50 Best Private Colleges and Universities of 2021

Private colleges, unlike large public institutions, can be a great option for students wanting a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services.

By AI Staff

What is a private college? What’s the difference between private vs. public college?

Private colleges are independent, non-profit schools that receive their funding through a combination of endowment income and student tuition fees, rather than from public tax dollars. If you’re weighing the pros and cons of private vs public college, consider that private colleges are often smaller, offering more individualized experiences, including opportunities for dynamic classroom discussions, independent research, and one-on-one relationships with your instructors.

We’ve identified 755 private universities in the United States. This list is composed entirely of private universities and colleges that offer four-year undergraduate degrees. In order to be included in our list of the best private colleges and universities, a school needs to satisfy the following three conditions:

It must be a non-profit institution.
It must be fully accredited.
Its student body must have at least 1,000 students.

How do we determine the best private colleges & universities?

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why, at the undergraduate level, we rank the best colleges and universities based on what we call Concentrated Influence. Concentrated Influence takes the combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers (including faculty and alums) and divides it by the school’s total number of undergraduates.

Using concentrated influence gives small and mid-sized schools an opportunity to shine by taking away the size advantage of larger universities. A small school with proportionately more influential faculty than a large school, whose influence in absolute terms may be bigger, will nonetheless score higher in a concentrated influence ranking. Our approach highlights undergraduate schools that truly rank for excellence, regardless of size.

If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Find out more about our ranking methodology here.

These are the best private colleges and universities in the US!– @AcademicInflux
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The Best Private Colleges & Universities in the US

#1
California Institute of Technology
#27 institution's overall influence
#9 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$52K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
94%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1555/35
Pasadena, CA
View profile
What is California Institute of Technology known for?
California Institute of Technology is most influential in:
Chemistry
Physics
Earth Sciences
Engineering
Biology
Computer Science
Mathematics
Economics
History
Philosophy
#2
Harvard University
#1 institution's overall influence
#2 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$50K
Acceptance
5%
Graduation
97%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/34
Cambridge, MA
View profile
What is Harvard University known for?
Harvard University is most influential in:
Biology
Literature
Law
Business
Economics
Education
Religious Studies
Philosophy
History
Psychology
#3
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
#9 institution's overall influence
#3 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$52K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
93%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/35
Cambridge, MA
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What is Massachusetts Institute of Technology known for?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is most influential in:
Engineering
Computer Science
Chemistry
Economics
Physics
Business
Earth Sciences
Communications
Mathematics
Biology
#4
Stanford University
#10 institution's overall influence
#1 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$51K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
94%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1495/33
Stanford, CA
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What is Stanford University known for?
Stanford University is most influential in:
Computer Science
Earth Sciences
Engineering
Business
Communications
Biology
Education
Mathematics
Psychology
Economics
#5
University of Chicago
#5 institution's overall influence
#8 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
94%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/34
Chicago, IL
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What is University of Chicago known for?
University of Chicago is most influential in:
Economics
Religious Studies
Sociology
Anthropology
Philosophy
Political Science
Psychology
Social Work
Criminal Justice
Biology
#6
Princeton University
#8 institution's overall influence
#5 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$50K
Acceptance
5%
Graduation
97%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1505/33
Princeton, NJ
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What is Princeton University known for?
Princeton University is most influential in:
Physics
Mathematics
Philosophy
History
Economics
Engineering
Earth Sciences
Literature
Computer Science
Religious Studies
#7
Columbia University
#3 institution's overall influence
#6 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$53K
Acceptance
6%
Graduation
95%
Student body
28K
Median SAT/ACT
1505/34
New York, NY
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What is Columbia University known for?
Columbia University is most influential in:
Anthropology
Social Work
Nursing
Literature
Communications
Law
Business
Education
History
Philosophy
#8
Yale University
#7 institution's overall influence
#4 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$53K
Acceptance
6%
Graduation
98%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1515/34
New Haven, CT
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What is Yale University known for?
Yale University is most influential in:
Literature
Law
Religious Studies
History
Nursing
Anthropology
Psychology
Political Science
Medical
Sociology
#9
Johns Hopkins University
#20 institution's overall influence
#21 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$54K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
92%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1505/34
Baltimore, MD
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What is Johns Hopkins University known for?
Johns Hopkins University is most influential in:
Medical
Nursing
Biology
Physics
Chemistry
Philosophy
Sociology
Economics
Education
Psychology
#10
Duke University
#31 institution's overall influence
#12 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
95%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1510/34
Durham, NC
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What is Duke University known for?
Duke University is most influential in:
Religious Studies
Nursing
Earth Sciences
Medical
Political Science
Psychology
Law
Philosophy
Biology
Business
#11
Swarthmore College
#128 institution's overall influence
#22 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$53K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
94%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1465/32
Swarthmore, PA
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What is Swarthmore College known for?
Swarthmore College is most influential in:
Economics
Political Science
Philosophy
Mathematics
Computer Science
Anthropology
Psychology
Physics
Sociology
Biology
#12
Northwestern University
#28 institution's overall influence
#24 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
8%
Graduation
94%
Student body
19K
Median SAT/ACT
1490/34
Evanston, IL
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What is Northwestern University known for?
Northwestern University is most influential in:
Sociology
Communications
Business
Anthropology
Economics
Medical
Political Science
Chemistry
Philosophy
Law
#13
Amherst College
#89 institution's overall influence
#26 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
13%
Graduation
93%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1430/32
Amherst, MA
View profile
What is Amherst College known for?
Amherst College is most influential in:
Sociology
Economics
Law
Literature
Earth Sciences
Political Science
History
Philosophy
Biology
Mathematics
#14
Rice University
#90 institution's overall influence
#15 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$47K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
93%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1505/34
Houston, TX
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What is Rice University known for?
Rice University is most influential in:
Physics
Earth Sciences
Chemistry
Mathematics
Computer Science
Engineering
Biology
Economics
Religious Studies
Philosophy
#15
Carnegie Mellon University
#46 institution's overall influence
#35 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
90%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1500/34
Pittsburgh, PA
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What is Carnegie Mellon University known for?
Carnegie Mellon University is most influential in:
Computer Science
Engineering
Business
Economics
Chemistry
Mathematics
Psychology
Physics
Sociology
Biology
#16
Cornell University
#14 institution's overall influence
#14 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
94%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1465/33
Ithaca, NY
View profile
What is Cornell University known for?
Cornell University is most influential in:
Engineering
Physics
Anthropology
Biology
Literature
Computer Science
Medical
Mathematics
Psychology
Chemistry
#17
Sarah Lawrence College
#239 institution's overall influence
#1422 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
56%
Graduation
82%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1330/29
Bronxville, NY
View profile
What is Sarah Lawrence College known for?
Sarah Lawrence College is most influential in:
Social Work
Education
Sociology
Medical
#18
Reed College
#250 institution's overall influence
#79 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
35%
Graduation
78%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1415/31
Portland, OR
View profile
What is Reed College known for?
Reed College is most influential in:
Anthropology
Philosophy
Computer Science
Psychology
Religious Studies
Economics
Mathematics
Sociology
Physics
Literature
#19
University of Pennsylvania
#17 institution's overall influence
#10 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
8%
Graduation
95%
Student body
27K
Median SAT/ACT
1485/33
Philadelphia, PA
View profile
What is University of Pennsylvania known for?
University of Pennsylvania is most influential in:
Medical
Nursing
Social Work
Business
Anthropology
Psychology
Sociology
Literature
Communications
Law
#20
Brown University
#36 institution's overall influence
#7 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
8%
Graduation
96%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1485/33
Providence, RI
View profile
What is Brown University known for?
Brown University is most influential in:
Literature
Computer Science
Education
Mathematics
History
Business
Political Science
Biology
Communications
Economics
#21
Barnard College
#125 institution's overall influence
#65 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
91%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1415/31
New York, NY
View profile
What is Barnard College known for?
Barnard College is most influential in:
Anthropology
Literature
Sociology
Economics
Political Science
Religious Studies
History
Mathematics
Physics
Psychology
#22
Brandeis University
#86 institution's overall influence
#167 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
31%
Graduation
90%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1390/31
Waltham, MA
View profile
What is Brandeis University known for?
Brandeis University is most influential in:
Psychology
Philosophy
Sociology
Anthropology
Mathematics
Biology
Literature
Political Science
Computer Science
Physics
#23
Wesleyan University
#96 institution's overall influence
#34 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
91%
Student body
3K
Middletown, CT
View profile
What is Wesleyan University known for?
Wesleyan University is most influential in:
Philosophy
Literature
Psychology
Sociology
Religious Studies
History
Mathematics
Political Science
Biology
Anthropology
#24
Vassar College
#139 institution's overall influence
#88 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
25%
Graduation
91%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1440/32
Poughkeepsie, NY
View profile
What is Vassar College known for?
Vassar College is most influential in:
Anthropology
Literature
Psychology
Education
Earth Sciences
Computer Science
History
Philosophy
Sociology
Chemistry
#25
Hampshire College
#432 institution's overall influence
#955 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$52K
Acceptance
63%
Graduation
65%
Student body
1K
Amherst, MA
View profile
What is Hampshire College known for?
Hampshire College is most influential in:
Physics
Literature
Mathematics
Sociology
History
Anthropology
Education
Biology
Philosophy
Psychology
#26
Dartmouth College
#55 institution's overall influence
#11 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
97%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1490/33
Hanover, NH
View profile
What is Dartmouth College known for?
Dartmouth College is most influential in:
Computer Science
Medical
Literature
Earth Sciences
History
Economics
Chemistry
Political Science
Engineering
Mathematics
#27
Georgetown University
#70 institution's overall influence
#19 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$54K
Acceptance
15%
Graduation
94%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1450/32
Washington, DC
View profile
What is Georgetown University known for?
Georgetown University is most influential in:
Nursing
Law
Political Science
Communications
Business
Religious Studies
Education
Economics
Medical
Criminal Justice
#28
Tufts University
#69 institution's overall influence
#25 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
15%
Graduation
92%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1455/32
Medford, MA
View profile
What is Tufts University known for?
Tufts University is most influential in:
Political Science
Medical
Biology
Engineering
Economics
Law
Philosophy
Computer Science
Business
Communications
#29
Wellesley College
#133 institution's overall influence
#33 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$54K
Acceptance
20%
Graduation
91%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1425/32
Wellesley, MA
View profile
What is Wellesley College known for?
Wellesley College is most influential in:
Literature
Philosophy
Political Science
Mathematics
Earth Sciences
Sociology
Psychology
Economics
Physics
Computer Science
#30
Williams College
#151 institution's overall influence
#27 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
13%
Graduation
94%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1480/33
Williamstown, MA
View profile
What is Williams College known for?
Williams College is most influential in:
Psychology
Literature
Economics
History
Political Science
Philosophy
Chemistry
Anthropology
Mathematics
Biology
#31
Cooper Union
#312 institution's overall influence
#62 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$47K
Acceptance
16%
Graduation
90%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1396/32
New York, NY
View profile
What is Cooper Union known for?
Cooper Union is most influential in:
Engineering
#32
Pomona College
#279 institution's overall influence
#13 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$53K
Acceptance
8%
Graduation
97%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1470/32
Claremont, CA
View profile
What is Pomona College known for?
Pomona College is most influential in:
Earth Sciences
Literature
Chemistry
Biology
Physics
Mathematics
Religious Studies
Computer Science
Philosophy
Economics
#33
Oberlin College
#119 institution's overall influence
#114 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
36%
Graduation
85%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1385/30
Oberlin, OH
View profile
What is Oberlin College known for?
Oberlin College is most influential in:
Sociology
Philosophy
Psychology
Education
Political Science
Literature
Earth Sciences
History
Mathematics
Anthropology
#34
Bryn Mawr College
#181 institution's overall influence
#119 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$52K
Acceptance
34%
Graduation
83%
Student body
2K
Bryn Mawr, PA
View profile
What is Bryn Mawr College known for?
Bryn Mawr College is most influential in:
Mathematics
Social Work
Anthropology
Literature
Philosophy
Chemistry
Biology
Physics
Earth Sciences
Psychology
#35
Yeshiva University
#212 institution's overall influence
#136 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$44K
Acceptance
60%
Graduation
82%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1270/26
New York, NY
View profile
What is Yeshiva University known for?
Yeshiva University is most influential in:
Medical
Religious Studies
Social Work
Law
Physics
Biology
Philosophy
Mathematics
Psychology
Education
#36
New York University
#16 institution's overall influence
#44 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$52K
Acceptance
20%
Graduation
85%
Student body
47K
Median SAT/ACT
1410/31
New York, NY
View profile
What is New York University known for?
New York University is most influential in:
Literature
Medical
Business
Social Work
Law
Education
History
Philosophy
Nursing
Communications
#37
Bard College
#300 institution's overall influence
#998 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
65%
Graduation
78%
Student body
2K
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
View profile
What is Bard College known for?
Bard College is most influential in:
Literature
History
Economics
Education
Sociology
Biology
#38
Haverford College
#319 institution's overall influence
#73 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
90%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1450/33
Haverford, PA
View profile
What is Haverford College known for?
Haverford College is most influential in:
Religious Studies
Philosophy
Chemistry
Psychology
Anthropology
Physics
Political Science
Mathematics
Biology
Economics
#39
Washington University in St. Louis
#61 institution's overall influence
#20 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$53K
Acceptance
15%
Graduation
94%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/33
Saint Louis, MO
View profile
What is Washington University in St. Louis known for?
Washington University in St. Louis is most influential in:
Social Work
Medical
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Anthropology
Political Science
Business
Economics
Engineering
#40
Vanderbilt University
#115 institution's overall influence
#16 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$50K
Acceptance
10%
Graduation
92%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1505/34
Nashville, TN
View profile
What is Vanderbilt University known for?
Vanderbilt University is most influential in:
Nursing
Medical
Religious Studies
Business
Education
Economics
Biology
Political Science
Mathematics
Computer Science
#41
George Washington University
#62 institution's overall influence
#76 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$53K
Acceptance
42%
Graduation
84%
Student body
21K
Median SAT/ACT
1370/30
Washington, DC
View profile
What is George Washington University known for?
George Washington University is most influential in:
Nursing
Law
Communications
Business
Political Science
Medical
Education
Religious Studies
Criminal Justice
Engineering
#42
The New School
#95 institution's overall influence
#1438 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$49K
Acceptance
57%
Graduation
68%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1255/27
New York, NY
View profile
What is The New School known for?
The New School is most influential in:
Sociology
Anthropology
Literature
Philosophy
Education
History
Business
Economics
Psychology
Communications
#43
Claremont McKenna College
#562 institution's overall influence
#18 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$54K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
93%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1425/32
Claremont, CA
View profile
What is Claremont McKenna College known for?
Claremont McKenna College is most influential in:
Economics
Religious Studies
Political Science
Philosophy
Literature
Business
Law
Psychology
Communications
Computer Science
#44
Emory University
#113 institution's overall influence
#41 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$51K
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
91%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1435/32
Atlanta, GA
View profile
What is Emory University known for?
Emory University is most influential in:
Nursing
Religious Studies
Medical
Law
Literature
Political Science
Philosophy
Anthropology
Education
Psychology
#45
Catholic University of America
#206 institution's overall influence
#261 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$46K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
70%
Student body
5K
Washington, DC
View profile
What is Catholic University of America known for?
Catholic University of America is most influential in:
Religious Studies
Nursing
Law
Physics
Social Work
Chemistry
Philosophy
Education
Communications
History
#46
University of Rochester
#91 institution's overall influence
#61 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$54K
Acceptance
29%
Graduation
85%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1410/32
Rochester, NY
View profile
What is University of Rochester known for?
University of Rochester is most influential in:
Physics
Economics
Biology
Political Science
Chemistry
Medical
Mathematics
Computer Science
Psychology
Philosophy
#47
Morehouse College
#331 institution's overall influence
#1436 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$28K
Acceptance
58%
Graduation
50%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1110/22
Atlanta, GA
View profile
What is Morehouse College known for?
Morehouse College is most influential in:
Education
Religious Studies
Political Science
Philosophy
Sociology
History
Psychology
Mathematics
Economics
Chemistry
#48
Case Western Reserve University
#134 institution's overall influence
#110 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$49K
Acceptance
29%
Graduation
82%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1435/32
Cleveland, OH
View profile
What is Case Western Reserve University known for?
Case Western Reserve University is most influential in:
Social Work
Nursing
Computer Science
Medical
Physics
Mathematics
Engineering
Chemistry
Psychology
Business
#49
Kenyon College
#309 institution's overall influence
#50 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
36%
Graduation
90%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1375/31
Gambier, OH
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What is Kenyon College known for?
Kenyon College is most influential in:
Literature
History
Religious Studies
Chemistry
Political Science
Mathematics
Biology
Philosophy
Economics
Psychology
#50
University of Southern California
#39 institution's overall influence
#30 overall school desirability
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
13%
Graduation
92%
Student body
37K
Median SAT/ACT
1440/32
Los Angeles, CA
View profile
What is University of Southern California known for?
University of Southern California is most influential in:
Social Work
Communications
Business
History
Engineering
Medical
Computer Science
Political Science
Education
Literature