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
Drury University Campus
 

Drury University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Springfield, MO
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 30 application deadline

Drury is a private university known for undergraduate architecture and business. The urban campus is in Springfield in southwest Missouri.

#4 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1290
  • Avg GPA 3.79
  • Acceptance Rate 58%
  • Net Price $21,903
Details

Suffolk University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Boston, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Suffolk is a private university known for undergraduate business, government, and communications. The compact urban campus sits on Beacon Hill near Boston's government center.

#30 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $33,832
Details

Brigham Young University Hawaii

  • Private 4 Year
  • Laie, HI
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

BYU-Hawaii is a small private university known for undergraduate hospitality and tourism management, business, and Pacific Island studies. The seaside campus in Laie sits on Oahu's North Shore and is affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

#1 Best Value in Hawaii 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1190
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.47
  • Acceptance Rate 47%
  • Net Price $12,410
Details

St Bonaventure University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Bonaventure, NY
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jul 30 application deadline

St. Bonaventure is a private Franciscan university known for undergraduate journalism, communication, and business. The rural campus sits in southwestern New York near Olean.

#49 Best Private Colleges in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1065-1290
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $27,373
Details
Christian Brothers University Campus
 

Christian Brothers University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Memphis, TN
  • | 0 reviews

Christian Brothers is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate engineering and business. The urban campus sits in midtown Memphis.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.67
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $16,754
Details

Arcadia University

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

Arcadia is a private university known for undergraduate study abroad and international education. The suburban Glenside campus is anchored by Grey Towers Castle, a National Historic Landmark.

#41 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1065-1265
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $30,037
Details

Shenandoah University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Winchester, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Shenandoah is a private university known for undergraduate music, theater, and dance through the Shenandoah Conservatory. The campus is in Winchester in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $27,181
Details

Mount Saint Mary College

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

Mount Saint Mary is a private Catholic college known for undergraduate nursing and education. The campus overlooks the Hudson River in Newburgh.

#50 Best Private Colleges in New York 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1255
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $26,896
Details

Fresno Pacific University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fresno, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Fresno Pacific is a private Christian university known for undergraduate teacher education and nursing. The campus is located in Fresno in California's Central Valley.

#27 Best Private Colleges in California 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $15,261
Details
Spring Arbor University Campus
 

Spring Arbor University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Spring Arbor, MI
  • 3.2 | 4 reviews

Spring Arbor is a private Free Methodist university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and social work. The residential campus sits in the small village of Spring Arbor in south-central Michigan.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Michigan 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 52%
  • Net Price $21,067
Details

Mississippi College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Clinton, MS
  • | 0 reviews

Mississippi College is a private Baptist college known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The suburban campus sits in Clinton just west of Jackson.

#2 Best Private Colleges in Mississippi 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1260
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 29%
  • Net Price $28,559
Details
Maryville University of Saint Louis Campus
 

Maryville University of Saint Louis

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Louis, MO
  • 3.3 | 3 reviews

Maryville University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, health professions, and business. The suburban campus is in Town and Country in the St. Louis area.

#5 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $22,983
Details

Cedar Crest College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Allentown, PA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Cedar Crest is a private women's college known for undergraduate nursing and forensic science. The suburban campus sits in Allentown in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley.

#42 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $23,691
Details

Otterbein University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Westerville, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Otterbein is a private university known for undergraduate theatre, musical theatre, and nursing. The historic campus sits in Westerville, a suburb of Columbus.

#19 Best Private Colleges in Ohio 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1035-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $20,457
Details

Dallas Baptist University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Dallas, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Dallas Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate business, education, and biblical studies. The hilltop campus overlooks Mountain Creek Lake in southwest Dallas.

#13 Best Private Colleges in Texas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1213
  • Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $30,057
Details
Southwestern College Campus
 

Southwestern College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Winfield, KS
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 22 application deadline

Southwestern College is a small private liberal arts college with undergraduate programs in education and business. Students live on a residential campus in the small town of Winfield, Kansas.

#1 Best Private Colleges in Kansas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $29,488
Details
Southwest Baptist University Campus
 

Southwest Baptist University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Bolivar, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Southwest Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry programs. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Bolivar in southwest Missouri.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 810-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.55
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $21,336
Details
Walsh University Campus
 

Walsh University

  • Private 4 Year
  • North Canton, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Walsh is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The suburban campus sits in North Canton near Canton, Ohio.

#20 Best Private Colleges in Ohio 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1280
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.38
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $23,933
Details