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

University of Redlands

  • Private 4 Year
  • Redlands, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

University of Redlands is a private university known for undergraduate music, business, and the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies. The residential campus sits in Redlands in Southern California's Inland Empire.

#15 Best Private Colleges in California 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1107-1350
  • Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $28,482
Details

Indiana Wesleyan University Marion

  • Private 4 Year
  • Marion, IN
  • | 0 reviews

Indiana Wesleyan is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry. The residential campus in Marion is affiliated with the Wesleyan Church.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Indiana 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $23,402
Details

Siena College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Loudonville, NY
  • 2.8 | 6 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Siena is a private Franciscan college known for undergraduate business and the liberal arts. Students live on a residential campus in the Albany suburb of Loudonville.

#32 Best Private Colleges in New York 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1110-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $32,955
Details
Azusa Pacific University Campus
 

Azusa Pacific University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Azusa, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jun 1 application deadline

Azusa Pacific is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry programs. The suburban campus sits at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles.

#16 Best Private Colleges in California 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 983-1238
  • Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $26,143
Details

Samford University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Birmingham, AL
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Samford is a private Christian university known for undergraduate pharmacy, nursing, and business. The Georgian-style campus sits in the Birmingham suburb of Homewood.

#1 Best Private Colleges in Alabama 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.84
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $34,926
Details

Saint Anselm College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Manchester, NH
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Saint Anselm is a private Catholic liberal arts college known for undergraduate politics and nursing. The Benedictine campus in Manchester has long hosted New Hampshire presidential primary debates.

#2 Best Colleges in New Hampshire 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1110-1278
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $35,551
Details

Ursinus College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Collegeville, PA
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Ursinus is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology, neuroscience, and a required first-year common curriculum. The residential campus sits in suburban Collegeville northwest of Philadelphia.

#20 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1385
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $32,158
Details

Point Loma Nazarene University

  • Private 4 Year
  • San Diego, CA
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Point Loma Nazarene is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, biology, and business. The campus sits on coastal bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

#17 Best Private Colleges in California 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1175-1365
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $39,696
Details

Hope College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Holland, MI
  • 3.8 | 4 reviews

Hope is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate chemistry, biology, and education. The residential campus sits in Holland near the Lake Michigan shore.

#3 Best Private Colleges in Michigan 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.83
  • Acceptance Rate 79%
  • Net Price $30,700
Details

DePaul University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Chicago, IL
  • 3.3 | 3 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

DePaul is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, film, and theater. Its urban campuses sit in Chicago's Lincoln Park and Loop neighborhoods.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.8
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $34,135
Details

Concordia College at Moorhead

  • Private 4 Year
  • Moorhead, MN
  • | 0 reviews

Concordia College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate music and education. Most students live on the residential campus in Moorhead, across the river from Fargo.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1420
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $25,190
Details

California Lutheran University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Thousand Oaks, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 1 application deadline

Cal Lutheran is a private university known for undergraduate business, psychology, and communication. The suburban campus in Thousand Oaks is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

#18 Best Private Colleges in California 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $32,774
Details

Washington & Jefferson College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Washington, PA
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews

Washington & Jefferson is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences, pre-med, and pre-law. The historic campus is in the small city of Washington near Pittsburgh.

#21 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $22,702
Details

Bryant University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Smithfield, RI
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Bryant is a private university known for undergraduate business. The suburban campus sits northwest of Providence.

#4 Best Private Colleges in Rhode Island 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.43
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $42,139
Details

University of Detroit Mercy

  • Private 4 Year
  • Detroit, MI
  • | 0 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Detroit Mercy is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate architecture, engineering, and nursing. The urban campus sits in northwest Detroit.

#4 Best Private Colleges in Michigan 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.67
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $16,790
Details

Chatham University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • 1.0 | 2 reviews

Chatham is a private university known for undergraduate sustainability, environmental studies, and the health sciences. The historic campus is in Pittsburgh's residential Shadyside neighborhood.

#22 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1295
  • Avg GPA 3.86
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $31,280
Details

Queens University of Charlotte

  • Private 4 Year
  • Charlotte, NC
  • | 0 reviews
  • Sep 7 application deadline

Queens is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and communications. The historic campus sits in Charlotte's Myers Park neighborhood.

#5 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1340
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $31,839
Details

Lipscomb University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Nashville, TN
  • 3.0 | 1 reviews

Lipscomb is a private Christian university known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The residential campus sits in Nashville's Green Hills neighborhood.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $27,695
Details