Top Rated East Private Colleges
These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the East. Leading the rankings for 2027 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.
Northeastern University
- Private 4 Year
- Boston, MA
-
4.7 | 6 reviews
- Jan 1 application deadline
Northeastern is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and health sciences. The urban campus sits in Boston's Fenway neighborhood.
- SAT Range 1440-1540
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.91
- Acceptance Rate 5%
- Net Price $34,207
Fairfield University
- Private 4 Year
- Fairfield, CT
-
| 0 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
Fairfield is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and nursing. The suburban campus is in coastal Connecticut near Long Island Sound.
- SAT Range 1260-1390
- Avg GPA 3.67
- Acceptance Rate 33%
- Net Price $49,958
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Private 4 Year
- Troy, NY
-
4.3 | 3 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
RPI is a private technological university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and architecture. The hillside campus overlooks the Hudson River in Troy.
- SAT Range 1375-1510
- Avg GPA 3.88
- Acceptance Rate 63%
- Net Price $38,887
Fordham University
- Private 4 Year
- Bronx, NY
-
4.2 | 5 reviews
- Jan 1 application deadline
Fordham is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business, communications, and the liberal arts. The main Rose Hill campus in the Bronx borders the New York Botanical Garden.
- SAT Range 1320-1480
- Avg GPA 3.67
- Acceptance Rate 59%
- Net Price $48,190
Sarah Lawrence College
- Private 4 Year
- Bronxville, NY
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
Sarah Lawrence is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate creative writing, the arts, and conference-based individualized study. The suburban Bronxville campus sits just north of New York City.
- SAT Range 1240-1430
- Avg GPA 3.75
- Acceptance Rate 62%
- Net Price $43,629
St Lawrence University
- Private 4 Year
- Canton, NY
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
St. Lawrence is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate environmental studies and international affairs. The residential campus sits in a small college town in northern New York near the Adirondacks.
- SAT Range 1255-1420
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 54%
- Net Price $33,216
Clark University
- Private 4 Year
- Worcester, MA
-
| 0 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
Clark is a private university known for undergraduate psychology and geography. The compact urban campus sits in Worcester, west of Boston.
- SAT Range 1288-1460
- Avg GPA 3.69
- Acceptance Rate 40%
- Net Price $33,865
Touro University
- Private 4 Year
- New York, NY
-
3.0 | 1 reviews
Touro is a private Jewish-sponsored university known for undergraduate health sciences and education. The university operates multiple urban campuses across New York City.
- SAT Range 1218-1453
- Avg GPA 3.17
- Acceptance Rate 61%
- Net Price $29,179
Hobart William Smith Colleges
- Private 4 Year
- Geneva, NY
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Hobart and William Smith is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate environmental studies and political science. The residential campus overlooks Seneca Lake in New York's Finger Lakes region.
- SAT Range 1190-1385
- Avg GPA 3.55
- Acceptance Rate 64%
- Net Price $34,170
Syracuse University
- Private 4 Year
- Syracuse, NY
-
4.0 | 3 reviews
- Jan 1 application deadline
Syracuse is a private university known for undergraduate communications, journalism, and architecture. The residential campus sits on a hill overlooking the city of Syracuse.
- SAT Range 1270-1440
- Avg GPA 3.69
- Acceptance Rate 46%
- Net Price $48,215
Ithaca College
- 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.
- SAT Range 1230-1390
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 69%
- Net Price $35,253
The New School
- 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.
- SAT Range 1140-1360
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.59
- Acceptance Rate 63%
- Net Price $67,224
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
- 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.
- SAT Range 1220-1390
- Avg GPA 3.48
- Acceptance Rate 68%
- Net Price $30,701
Nazareth University
- 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.
- SAT Range 1070-1320
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 75%
- Net Price $30,785
MCPHS University
- 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.
- SAT Range 1160-1416
- Avg GPA 3.41
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $41,506
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia
- 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.
- SAT Range 1170-1350
- Avg GPA 3.65
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $31,205
Rochester Institute of Technology
- 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.
- SAT Range 1300-1460
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 67%
- Net Price $39,534
Marist University
- 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.
- SAT Range 1190-1340
- Avg GPA 3.56
- Acceptance Rate 57%
- Net Price $42,508