Top Rated Southwest Private Colleges
These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the Southwest. Leading the rankings for 2027 as the highest ranked private college in the Southwest is Rice University. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
University of St Thomas
- Private 4 Year
- Houston, TX
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 15 application deadline
University of St. Thomas is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and the liberal arts. The urban campus sits in Houston's Museum District.
- SAT Range 980-1210
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $20,599
Texas Lutheran University
- Private 4 Year
- Seguin, TX
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| 0 reviews
Texas Lutheran is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The residential campus is in Seguin, a small city northeast of San Antonio.
- SAT Range 1030-1230
- Avg GPA 3.9
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $25,119
Hardin Simmons University
- Private 4 Year
- Abilene, TX
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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.
- SAT Range 1010-1190
- Avg GPA 3.43
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $19,811
Oklahoma Baptist University
- Private 4 Year
- Shawnee, OK
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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.
- SAT Range 1070-1240
- Avg GPA 3.68
- Acceptance Rate 49%
- Net Price $23,839
University of the Incarnate Word
- Private 4 Year
- San Antonio, TX
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| 0 reviews
UIW is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and the health sciences. The urban campus is in San Antonio.
- SAT Range 900-1140
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 98%
- Net Price $23,363
University of Mary Hardin Baylor
- Private 4 Year
- Belton, TX
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| 0 reviews
Mary Hardin-Baylor is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The residential campus is in Belton in Central Texas.
- SAT Range 960-1200
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $27,651
Texas Wesleyan University
- Private 4 Year
- Fort Worth, TX
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3.0 | 1 reviews
Texas Wesleyan is a private Methodist university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The historic campus sits in Fort Worth's Polytechnic Heights neighborhood.
- SAT Range 1020-1100
- Avg GPA 3.35
- Acceptance Rate 69%
- Net Price $26,416
Houston Christian University
- Private 4 Year
- Houston, TX
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1.0 | 1 reviews
Houston Christian is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus is in southwest Houston.
- SAT Range 990-1190
- Avg GPA 3.46
- Acceptance Rate 84%
- Net Price $21,282
Oral Roberts University
- Private 4 Year
- Tulsa, OK
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3.3 | 3 reviews
Oral Roberts is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, nursing, and business. The Tulsa campus centers on the Prayer Tower and a distinctive modernist architectural style.
- SAT Range 1120-1310
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 99%
- Net Price $25,808
Schreiner University
- Private 4 Year
- Kerrville, TX
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| 0 reviews
Schreiner is a small private university with undergraduate programs in nursing and education. The campus sits in Kerrville in the Texas Hill Country.
- SAT Range 970-1160
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $22,884
McMurry University
- Private 4 Year
- Abilene, TX
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5.0 | 1 reviews
- Aug 15 application deadline
McMurry is a private university known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The residential campus in Abilene is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
- SAT Range 950-1160
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 57%
- Net Price $20,723
Oklahoma Christian University
- Private 4 Year
- Edmond, OK
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| 0 reviews
Oklahoma Christian is a private university affiliated with the Churches of Christ and known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and business. The campus is in the Oklahoma City suburb of Edmond.
- SAT Range 1010-1270
- Avg GPA 3.62
- Acceptance Rate 97%
- Net Price $22,391
Concordia University Texas
- Private 4 Year
- Austin, TX
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4.0 | 2 reviews
Concordia Texas is a private Lutheran university with undergraduate programs in nursing, business, and education. The campus is in northwest Austin.
- SAT Range 860-1100
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $24,723
Arizona Christian University
- Private 4 Year
- Glendale, AZ
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| 0 reviews
Arizona Christian is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies and education. The suburban campus sits in Glendale in the Phoenix metro area.
- SAT Range 960-1170
- Avg GPA 3.16
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $32,514
Nelson University
- Private 4 Year
- Waxahachie, TX
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| 0 reviews
Nelson is a private Assemblies of God university known for undergraduate ministry and education programs. The campus is in Waxahachie, a small city south of Dallas.
- SAT Range 890-1090
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.19
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $22,359
Our Lady of the Lake University
- Private 4 Year
- San Antonio, TX
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| 0 reviews
Our Lady of the Lake is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate social work and education. The urban San Antonio campus is a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
- SAT Range 890-1070
- Avg GPA 3.55
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $16,999