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
Cornerstone University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • | 0 reviews

Cornerstone is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, biblical studies, and business. Students live on a compact residential campus in Grand Rapids.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Michigan 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1220
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.28
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $21,335
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Baker College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Owosso, MI
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 10 application deadline

Baker is a private college known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The Owosso campus sits in a small city in central Michigan.

#16 Best Private Colleges in Michigan
  • SAT Range 960-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.2
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $13,616
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Crown College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Bonifacius, MN
  • | 0 reviews

Crown College is a private Christian college known for undergraduate ministry, biblical studies, and nursing. The campus is in the small town of St. Bonifacius west of the Twin Cities.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.22
  • Acceptance Rate 23%
  • Net Price $27,332
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Grand View University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Des Moines, IA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Grand View is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The urban campus sits in Des Moines, Iowa's capital city.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Iowa 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 920-1080
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $22,319
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Southeastern University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Lakeland, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Southeastern is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, business, and education. The campus is in Lakeland, a midsize city between Tampa and Orlando.

#17 Best Private Colleges in Florida
  • SAT Range 960-1183
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 53%
  • Net Price $32,334
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Muskingum University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • New Concord, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Muskingum is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate education and the sciences. Most students live on a residential campus in the small town of New Concord.

#30 Best Private Colleges in Ohio 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1105
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $19,695
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The University of Tennessee Southern Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Pulaski, TN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 26 application deadline

UT Southern is a small public university with undergraduate programs in nursing, education, and business. The campus sits in the small town of Pulaski in southern Tennessee.

#17 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee
  • SAT Range 905-1110
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.17
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $14,546
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Hope International University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Fullerton, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 20 application deadline

Hope International is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, biblical studies, and education. The suburban campus sits in Fullerton in Orange County.

#31 Best Private Colleges in California 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 840-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.26
  • Acceptance Rate 33%
  • Net Price $29,896
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West Virginia Wesleyan College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Buckhannon, WV
  • | 0 reviews

West Virginia Wesleyan is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing and education. Most students live on a residential campus in the college town of Buckhannon.

#2 Best Private Colleges in West Virginia 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 892-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.52
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $19,218
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William Penn University Campus
 

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

William Penn is a private Quaker-affiliated university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in the small town of Oskaloosa.

#16 Best Private Colleges in Iowa 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 52%
  • Net Price $22,740
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Georgetown College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Georgetown, KY
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Georgetown College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate education and business. Most undergrads live on its residential campus in a small Kentucky college town.

#7 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $15,160
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Toccoa Falls College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Toccoa Falls, GA
  • 1.8 | 6 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Toccoa Falls is a private Christian college known for undergraduate biblical studies, ministry, and missions. The wooded campus includes the Toccoa Falls waterfall in the North Georgia foothills.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $21,955
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Concordia University Ann Arbor Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Ann Arbor, MI
  • | 0 reviews

Concordia Ann Arbor is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The campus sits along the Huron River in Ann Arbor.

#17 Best Private Colleges in Michigan 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.19
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $31,080
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Limestone University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Gaffney, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Limestone is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus is in the small town of Gaffney in upstate South Carolina.

#8 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $19,369
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Corban University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Salem, OR
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Corban is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies, ministry, and education. The residential campus sits in Salem, Oregon's capital city.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Oregon 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1003-1165
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $27,119
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Shorter University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Rome, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 25 application deadline

Shorter is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, music, and education. The campus sits in the small city of Rome in northwest Georgia.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.25
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $16,821
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Rochester University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Rochester Hills, MI
  • | 0 reviews

Rochester University is a private Christian university with undergraduate programs in business, nursing, and education. The suburban campus is in Rochester Hills in metro Detroit.

#18 Best Private Colleges in Michigan 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 840-1060
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.13
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $21,611
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Columbia College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Columbia College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate education and nursing. Students study on an urban campus in South Carolina's capital.

#9 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $18,790
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