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
Hardin Simmons University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Abilene, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Hardin-Simmons is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, music, and education. The residential campus is located in Abilene in West Texas.

#18 Best Private Colleges in Texas 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.43
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $19,811
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Tuskegee University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Tuskegee, AL
  • 4.0 | 5 reviews
  • Apr 15 application deadline

Tuskegee is a private university known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and veterinary science. The rural campus is a historic HBCU in Alabama.

#2 Best Private Colleges in Alabama 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 995-1255
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 49%
  • Net Price $24,344
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Friends University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Wichita, KS
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Friends is a private Christian university known for undergraduate music and business. The Wichita campus retains its Quaker-founded identity.

#2 Best Private Colleges in Kansas 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $28,889
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Flagler College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Augustine, FL
  • 0.0 | 1 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Flagler is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, education, and communication. The historic campus centers on the former Hotel Ponce de Leon in downtown St. Augustine.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Florida 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1190
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.38
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $32,395
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Piedmont University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Demorest, GA
  • 2.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jul 15 application deadline

Piedmont is a private university known for undergraduate education and nursing. The campus is set in the small town of Demorest in northeast Georgia's Blue Ridge foothills.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1038-1245
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $22,252
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Freed Hardeman University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Henderson, TN
  • | 0 reviews

Freed-Hardeman is a private Christian university affiliated with the Churches of Christ, known for undergraduate biblical studies, ministry, and education. The residential campus sits in the small town of Henderson in West Tennessee.

#13 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 952-1087
  • Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $20,178
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Guilford College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Greensboro, NC
  • | 0 reviews

Guilford is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate peace and conflict studies. The Quaker-founded residential campus sits in Greensboro.

#9 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.14
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $22,270
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Malone University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Canton, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Malone is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The suburban campus sits in Canton in northeastern Ohio.

#25 Best Private Colleges in Ohio 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.49
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $22,390
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University of Mount Saint Vincent Campus

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

Mount Saint Vincent is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The Riverdale campus overlooks the Hudson River in the Bronx.

#55 Best Private Colleges in New York 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1011-1178
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.14
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $22,808
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Anderson University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Anderson, SC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

A private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. Most students live on its residential campus in Anderson in South Carolina's Upstate region.

#4 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.72
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $24,434
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Carthage College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Kenosha, WI
  • 4.5 | 4 reviews

Carthage is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus sits on the western shore of Lake Michigan.

#10 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1205
  • Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $27,066
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Lynn University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Boca Raton, FL
  • 3.0 | 4 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Lynn is a private university known for undergraduate business, communication, and hospitality management. The suburban Boca Raton campus sits near Florida's Atlantic coast.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Florida
  • SAT Range 1040-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $45,469
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Oklahoma Baptist University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Shawnee, OK
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Oklahoma Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and music. The residential campus sits in the smaller city of Shawnee east of Oklahoma City.

#3 Best Private Colleges in Oklahoma 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 49%
  • Net Price $23,839
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Thomas More University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Crestview Hills, KY
  • | 0 reviews

Thomas More is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and business. The suburban campus in Crestview Hills sits just south of Cincinnati.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.35
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $22,297
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Hampton University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Hampton, VA
  • 3.8 | 6 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Hampton is a private HBCU known for undergraduate journalism, business, and nursing. The waterfront campus sits along the Hampton River near the Chesapeake Bay.

#11 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 790-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $27,428
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MidAmerica Nazarene University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Olathe, KS
  • | 0 reviews

MidAmerica Nazarene is a private Nazarene university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry. The suburban campus sits in the Kansas City metro area.

#3 Best Private Colleges in Kansas 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.28
  • Acceptance Rate 79%
  • Net Price $32,081
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Chaminade University of Honolulu Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Honolulu, HI
  • | 0 reviews

Chaminade is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, criminal justice, and forensic sciences. The urban Honolulu campus follows a Marianist tradition in a residential neighborhood setting.

#2 Best Private Colleges in Hawaii 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $28,261
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University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fort Wayne, IN
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews

University of Saint Francis is a private Franciscan university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and education. The residential campus in Fort Wayne centers Catholic and Franciscan campus life.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Indiana 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 870-1070
  • Avg GPA 3.37
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $18,654
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