Top Rated U.S. Private Colleges

The Best Private Colleges in America for 2024

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the United States. Leading the rankings for 2024 as the highest ranked private college in America is Princeton University. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
Private 4 year

596 results nationwide

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Connect Me
R
Troy, NY

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 6,968enrollment
  • $39,127net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1520SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Chapman University
Connect Me
C
Orange, CA

Chapman University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 10,014enrollment
  • $45,033net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1400SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Bentley University
Connect Me
B
Waltham, MA

Bentley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 5,165enrollment
  • $44,233net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1258-1420SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Babson College
Connect Me
B
Wellesley, MA

Babson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 3,989enrollment
  • $28,400net price
  • 22%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1510SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

Compare Calculate my chances 
Elon University
Connect Me
E
Elon, NC

Elon University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 7,123enrollment
  • $41,527net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1360SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.65Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

Compare Calculate my chances 
Creighton University
Connect Me
C
Omaha, NE

Creighton University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Nebraska

  • 8,397enrollment
  • $32,877net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1206-1420SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Fordham University
Connect Me
F
Bronx, NY

Fordham University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 16,556enrollment
  • $43,943net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1480SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Rhodes College
Connect Me
R
Memphis, TN

Rhodes College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,008enrollment
  • $30,672net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1470SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Portland
Connect Me
P
Portland, OR

University of Portland

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Oregon

  • 3,793enrollment
  • $33,717net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1228-1410SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Providence College
Connect Me
P
Providence, RI

Providence College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 4,473enrollment
  • $43,970net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1420SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Hobart William Smith Colleges
Connect Me
H
Geneva, NY

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,607enrollment
  • $34,259net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Drexel University
Connect Me
D
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 22,344enrollment
  • $39,267net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.67Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Brigham Young University Provo
Connect Me
B
Provo, UT

Brigham Young University Provo

Private 4 Year

15 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Utah

  • 34,464enrollment
  • $13,521net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1468SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 16

Compare Calculate my chances 
Pepperdine University
Connect Me
P
Malibu, CA

Pepperdine University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 10,030enrollment
  • $47,804net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1285-1480SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
Connect Me
R
Terre Haute, IN

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,188enrollment
  • $41,678net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1483SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Northeastern University
Connect Me
N
Boston, MA

Northeastern University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 30,013enrollment
  • $35,827net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Sarah Lawrence College
Connect Me
S
Bronxville, NY

Sarah Lawrence College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,696enrollment
  • $42,781net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Wofford College
Connect Me
W
Spartanburg, SC

Wofford College

Private 4 Year

8 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,823enrollment
  • $31,192net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1353SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 

Explore the best private colleges by state: