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
Ithaca College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Ithaca, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Ithaca College is a private college known for undergraduate communications, journalism, and music. The hillside campus overlooks Cayuga Lake in the college town of Ithaca.

#19 Best Private Colleges in New York 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1230-1390
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $35,253
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The New School Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • New York, NY
  • 3.3 | 3 reviews

The New School is a private university known for undergraduate fashion, design, and the performing arts. Students attend classes on an urban campus in Manhattan's Greenwich Village.

#20 Best Private Colleges in New York 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1360
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $67,224
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Wheaton College (Massachusetts) Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Norton, MA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Wheaton is a private liberal arts college known for its interdisciplinary Connections curriculum and frequent dual majors. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in the small town of Norton southeast of Boston.

#18 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1220-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $30,701
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Saint Louis University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Louis, MO
  • | 0 reviews

SLU is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate health sciences, nursing, and aviation. The urban campus sits in Midtown St. Louis.

#2 Best Colleges in Missouri 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1410
  • Avg GPA 3.95
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $27,749
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Baylor University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Waco, TX
  • 4.2 | 14 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Baylor is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and prehealth programs. The residential campus sits along the Brazos River in Waco.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Texas 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1400
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 51%
  • Net Price $47,001
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Westminster University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Salt Lake City, UT
  • | 0 reviews

Westminster is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and health sciences. The urban campus sits near the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City.

#1 Best Value in Utah 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 67%
  • Net Price $26,844
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Nazareth University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Rochester, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Nazareth is a private university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and music. The suburban campus sits in Pittsford just outside Rochester.

#21 Best Private Colleges in New York 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $30,785
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MCPHS University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • | 0 reviews

MCPHS is a private university known for undergraduate pharmacy, nursing, and health sciences. The urban campus sits in Boston's Longwood Medical Area.

#19 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1416
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $41,506
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Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Saint Joseph's is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and food marketing. The residential campus sits in western Philadelphia's Overbrook neighborhood.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1350
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $31,205
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Saint Mary's College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Notre Dame, IN
  • 3.8 | 5 reviews

Saint Mary's is a private Catholic women's college known for undergraduate nursing, education, and the liberal arts. The campus adjoins the University of Notre Dame in northern Indiana.

#4 Best Private Colleges in Indiana 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1325
  • Avg GPA 3.83
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $27,865
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Rochester Institute of Technology Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Rochester, NY
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

RIT is a private university known for undergraduate engineering, computing, and photography. The suburban campus near Rochester includes the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

#22 Best Private Colleges in New York 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1300-1460
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 67%
  • Net Price $39,534
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Loyola University Maryland Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Baltimore, MD
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Loyola Maryland is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and communications. The wooded residential campus sits in a northern Baltimore neighborhood.

#2 Best Private Colleges in Maryland 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $32,846
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Marist University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Poughkeepsie, NY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Marist is a private university known for undergraduate communications, media studies, and fashion. The campus sits along the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie.

#23 Best Private Colleges in New York 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $42,508
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Quinnipiac University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Hamden, CT
  • 3.8 | 5 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Quinnipiac is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and communications. The suburban campus sits at the base of Sleeping Giant in Hamden.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $40,632
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Gonzaga University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Spokane, WA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Gonzaga is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and engineering. The campus runs along the Spokane River in eastern Washington.

#3 Best Private Colleges in Washington 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.67
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $40,117
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Union University Campus

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

Union is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and Christian studies. The residential campus sits in Jackson in West Tennessee.

#4 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.8
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $28,452
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Adelphi University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Garden City, NY
  • 3.0 | 3 reviews

Adelphi is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, psychology, and the performing arts. The suburban Garden City campus sits on Long Island outside New York City.

#24 Best Private Colleges in New York 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $31,303
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Bard College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 1 application deadline

Bard is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate arts, music, and literature. The campus overlooks the Hudson River in New York's Hudson Valley.

#25 Best Private Colleges in New York 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1270-1450
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 52%
  • Net Price $29,320
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