Rich with history, some of the best private colleges have also produced equally historic alumni. Providing top-tier education, these academic powerhouses and their distinguished faculty provide best-in-class education for their student body.
Best Private Colleges in the US
A private Ivy League research university, Princeton University was founded in 1746 and originally known as the College of New Jersey. This makes it the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the country. The school receives around 39,600 applications annually and has an acceptance rate of only 5%, making it highly competitive.
Location
Princeton, NJ
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
8,842
Harvard University has turned out some amazing alumni. In fact, the school has more alumni, researchers, and faculty that have won Nobel Prizes and Field Medals than any other school in the world. Alumni also include eight U.S. presidents, 188 living billionaires, and 110 Olympic medalists. The most common majors include Social Sciences, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, and Computer Science.
Location
Cambridge, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
30,631
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, offers up to a doctorate degree with many undergraduate students focusing on Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Mathematics. Approximately 27,000 applications are received by the school each year. Alumni have gone on to found companies like Intel, Koch Industries, Dropbox, and Campbell Soup.
Location
Cambridge, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
11,858
The University of Chicago receives 38,600 applications annually though only 5% are accepted. Most often, accepted students have test scores in the range of 34 - 35 for ACT or 1,510 - 1,560 for SAT. The school is made up of their undergraduate college and five graduate research divisions. They also have campuses all over the world from Hong Kong to Paris.
Location
Chicago, IL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
18,339
Yale University got its start in 1701 under the name Collegiate School, getting its current name in 1718. Their motto, “lux et veritas,” means “light and truth” in Latin. The university is made up of fourteen schools including the undergraduate college, twelve professional schools, and the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Yale’s acceptance rate is just 5%.
Location
New Haven, CT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
14,776
The University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1740, primarily by Benjamin Franklin who was also their first president. Franklin Field, where the Quakers play in the NCAA Division I – Ivy League, is named after the founder. With an outstanding 98% first year retention rate, 88% of students will go on to graduate in four years. 97% will graduate in six.
Location
Philadelphia, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
28,201
Stanford University accepts 4% of applicants, and 98% of students will stay at the school after they complete their first year. Their student-to-faculty ratio is only 5 to 1. The 31st president of the United States, Herbert Hoover, was a graduate of Stanford. Other alumni have included Fulbright Scholars, members of Congress, astronauts, and billionaires. Known as the Stanford Cardinal, their colors are cardinal and white.
Location
Stanford, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
18,283
Columbia has a very selective acceptance rate of 4%, accepting only 2,500 students out of 57,600 applicants. Top choices in regards to majors include Computer Science, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Political Science and Government. It’s the oldest institution of higher education in the state, founded before the Declaration of Independence.
Location
New York City, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
34,782
Also known as Caltech, the California Institute of Technology’s motto is, “the truth shall make you free.” Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering are top majors among students, and there have been over 75 Nobel laureates associated with Caltech (including 40 alumni and faculty members). The school is classified as “Doctoral/Research Universities--Extensive.”
Location
Pasadena, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,401
Methodists and Quakers founded Duke University in 1838. The school has produced 50 Rhodes Scholars, three Turing Award winners, and 15 Noble laureates. Known as the Blue Devils, the university’s colors are Duke blue and white. The top majors among students include Computer Science, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, and Public Policy Analysis.
Location
Durham, NC
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
18,023
A private Ivy League research university, Dartmouth was founded before the Declaration of Independence was signed. Three famous alumni include Daniel Webster, Robert Frost, and Thaddeus Stevens. The school also graduated several members of the Senate and House of Representatives in the United States, Nobel Prize laureates, and more.
Location
Hanover, NH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
6,744
Top majors at Northwestern University are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia, and Biology/Biological Sciences. A founding member of the Big Ten Conference, top sports for the Wildcats include Football, Basketball, and Swimming and Diving (combined). Willie the Wildcat cheers them on and the colors are purple and white.
Location
Evanston, IL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
23,161
Popular majors at Brown University include Computer Science, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, and Applied Mathematics. Founded in 1764, it was the first school in North America that accepted students regardless of their religion. Their women’s institution, Pembroke College, was merged into Brown in 1971. Alumni have gone on to create famous companies including ZipRecruiter, Cards Against Humanity, and CNN.
Location
Providence, RI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
11,189
A selective school, only 8% of applicants are accepted into Rice. The school has 11 residential colleges and eight schools of academic study. Rice University was established in 1912 and named after William Marsh Rice. He had requested a free-tuition educational institute be opened after his death.
Location
Houston, TX
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
8,672
Edward Sorin founded the University of Notre Dame in 1842 as a private Catholic research University. Their motto is, “Vita Dulcedo Spes” or “Life, Sweetness, Hope” – referencing the Virgin Mary. The school’s teams are known as the Fighting Irish and wear the colors blue and gold. Their mascot is the very iconic leprechaun.
Location
Notre Dame, IN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
13,105
Vanderbilt receives about 45,300 applications each admission cycle from prospective students. Top majors students pursue include Social Sciences, General and Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies. The university was named in honor of Cornelius Vanderbilt, a shipping and rail magnate, due to his gift of $1 million.
Location
Nashville, TN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
13,710
Cornell University is made up of seven undergraduate colleges and seven graduate divisions. Some famous alumni have been Christopher Reeve, Bill Nye, E.B. White, and Anthony Fauci. 97% of students stay on after the first year, with 95% graduating within six years. Computer Science is the most popular major.
Location
Ithaca, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
25,898
Washington University in St. Louis was named after George Washington and founded in 1853. A private research university, the school receives around 32,000 applications a year and accepts about 3,870 students. Commonly chosen majors are Computer Science, Experimental Psychology, and Finance. Top sports on campus include Basketball, Football, and Track and Field and Cross Country.
Location
Saint Louis, MO
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
17,012
Originally known as the Augusta Academy and established in 1749, it would later be named after George Washington and Robert E. Lee, the latter of which was the president of the school for five years. With blue and white colors, students and athletes go by the nickname The Generals. The university boasts a first year retention rate of 98% and a student to faculty ratio of 7 to 1.
Location
Lexington, VA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,243
Although it was originally founded as a men’s college in 1793, the school is now composed of 48% men and 52% women. It was created out of the funds of Ephraim Williams, who died in the French and Indian War. The college receives about 11,000 applications each year and accepts 10% of students.
Location
Williamstown, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,222
Johns Hopkins University was founded in 1876 and named for its first benefactor. Known as the first research university in the country, its motto in Latin is, “veritas vos liberabit,” or “the truth will set you free.” The Blue Jays men’s lacrosse team plays in the Big Ten Conference and has over 40 national titles. The two most popular majors are Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology and Public Health.
Location
Baltimore, MD
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
31,275
Bowdoin College is a very selective school with an acceptance rate of 8%. 82% of students will graduate within four years, and 96% within six. The college also has first year retention rate of 96%. Bowdoin College offers 34 different majors and participates in joint Engineering programs with Columbia, Dartmouth, Caltech, and the University of Maine.
Location
Brunswick, ME
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,915
Swarthmore College was one of the first coeducational colleges in the country. It is associated with the University of Pennsylvania through the Quaker Consortium, which means students can take classes at the four schools within the arrangement. 53% of students receive institutional grant aid to attend, $59,421 on average.
Location
Swarthmore, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,625
Pomona College receives 12,100 applications and accepts 7% of them. The four commonly chosen majors are Computer Science, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Mathematics, and Political Science and Government. The school was created when the founders wanted to recreate a “college of the New England type.” Their mascot is Cecil the Sagehen.
Location
Claremont, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,716
Claremont McKenna College, which accepts 11% of applicants, was founded as a men’s college in 1946. It became co-educational in 1976. The most commonly chosen major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. With a strong 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, 96% of students will stay after their freshman year.
Location
Claremont, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,389
What is a Private College?
Private colleges tend to be independent, nonprofit institutions funded through tuition, endowments, and donations. Tuition at private colleges is often higher than at public schools, however many students will receive scholarships and grants to help them afford the higher prices (and may just be more affordable than you’d imagine).
Private schools tend to boast smaller class sizes and have a close-knit campus culture. The schools usually focus on different areas of education including research, experiential learning, liberal arts, technology, and more.
The highest-ranked private colleges on our list this year tend to be highly selective schools with cutting-edge facilities.
Is a Private College Right for You?
Financial aid and the cost of a private college education should be a consideration in your overall college choice. Although public college tuition tends to be less in comparison, private institutions can generally offer more in the way of scholarships and grants thanks to generous donations from their communities and alumni. In some cases, students can get entire free rides to attend. If you don’t qualify for their aid packages, however, attending a private school may be out of budget.
Other considerations with private colleges include:
- They tend to offer few majors options.
- They may have fewer clubs and extracurricular activities.
- Acceptance rates are often lower, meaning they are more highly selective than public schools.
- Smaller class sizes could mean better access to professors and faculty.
- Access to excellent research and internship opportunities
Find out if a private college is right for you. These rankings are a jumping-off point for you to create your own personalized rankings using our college match tool. See if these private schools are a good fit for you or start building your very own best colleges list!
About our methodology
Colleges are ranked based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, endowment per student, and other data as reported via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the most recently available enrollment year. Some colleges may have been excluded from rankings based on certain criteria, including specialization and classification. Learn about our full methodology.
College Raptor is uniquely qualified to estimate college affordability as we are a leading provider of net price calculators to colleges across the U.S. Check out College Raptor’s free match tool to see if your favorite college is affordable for you.
