Top Rated East Private Colleges

The Best Private Colleges in the East for 2025

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the East. Leading the rankings for 2025 as the highest ranked private college in the East is Princeton University. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
East Private 4 year

198 results

Princeton University
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P
Princeton, NJ

Princeton University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in America

  • 8,922enrollment
  • $19,811net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.93Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Harvard University
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H
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in America

  • 30,386enrollment
  • $17,900net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Yale University
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Y
New Haven, CT

Yale University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in America

  • 15,081enrollment
  • $26,044net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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M
Cambridge, MA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in America

  • 11,920enrollment
  • $21,519net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Brown University
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B
Providence, RI

Brown University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in America

  • 11,516enrollment
  • $26,608net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Dartmouth College
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D
Hanover, NH

Dartmouth College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in America

  • 6,746enrollment
  • $17,322net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Williams College
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W
Williamstown, MA

Williams College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,168enrollment
  • $16,988net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

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Amherst College
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A
Amherst, MA

Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,910enrollment
  • $17,965net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1550SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Wellesley College
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W
Wellesley, MA

Wellesley College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,418enrollment
  • $21,501net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

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Cornell University
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C
Ithaca, NY

Cornell University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in America

  • 26,264enrollment
  • $26,455net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Columbia University in the City of New York
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C
New York, NY

Columbia University in the City of New York

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in America

  • 35,279enrollment
  • $20,869net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of Pennsylvania
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P
Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in America

  • 28,711enrollment
  • $26,017net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Hamilton College
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H
Clinton, NY

Hamilton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#25 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,048enrollment
  • $26,021net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.87Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Bowdoin College
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B
Brunswick, ME

Bowdoin College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#21 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 1,850enrollment
  • $23,110net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Colgate University
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C
Hamilton, NY

Colgate University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 3,146enrollment
  • $26,954net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1530SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Middlebury College
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M
Middlebury, VT

Middlebury College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 2,857enrollment
  • $22,912net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Wesleyan University
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W
Middletown, CT

Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 3,271enrollment
  • $20,463net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Tufts University
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T
Medford, MA

Tufts University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 13,274enrollment
  • $33,333net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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