Top Rated U.S. Private Colleges

The Best Private Colleges in America for 2022

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the United States. Leading the rankings for 2022 as the highest ranked private college in America is Harvard University. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
Private 4 year

501 results nationwide

Harvard University
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H
Cambridge, MA
Harvard University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in America

  • 30,391enrollment
  • $18,037net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA
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Princeton University
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P
Princeton, NJ
Princeton University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in America

  • 7,853enrollment
  • $18,685net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1570SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA
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Stanford University
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S
Stanford, CA
Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in America

  • 15,953enrollment
  • $20,023net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1570SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA
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Yale University
Y
New Haven, CT
Yale University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in America

  • 12,060enrollment
  • $17,511net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA
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Duke University
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D
Durham, NC
Duke University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in America

  • 16,172enrollment
  • $26,932net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA
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University of Chicago
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C
Chicago, IL
University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in America

  • 17,834enrollment
  • $36,584net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 4.2Avg Weighted GPA
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California Institute of Technology
C
Pasadena, CA
California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,240enrollment
  • $26,591net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M
Cambridge, MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in America

  • 11,254enrollment
  • $19,998net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA
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Rice University
R
Houston, TX
Rice University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in America

  • 7,643enrollment
  • $19,215net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1570SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA
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Johns Hopkins University
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J
Baltimore, MD
Johns Hopkins University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in America

  • 28,890enrollment
  • $25,241net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1560SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA
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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

  • 9,948enrollment
  • $27,659net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA
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Dartmouth College
D
Hanover, NH
Dartmouth College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in America

  • 6,292enrollment
  • $24,525net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1560SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA
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Amherst College
A
Amherst, MA
Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,745enrollment
  • $18,832net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1560SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA
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Northwestern University
N
Evanston, IL
Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in America

  • 22,603enrollment
  • $28,344net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA
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Vanderbilt University
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V
Nashville, TN
Vanderbilt University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in America

  • 13,537enrollment
  • $25,804net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA
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University of Pennsylvania
P
Philadelphia, PA
University of Pennsylvania

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in America

  • 26,552enrollment
  • $24,167net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1460-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Avg Weighted GPA
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Cornell University
C
Ithaca, NY
Cornell University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in America

  • 23,620enrollment
  • $27,522net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1540SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA
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Washington University in St Louis
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W
Saint Louis, MO
Washington University in St Louis

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in America

  • 15,449enrollment
  • $27,233net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 4.21Avg Weighted GPA
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