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
Wayland Baptist University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Plainview, TX
  • 2.5 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Wayland Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate education, business, and Christian studies. The campus is in the small city of Plainview on the Texas High Plains.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Texas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.14
  • Acceptance Rate 56%
  • Net Price $20,446
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Catawba College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Salisbury, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Catawba is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate environmental science and ecology. The residential campus sits in Salisbury in North Carolina's Piedmont region.

#8 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $18,447
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Mount Vernon Nazarene University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Mount Vernon, OH
  • 3.5 | 2 reviews

Mount Vernon Nazarene is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry. Most students live on the residential campus in the small city of Mount Vernon.

#21 Best Private Colleges in Ohio 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1046-1315
  • Avg GPA 3.55
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $22,961
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Westminster College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • New Wilmington, PA
  • | 0 reviews

Westminster is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate education, business, and the sciences. The residential campus sits in the small college town of New Wilmington.

#43 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1258
  • Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $20,394
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Carroll University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Waukesha, WI
  • | 0 reviews

Carroll is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The residential campus sits in suburban Waukesha west of Milwaukee.

#9 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1270
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 67%
  • Net Price $27,031
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University of Lynchburg Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Lynchburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Sep 1 application deadline

University of Lynchburg is a private university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. Students live on a residential campus in Lynchburg near the Blue Ridge Mountains.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $23,845
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D'Youville University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Buffalo, NY
  • | 0 reviews

D'Youville is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The compact urban campus sits on Buffalo's west side near the Peace Bridge.

#51 Best Private Colleges in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 995-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $20,690
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Fisk University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Nashville, TN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Fisk is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate natural sciences and music. The historic urban campus sits in Nashville and is closely tied to the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

#9 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1510
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 37%
  • Net Price $18,595
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Trevecca Nazarene University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Nashville, TN
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Trevecca is a private Nazarene university known for undergraduate education, business, and ministry programs. Most students live on the urban Nashville campus.

#10 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1235
  • Avg GPA 3.43
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $18,035
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Marymount University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Arlington, VA
  • | 0 reviews

Marymount is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and interior design. The Arlington campus sits just outside Washington, D.C.

#7 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.38
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $31,989
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Vanguard University of Southern California Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Costa Mesa, CA
  • 3.5 | 4 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Vanguard is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and theatre. The suburban Costa Mesa campus is affiliated with the Assemblies of God.

#28 Best Private Colleges in California 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.31
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $23,286
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Gallaudet University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Washington, DC
  • | 0 reviews

Gallaudet is a private university designed for deaf and hard of hearing students, known for undergraduate deaf education, American Sign Language, and interpreting. Students communicate primarily in ASL on the urban Washington, D.C. campus.

#2 Best Value Colleges in District Of Columbia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 780-1022
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 58%
  • Net Price $15,944
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Olivet Nazarene University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Bourbonnais, IL
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews

Olivet Nazarene is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry. The residential campus sits in the small town of Bourbonnais south of Chicago.

#19 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1220
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.38
  • Acceptance Rate 56%
  • Net Price $21,281
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Lubbock Christian University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Lubbock, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

Lubbock Christian is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The residential campus in Lubbock is affiliated with the Churches of Christ.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Texas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $24,544
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North Park University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Chicago, IL
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

North Park is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, music, and business. The compact urban campus sits in Chicago's North Park neighborhood on the city's North Side.

#20 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1162
  • Avg GPA 3.14
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $20,372
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Northwood University Campus

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

Northwood is a private university known for undergraduate business, management, and automotive marketing. The Midland campus centers on a specialized free-enterprise business curriculum in central Michigan.

#9 Best Private Colleges in Michigan 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $25,549
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Huntington University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Huntington, IN
  • | 0 reviews

Huntington is a private Christian university known for undergraduate education and ministry. Most students live on a residential campus in the small city of Huntington.

#11 Best Private Colleges in Indiana 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $19,767
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Webster University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Louis, MO
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews

Webster is a private university known for undergraduate communications, theatre, and media arts. The main campus sits in suburban Webster Groves near St. Louis.

#7 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1110-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $29,503
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