies. The residential campus sits in the small college town of McMinnville in Oregon's Willamette Valley.

#3 Best Value Colleges in Oregon 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $29,936
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