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
Upper Iowa University Campus
 

Upper Iowa University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fayette, IA
  • | 0 reviews

Upper Iowa is a private university known for undergraduate business, education, and human services. The residential campus sits in the small town of Fayette in northeast Iowa.

#17 Best Private Colleges in Iowa 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.34
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $20,426
Details
St. Thomas University Campus
 

St. Thomas University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Miami Gardens, FL
  • 1.0 | 1 reviews

St. Thomas is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, criminal justice, and sports administration. The suburban campus lies in Miami Gardens just north of Miami.

#18 Best Private Colleges in Florida 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1060
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $27,844
Details

Midway University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Midway, KY
  • | 0 reviews

Midway is a private university known for undergraduate equestrian studies, nursing, and teacher education. The residential campus is in the small town of Midway in central Kentucky.

#8 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $30,679
Details

Concordia University Texas

  • Private 4 Year
  • Austin, TX
  • 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.

#25 Best Private Colleges in Texas 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1100
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $24,723
Details
Tougaloo College Campus
 

Tougaloo College

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

Tougaloo is a private historically Black liberal arts college known for undergraduate programs in the sciences and social sciences. The historic campus just outside Jackson was a key site in the Civil Rights Movement.

#4 Best Private Colleges in Mississippi 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 790-1090
  • Avg GPA 2.8
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $14,328
Details
Wilson College Campus
 

Wilson College

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

Wilson is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate equestrian studies. The Chambersburg campus includes on-site stables and riding facilities.

#59 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.45
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $21,748
Details
Missouri Baptist University Campus
 

Missouri Baptist University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Louis, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Missouri Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate teacher education, nursing, and Christian ministry. The suburban campus sits in Creve Coeur in the St. Louis metro area.

#11 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $27,623
Details
University of Mount Olive Campus
 

University of Mount Olive

  • Private 4 Year
  • Mount Olive, NC
  • | 0 reviews

Mount Olive is a private Christian university known for undergraduate agriculture and business. The residential campus is in the small town of Mount Olive in eastern North Carolina.

#15 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1150
  • Avg GPA 2.85
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $18,853
Details

Charleston Southern University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Charleston, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Charleston Southern is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The suburban campus sits in North Charleston in the greater Charleston area.

#10 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1160
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $21,080
Details
Tiffin University Campus
 

Tiffin University

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

Tiffin is a private university known for undergraduate business, criminal justice, and sports management. Students study on a compact residential campus in the small city of Tiffin in northwest Ohio.

#31 Best Private Colleges in Ohio 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.11
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $26,068
Details
Point University Campus
 

Point University

  • Private 4 Year
  • West Point, GA
  • | 0 reviews

Point is a small private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, business, and education. The campus is in the small town of West Point on the Georgia-Alabama border.

#16 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 972-1237
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 44%
  • Net Price $19,545
Details
Barton College Campus
 

Barton College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Wilson, NC
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Barton is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing and education. The residential campus is in the small city of Wilson in eastern North Carolina.

#16 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.25
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $23,962
Details
North Carolina Wesleyan University Campus
 

North Carolina Wesleyan University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Rocky Mount, NC
  • | 0 reviews

North Carolina Wesleyan is a small private university known for undergraduate business, education, and criminal justice. The residential campus is located in Rocky Mount in eastern North Carolina.

#17 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1120
  • Avg GPA 3.2
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $18,472
Details

Coker University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Hartsville, SC
  • | 0 reviews

Coker is a private university known for undergraduate liberal arts programs and round-table classroom teaching. The historic campus sits in the small town of Hartsville.

#11 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1160
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $19,823
Details
Bethel University Campus
 

Bethel University

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

Bethel is a private Christian university affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, known for undergraduate business and education programs. The campus is set in the small town of McKenzie in western Tennessee.

#18 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 830-1120
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $13,112
Details

Johnson C Smith University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Charlotte, NC
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews

Johnson C. Smith is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate business, computer science, and social work. The compact urban campus sits in Charlotte's historic West End.

#18 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 800-980
  • Avg GPA 2.48
  • Acceptance Rate 45%
  • Net Price $19,705
Details
Culver Stockton College Campus
 

Culver Stockton College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Canton, MO
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Culver-Stockton is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, education, and equestrian studies. The campus sits on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River.

#12 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1080
  • Avg GPA 3.37
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $21,996
Details
Arizona Christian University Campus
 

Arizona Christian University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Glendale, AZ
  • | 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.

#2 Best Private Colleges in Arizona 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.16
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $32,514
Details