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.


198 results

University of Scranton
S
Scranton, PA

University of Scranton

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 4,825enrollment
  • $32,100net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1320SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Elizabethtown College
E
Elizabethtown, PA
 

Elizabethtown College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,152enrollment
  • $27,019net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1280SAT range
  • 19-29ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Springfield College
S
Springfield, MA

Springfield College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,785enrollment
  • $29,198net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1260SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Saint Anselm College
S
Manchester, NH

Saint Anselm College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in New Hampshire

  • 2,078enrollment
  • $35,091net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 25-27ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Alfred University
A
Alfred, NY

Alfred University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#34 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,843enrollment
  • $26,127net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1280SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Lycoming College
L
Williamsport, PA

Lycoming College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,063enrollment
  • $20,733net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1273SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

DeSales University
D
Center Valley, PA

DeSales University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,919enrollment
  • $30,524net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1290SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Juniata College
J
Huntingdon, PA

Juniata College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#24 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,292enrollment
  • $28,925net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1280SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

Salve Regina University
S
Newport, RI

Salve Regina University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 2,836enrollment
  • $37,794net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1295SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Saint Joseph's College New York
S
Brooklyn, NY
 

Saint Joseph's College New York

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#35 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 4,050enrollment
  • $18,324net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1280SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Rider University
R
Lawrenceville, NJ

Rider University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 4,083enrollment
  • $26,618net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1310SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Siena College
S
Loudonville, NY

Siena College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#36 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 3,623enrollment
  • $32,602net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1093-1360SAT range
  • 26-29ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Susquehanna University
S
Selinsgrove, PA

Susquehanna University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,247enrollment
  • $27,258net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1290SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Lebanon Valley College
L
Annville, PA

Lebanon Valley College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#26 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,142enrollment
  • $28,640net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1093-1300SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

University of Hartford
H
West Hartford, CT

University of Hartford

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 5,913enrollment
  • $30,553net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1280SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

Chatham University
C
Pittsburgh, PA

Chatham University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#27 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,319enrollment
  • $29,051net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1290SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

Drew University
D
Madison, NJ

Drew University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 2,226enrollment
  • $28,193net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Endicott College
E
Beverly, MA

Endicott College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 4,254enrollment
  • $39,988net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1340SAT range
  • 26-29ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15