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

Mount St. Mary's University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Emmitsburg, MD
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Mount St. Mary's is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, education, and the liberal arts. The residential campus sits in rural Emmitsburg near the Catoctin Mountains.

#3 Best Value Colleges in Maryland 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1046-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 74%
  • Net Price $23,027
Details

North Central College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Naperville, IL
  • | 0 reviews
  • Apr 15 application deadline

North Central is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, education, and the sciences. The residential campus sits in suburban Naperville, west of Chicago.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1055-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $23,276
Details

Coe College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Cedar Rapids, IA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Coe is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate writing, biology, and business. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in Cedar Rapids.

#3 Best Value Colleges in Iowa 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1290
  • Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $20,864
Details

Hanover College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Hanover, IN
  • 0.0 | 1 reviews

Hanover is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology, business, and psychology. The campus overlooks the Ohio River from wooded bluffs in a small southern Indiana town.

#10 Best Private Colleges in Indiana 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1110-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.79
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $23,683
Details

Bellarmine University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Louisville, KY
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Bellarmine is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and the health sciences. The campus occupies a residential setting in Louisville.

#2 Best Colleges in Kentucky 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $23,165
Details

Susquehanna University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Selinsgrove, PA
  • | 0 reviews

Susquehanna is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate business and communications. The campus sits along the Susquehanna River in the small town of Selinsgrove.

#32 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.67
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $26,444
Details

Berry College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Mount Berry, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 15 application deadline

Berry is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate animal science, business, and education. Most students join a campus work program on the college's 27,000-acre grounds of forests and farmland near Rome.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1125-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.84
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $25,363
Details

Stetson University

  • Private 4 Year
  • DeLand, FL
  • | 0 reviews

Stetson is a private university known for undergraduate business and music. The historic campus sits in the college town of DeLand in Central Florida.

#2 Best Value Colleges in Florida 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1060-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $20,319
Details

Ohio Wesleyan University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Delaware, OH
  • | 0 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Ohio Wesleyan is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate zoology, economics, and international studies. Most undergrads live on a residential campus in Delaware, a small city north of Columbus.

#2 Best Value Colleges in Ohio 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1105-1350
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 56%
  • Net Price $23,006
Details

Bethel University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Paul, MN
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Bethel is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The suburban Arden Hills campus sits in the Twin Cities metro near St. Paul.

#10 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $31,738
Details

Albion College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Albion, MI
  • | 0 reviews

Albion is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences, pre-medical studies, and business. The residential campus sits in a small college town in south-central Michigan.

#2 Best Value Colleges in Michigan 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $16,719
Details

Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus

  • Private 4 Year
  • Madison, NJ
  • | 0 reviews

Fairleigh Dickinson Florham is a private university known for undergraduate business, psychology, and communications. The residential campus occupies a historic estate in suburban Madison.

#7 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1310
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $25,585
Details

St. John's University New York

  • Private 4 Year
  • Queens, NY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

St. John's is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate pharmacy, business, and communications. The urban campus is in Queens in New York City.

#39 Best Private Colleges in New York 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $29,656
Details

Canisius University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Buffalo, NY
  • | 0 reviews

Canisius is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and education. The urban campus is located in Buffalo.

#40 Best Private Colleges in New York 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $19,666
Details

Alfred University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Alfred, NY
  • 3.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Alfred is a private university known for undergraduate ceramics, ceramic engineering, and art. The rural campus sits in the small college village of Alfred in western New York.

#41 Best Private Colleges in New York 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1095-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 74%
  • Net Price $26,470
Details

Pacific Lutheran University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Tacoma, WA
  • 3.3 | 3 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Pacific Lutheran is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, music, and education. Most students live on the residential campus in suburban Tacoma with a Lutheran church affiliation.

#3 Best Value Colleges in Washington 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $22,299
Details

Wisconsin Lutheran College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Milwaukee, WI
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Wisconsin Lutheran is a private Lutheran liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing and education. The residential campus sits on Milwaukee's west side.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $24,095
Details

Jacksonville University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • | 0 reviews

Jacksonville University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, aviation, and marine science. The campus sits along the St. Johns River.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $24,238
Details