Top Rated East Private Colleges

The Best Private Colleges in the East for 2024

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the East. Leading the rankings for 2024 as the highest ranked private college in the East is Princeton University. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


196 results

Hobart William Smith Colleges
H
Geneva, NY

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,607enrollment
  • $34,259net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Drexel University
D
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 22,344enrollment
  • $39,267net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.67Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Northeastern University
N
Boston, MA

Northeastern University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 30,013enrollment
  • $35,827net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Sarah Lawrence College
S
Bronxville, NY

Sarah Lawrence College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,696enrollment
  • $42,781net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Fairfield University
F
Fairfield, CT

Fairfield University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 6,019enrollment
  • $46,065net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1370SAT range
  • 28-31ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Saint Joseph's University
S
Philadelphia, PA

Saint Joseph's University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 7,861enrollment
  • $33,777net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Touro College
T
New York, NY

Touro College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 11,111enrollment
  • $23,960net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1428SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.17Avg GPA

Clark University
C
Worcester, MA

Clark University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,770enrollment
  • $32,053net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

St Lawrence University
S
Canton, NY

St Lawrence University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,175enrollment
  • $33,283net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1410SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Ithaca College
I
Ithaca, NY

Ithaca College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 5,054enrollment
  • $35,858net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1203-1380SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Syracuse University
S
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 22,698enrollment
  • $43,651net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

The New School
N
New York, NY

The New School

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 10,108enrollment
  • $55,480net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1360SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.59Estimated Avg GPA

Manhattan College
M
Riverdale, NY

Manhattan College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#21 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 3,575enrollment
  • $29,535net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 31

Rochester Institute of Technology
R
Rochester, NY

Rochester Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 16,615enrollment
  • $39,600net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Quinnipiac University
Q
Hamden, CT

Quinnipiac University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 8,788enrollment
  • $39,051net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1300SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Pratt Institute Main
P
Brooklyn, NY

Pratt Institute Main

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 5,494enrollment
  • $47,326net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1430SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Wheaton College
W
Norton, MA

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,667enrollment
  • $32,863net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1390SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Bryant University
B
Smithfield, RI

Bryant University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 3,536enrollment
  • $40,361net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1163-1320SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.43Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1