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

Widener University Main Campus
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W
Chester, PA

Widener University Main Campus

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 5,610enrollment
  • $30,720net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

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Wilkes University
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W
Wilkes-Barre, PA

Wilkes University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 5,198enrollment
  • $28,508net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1023-1270SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

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Pace University New York
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P
New York, NY

Pace University New York

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#42 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 14,092enrollment
  • $34,299net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1328SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Gannon University
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G
Erie, PA

Gannon University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#32 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 4,548enrollment
  • $23,942net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 990-1250SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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Suffolk University
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S
Boston, MA

Suffolk University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#28 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 6,697enrollment
  • $33,089net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1280SAT range
  • 24-32ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Houghton College
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H
Houghton, NY

Houghton College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#43 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,014enrollment
  • $22,358net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1390SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

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Manhattanville College
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M
Purchase, NY

Manhattanville College

Private 4 Year

25 reviews

#44 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,379enrollment
  • $25,017net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1230SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.19Avg GPA

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La Salle University
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L
Philadelphia, PA

La Salle University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#33 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,554enrollment
  • $20,119net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1268SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

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Marymount Manhattan College
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M
New York, NY

Marymount Manhattan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#45 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,648enrollment
  • $38,426net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1300SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Arcadia University
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A
Glenside, PA

Arcadia University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#34 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,142enrollment
  • $26,994net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1083-1310SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

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Curry College
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C
Milton, MA

Curry College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#29 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,994enrollment
  • $30,367net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.01Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Saint Francis University
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S
Loretto, PA

Saint Francis University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#35 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,835enrollment
  • $27,421net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1250SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

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Long Island University C W Post Campus
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L
Brookville, NY

Long Island University C W Post Campus

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#46 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 16,322enrollment
  • $22,620net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

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York College Pennsylvania
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Y
York, PA

York College Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#36 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 3,720enrollment
  • $21,036net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1230SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 23

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Immaculata University
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I
Immaculata, PA

Immaculata University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#37 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,407enrollment
  • $29,499net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • 26-28ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Caldwell University
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C
Caldwell, NJ
 

Caldwell University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 1,864enrollment
  • $23,071net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1320SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

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King's College
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K
Wilkes-Barre, PA

King's College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#38 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,932enrollment
  • $25,608net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1240SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Norwich University
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N
Northfield, VT

Norwich University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Vermont

  • 3,274enrollment
  • $28,196net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1320SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

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