Top Rated East Private Colleges

The Best Private Colleges in the East for 2024

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the East. Leading the rankings for 2024 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.


196 results

Princeton University
P
Princeton, NJ

Princeton University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in America

  • 8,842enrollment
  • $18,698net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.93Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Harvard University
H
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in America

  • 30,631enrollment
  • $19,491net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Yale University
Y
New Haven, CT

Yale University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in America

  • 14,776enrollment
  • $18,647net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M
Cambridge, MA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in America

  • 11,858enrollment
  • $20,232net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Brown University
B
Providence, RI

Brown University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in America

  • 11,189enrollment
  • $26,723net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Dartmouth College
D
Hanover, NH

Dartmouth College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in America

  • 6,744enrollment
  • $19,208net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

Williams College
W
Williamstown, MA

Williams College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,222enrollment
  • $20,965net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

Amherst College
A
Amherst, MA

Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,898enrollment
  • $21,367net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

Wellesley College
W
Wellesley, MA

Wellesley College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,447enrollment
  • $21,362net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

Cornell University
C
Ithaca, NY

Cornell University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in America

  • 25,898enrollment
  • $26,060net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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

Columbia University in the City of New York

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in America

  • 34,782enrollment
  • $22,058net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

University of Pennsylvania
P
Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in America

  • 28,201enrollment
  • $26,123net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Bowdoin College
B
Brunswick, ME

Bowdoin College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#25 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,915enrollment
  • $22,776net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Middlebury College
M
Middlebury, VT

Middlebury College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#23 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 2,843enrollment
  • $22,181net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1425-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Colgate University
C
Hamilton, NY

Colgate University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in New York

  • 3,141enrollment
  • $27,074net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1530SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Hamilton College
H
Clinton, NY

Hamilton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in New York

  • 2,072enrollment
  • $24,503net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1540SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.87Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Tufts University
T
Medford, MA

Tufts University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 13,431enrollment
  • $30,479net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Wesleyan University
W
Middletown, CT

Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 3,253enrollment
  • $21,270net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1510SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1