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.
Utica University
- Private 4 Year
- Utica, NY
-
3.9 | 9 reviews
Utica is a private university known for undergraduate cybersecurity, economic crime investigation, and nursing. The residential campus sits in the small city of Utica in central New York.
- SAT Range 990-1250
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 92%
- Net Price $20,295
University of Indianapolis
- Private 4 Year
- Indianapolis, IN
-
4.0 | 2 reviews
University of Indianapolis is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, physical therapy, and education. The compact campus sits on a wooded site on Indianapolis's south side.
- SAT Range 960-1170
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 66%
- Net Price $22,662
Bridgewater College
- Private 4 Year
- Bridgewater, VA
-
| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
Bridgewater is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate programs in biology, business, and education. The Church of the Brethren-affiliated campus sits in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.
- SAT Range 1020-1360
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 92%
- Net Price $11,316
Saint Peter's University
- Private 4 Year
- Jersey City, NJ
-
| 0 reviews
Saint Peter's is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and education. The urban Jersey City campus sits across the Hudson River from Manhattan.
- SAT Range 970-1150
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $13,775
Ave Maria University
- Private 4 Year
- Ave Maria, FL
-
3.0 | 2 reviews
Ave Maria is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate theology, philosophy, and the liberal arts. The campus anchors the planned town of Ave Maria in southwest Florida.
- SAT Range 1018-1240
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 41%
- Net Price $25,294
McKendree University
- Private 4 Year
- Lebanon, IL
-
| 0 reviews
McKendree is a small private university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The historic campus in Lebanon is Illinois's oldest college and sits near the St. Louis metro area.
- SAT Range 871-1277
- Avg GPA 3.38
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $22,444
Ashland University
- Private 4 Year
- Ashland, OH
-
| 0 reviews
Ashland is a private university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The residential campus sits in the small college city of Ashland in north-central Ohio.
- SAT Range 1035-1208
- Avg GPA 3.54
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $22,610
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
- Private 4 Year
- Daytona Beach, FL
-
| 0 reviews
Embry-Riddle Worldwide is a private university known for undergraduate aviation, aeronautics, and aerospace programs offered mainly online. Most students complete degrees through flexible distance learning rather than a traditional residential campus.
- SAT Range 1040-1240
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 58%
- Net Price $19,458
Texas Lutheran University
- Private 4 Year
- Seguin, TX
-
| 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
Hiram College
- Private 4 Year
- Hiram, OH
-
| 0 reviews
Hiram is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences and biomedical humanities. Students follow the Hiram Plan of 12-week terms paired with intensive three-week courses.
- SAT Range 890-1100
- Avg GPA 3.28
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $21,868
Anderson University
- Private 4 Year
- Anderson, IN
-
| 0 reviews
Anderson University is a private Christian university known for undergraduate music, nursing, and business. Most students live on its residential campus in Anderson, northeast of Indianapolis.
- SAT Range 900-1150
- Avg GPA 3.4
- Acceptance Rate 79%
- Net Price $25,332
Northwestern College
- Private 4 Year
- Orange City, IA
-
4.0 | 2 reviews
Northwestern College is a private Christian liberal arts college known for undergraduate education and nursing. The campus sits in the small town of Orange City in northwest Iowa.
- SAT Range 940-1240
- Avg GPA 3.57
- Acceptance Rate 80%
- Net Price $26,347
Holy Family University
- Private 4 Year
- Philadelphia, PA
-
3.2 | 4 reviews
Holy Family is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The urban campus is in Northeast Philadelphia.
- SAT Range 910-1150
- Avg GPA 3.13
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $14,072
Averett University
- Private 4 Year
- Danville, VA
-
1.8 | 4 reviews
Averett is a private university known for undergraduate aviation and business programs. The small campus sits in the city of Danville near the North Carolina border.
- SAT Range 926-1143
- Avg GPA 3.07
- Acceptance Rate 57%
- Net Price $23,471
Thomas University
- Private 4 Year
- Thomasville, GA
-
| 0 reviews
Thomas University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The small campus is located in Thomasville in southern Georgia.
- SAT Range 990-1220
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 38%
- Net Price $17,823
Quincy University
- Private 4 Year
- Quincy, IL
-
2.3 | 3 reviews
Quincy is a small private Catholic university in the Franciscan tradition known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The residential campus is in the Mississippi River city of Quincy.
- SAT Range 1000-1200
- Avg GPA 3.47
- Acceptance Rate 51%
- Net Price $19,477
Maryville College
- Private 4 Year
- Maryville, TN
-
| 0 reviews
Maryville is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate environmental studies and outdoor programs. The residential campus sits near the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee.
- SAT Range 1018-1188
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 61%
- Net Price $21,469
Emory & Henry University
- Private 4 Year
- Emory, VA
-
| 0 reviews
Emory & Henry is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate teacher education and the social sciences. The rural campus sits in the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia.
- SAT Range 1051-1223
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 84%
- Net Price $21,446