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

Clark Atlanta University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Atlanta, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Apr 1 application deadline

Clark Atlanta is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate social work, business, and mass media arts. The urban Atlanta campus is part of the Atlanta University Center consortium with neighboring HBCUs.

#17 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1120
  • Avg GPA 3.28
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $31,223
Details

Dillard University

  • Private 4 Year
  • New Orleans, LA
  • | 0 reviews

Dillard is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing, public health, and the sciences. The urban campus sits in New Orleans's Gentilly neighborhood.

#3 Best Private Colleges in Louisiana 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 968-1202
  • Avg GPA 3.31
  • Acceptance Rate 42%
  • Net Price $21,842
Details

Claflin University

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

Claflin is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate biology, business, and education. The residential campus is located in Orangeburg in central South Carolina.

#12 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 840-1040
  • Avg GPA 3.28
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $17,272
Details
Avila University Campus
 

Avila University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Kansas City, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Avila is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The compact campus sits in southern Kansas City.

#13 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 800-960
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $17,004
Details

Newberry College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Newberry, SC
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews

Newberry is a private liberal arts college with undergraduate programs in education and business. The residential campus sits in the small town of Newberry and has long ties to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

#13 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 820-1060
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $21,943
Details

Union Commonwealth University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Barbourville, KY
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews

Union Commonwealth is a small private university with undergraduate programs in education, business, and nursing. The residential campus sits in the Appalachian college town of Barbourville.

#9 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 920-1105
  • Avg GPA 3.15
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $17,124
Details

University of the Cumberlands

  • Private 4 Year
  • Williamsburg, KY
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 31 application deadline

University of the Cumberlands is a private Christian university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. Students live on a residential campus in the small Appalachian town of Williamsburg.

#10 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.47
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $14,743
Details

Nelson University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Waxahachie, TX
  • | 0 reviews

Nelson is a private Assemblies of God university known for undergraduate ministry and education programs. The campus is in Waxahachie, a small city south of Dallas.

#26 Best Private Colleges in Texas 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1090
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.19
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $22,359
Details

University of Bridgeport

  • Private 4 Year
  • Bridgeport, CT
  • | 0 reviews

University of Bridgeport is a private university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and dental hygiene. The campus sits along Long Island Sound in the city of Bridgeport.

#10 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1115
  • Avg GPA 3.04
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $28,498
Details
Truett McConnell University Campus
 

Truett McConnell University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Cleveland, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Truett McConnell is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate Christian studies and education. The campus is in the North Georgia mountains near Cleveland.

#18 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.49
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $22,179
Details

Tusculum University

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

Tusculum is a small private university with undergraduate programs in business, education, and nursing. The historic Greeneville campus is Tennessee's oldest college and retains a Presbyterian affiliation.

#19 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1110
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.18
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $20,355
Details

Bethune Cookman University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Daytona Beach, FL
  • | 0 reviews

Bethune-Cookman is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits in Daytona Beach near Florida's Atlantic coast.

#19 Best Private Colleges in Florida 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 830-990
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $12,476
Details
Brewton Parker College Campus
 

Brewton Parker College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Mount Vernon, GA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Brewton-Parker is a small private Baptist college with undergraduate programs in education, business, and Christian studies. The rural campus is located in the small town of Mount Vernon in southeast Georgia.

#19 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1010
  • Avg GPA 3.0
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $25,613
Details

Missouri Valley College

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

Missouri Valley is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The residential campus sits in the small town of Marshall in central Missouri.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 895-1115
  • Avg GPA 3.04
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $18,923
Details
Benedict College Campus
 

Benedict College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Columbia, SC
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

Benedict is a private historically Black college known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus sits in South Carolina's capital city of Columbia.

#14 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina
  • SAT Range 820-1010
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $18,665
Details

Virginia Union University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Richmond, VA
  • | 0 reviews

Virginia Union is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate programs in business, education, and social work. The historic urban campus sits on Richmond's North Side.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 1/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-885
  • Avg GPA 2.71
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $11,483
Details

AdventHealth University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Orlando, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

AdventHealth University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The urban Orlando campus is closely tied to the AdventHealth hospital system.

#20 Best Private Colleges in Florida
  • SAT Range 1010-1140
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $29,658
Details
American International College Campus
 

American International College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Springfield, MA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Sep 7 application deadline

AIC is a private college known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The urban campus sits in a residential section of Springfield.

#34 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1110
  • Avg GPA 2.91
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $23,086
Details