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

Saint Mary's College
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S
Notre Dame, IN

Saint Mary's College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,519enrollment
  • $27,960net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1328SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

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Ithaca College
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I
Ithaca, NY

Ithaca College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 5,054enrollment
  • $35,858net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1203-1380SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Syracuse University
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S
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 22,698enrollment
  • $43,651net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Wheaton College
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W
Wheaton, IL

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,885enrollment
  • $29,961net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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The New School
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N
New York, NY

The New School

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 10,108enrollment
  • $55,480net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1360SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.59Estimated Avg GPA

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Union University
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U
Jackson, TN

Union University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,731enrollment
  • $28,585net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1370SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

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Manhattan College
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M
Riverdale, NY

Manhattan College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#21 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 3,575enrollment
  • $29,535net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 31

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Saint Louis University Main Campus
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S
Saint Louis, MO

Saint Louis University Main Campus

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Missouri

  • 15,755enrollment
  • $29,651net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1400SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.95Avg GPA

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Rochester Institute of Technology
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R
Rochester, NY

Rochester Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 16,615enrollment
  • $39,600net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Quinnipiac University
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Q
Hamden, CT

Quinnipiac University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 8,788enrollment
  • $39,051net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1300SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Pratt Institute Main
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P
Brooklyn, NY

Pratt Institute Main

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 5,494enrollment
  • $47,326net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1430SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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University of St Thomas
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S
Saint Paul, MN

University of St Thomas

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 9,025enrollment
  • $30,137net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1390SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Wheaton College
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W
Norton, MA

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,667enrollment
  • $32,863net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1390SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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University of Puget Sound
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P
Tacoma, WA

University of Puget Sound

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 2,023enrollment
  • $41,363net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1390SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Bryant University
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B
Smithfield, RI

Bryant University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 3,536enrollment
  • $40,361net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1163-1320SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.43Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Illinois Institute of Technology
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I
Chicago, IL

Illinois Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 6,943enrollment
  • $28,702net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Southwestern University
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S
Georgetown, TX

Southwestern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,483enrollment
  • $31,014net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1355SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Austin College
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A
Sherman, TX

Austin College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Texas

  • 1,182enrollment
  • $24,739net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1370SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

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