50 Best Private Grad Schools 2023

50 Best Private Grad Schools 2023
By James Barham
Published:
Updated:

When grad students are looking for a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services, a private graduate college or university could be the perfect choice.

10 Best Private Grad Schools in the US

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  1. Harvard University
    2. 97%
  2. Columbia University
    3. 89%
  3. University of Chicago
    4. 88%
  4. Yale University
    5. 87%
  5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    6. 87%
  6. Princeton University
    7. 86%
  7. Stanford University
    8. 86%
  8. Cornell University
    9. 81%
  9. New York University
    10. 81%
  10. University of Pennsylvania
    11. 80%
  1. Drexel University
    2. 83%
  2. The New School
    3. 66%
  3. Illinois Institute of Technology
    4. 66%
  4. American University
    5. 64%
  5. University of Denver
    6. 64%
  6. Yeshiva University
    7. 63%
  7. Syracuse University
    8. 59%
  8. Brigham Young University
    9. 59%
  9. Fordham University
    10. 58%
  10. Baylor University
    11. 57%
  1. Brigham Young University
    2. 21 to 1
  2. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    3. 17 to 1
  3. Baylor University
    4. 15 to 1
  4. Syracuse University
    5. 15 to 1
  5. Boston College
    6. 14 to 1
  6. Northeastern University
    7. 14 to 1
  7. Fordham University
    8. 13 to 1
  8. George Washington University
    9. 13 to 1
  9. Howard University
    10. 12 to 1
  10. University of Miami
    11. 12 to 1
  1. Columbia University
    2. $63,530
  2. Tufts University
    3. $63,000
  3. Brown University
    4. $62,304
  4. University of Chicago
    5. $62,241
  5. Wesleyan University
    6. $62,049
  6. University of Pennsylvania
    7. $61,710
  7. Boston College
    8. $61,706
  8. University of Southern California
    9. $61,503
  9. Cornell University
    10. $61,015
  10. Dartmouth College
    11. $60,870
  1. University of Chicago
    2. $62,640
  2. Wesleyan University
    3. $61,449
  3. Brown University
    4. $60,944
  4. University of Southern California
    5. $60,446
  5. Tulane University
    6. $59,000
  6. Dartmouth College
    7. $58,953
  7. Johns Hopkins University
    8. $58,720
  8. Boston University
    9. $58,560
  9. University of Notre Dame
    10. $58,190
  10. Duke University
    11. $57,900
  1. Drexel University
    2. 53%
  2. University of Denver
    3. 53%
  3. Lehigh University
    4. 54%
  4. Baylor University
    5. 55%
  5. Northeastern University
    6. 55%
  6. Southern Methodist University
    7. 56%
  7. Illinois Institute of Technology
    8. 58%
  8. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    9. 58%
  9. Yeshiva University
    10. 58%
  10. Boston College
    11. 59%
  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    2. 4%
  2. Stanford University
    3. 4%
  3. Harvard University
    4. 4%
  4. Columbia University
    5. 4%
  5. California Institute of Technology
    6. 4%
  6. Princeton University
    7. 4%
  7. Yale University
    8. 5%
  8. University of Pennsylvania
    9. 6%
  9. Dartmouth College
    10. 6%
  10. University of Chicago
    11. 6%
  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    2. 3 to 1
  2. California Institute of Technology
    3. 3 to 1
  3. Stanford University
    4. 4 to 1
  4. Yale University
    5. 4 to 1
  5. Princeton University
    6. 4 to 1
  6. Harvard University
    7. 5 to 1
  7. Carnegie Mellon University
    8. 5 to 1
  8. University of Chicago
    9. 5 to 1
  9. Northwestern University
    10. 6 to 1
  10. Columbia University
    11. 6 to 1
  1. Brigham Young University
    2. $6,120
  2. Howard University
    3. $28,916
  3. Yeshiva University
    4. $47,500
  4. Baylor University
    5. $50,232
  5. Illinois Institute of Technology
    6. $50,490
  6. The New School
    7. $52,494
  7. Rice University
    8. $52,895
  8. American University
    9. $53,334
  9. Case Western Reserve University
    10. $54,532
  10. University of Miami
    11. $54,760
  1. Brigham Young University
    2. $7,700
  2. Fordham University
    3. $23,112
  3. Northeastern University
    4. $25,801
  4. Lehigh University
    5. $27,000
  5. Illinois Institute of Technology
    6. $29,052
  6. Cornell University
    7. $29,500
  7. Southern Methodist University
    8. $30,672
  8. Boston College
    9. $32,616
  9. George Washington University
    10. $32,850
  10. Howard University
    11. $33,860

Featured Programs

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.

A private university will on average be much smaller than a public university, the best of which are large state schools serving 30,000 to 40,000 students, or more. Small here doesn’t mean tiny, but it does mean more intimate, with readier access to mentors and research faculty. The best private grad schools also have an abundance of resources (often through large endowments), which they can make consistently available to students.

Even the best and largest public grad schools may face budget crunches when state legislatures decide to cut costs. We’ve seen it happen at large public universities where, on account of budget cuts, teachers have to provide their own chalk and students their own exam booklets. Finally, especially for doctoral programs, both private and public grad schools will, depending on the field, offer tuition remission and a stipend, so the out of pocket cost for graduate students tends to be no different, and thus no higher, at private graduate schools.

How can you choose the best graduate school for you?

A good answer to this question looks to your personal and professional goals. Certain professions will require you to earn an advanced degree. In other cases, an advanced degree can make you eligible for leadership roles and higher pay. For instance, the best graduate schools for education can improve your earnings as a teacher, make you eligible for tenure, or help you meet the basic threshold for continued employment. On the other hand, the best graduate schools for business can simply make you a more competitive candidate for job openings and management roles.

The best graduate school for you should have a stellar reputation and employ highly influential professors across the board and especially in your area of study. Indeed, much exciting academic work these days is cross-disciplinary, and for such work to flourish it helps to be at a school that is strong across discipines. The following list is composed of only private graduate schools.

We’ve identified 715 private colleges and universities that meet our criteria. In order to be included in this list of best graduate schools, a university must be a fully accredited private non-profit institution, and must offer doctoral degrees and a broad range of advanced degrees.

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50 Best Private Grad Schools in the US 2022

  1. #1

    Harvard University

    Cambridge , MA
    #1 Best Universities in the World 2023 #1 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #1 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #1 Online Colleges with the Most Generous Financial Aid in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    97%

    Student body

    24K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

    What is Harvard University known for?

    Harvard University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  2. #2

    Stanford University

    Stanford , CA
    #2 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #2 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #3 Best Universities in the World 2023 #4 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1495/33

    What is Stanford University known for?

    Stanford University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  3. #3

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Cambridge , MA
    #3 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #3 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #3 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #3 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1545/35

    What is Massachusetts Institute of Technology known for?

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  4. #4

    Yale University

    New Haven , CT
    #5 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #6 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #7 Best Universities in the World 2023 #7 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    5%

    Graduation

    97%

    Student body

    14K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

    What is Yale University known for?

    Yale University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  5. #5

    Columbia University

    New York , NY
    #5 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #5 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #6 Best Universities in the World 2023 #6 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $64K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    97%

    Student body

    26K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1515/34

    What is Columbia University known for?

    Columbia University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  7. #6

    Princeton University

    Princeton , NJ
    #5 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #5 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2023 #5 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #7 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    98%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1510/33

    What is Princeton University known for?

    Princeton University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  8. #7

    University of Chicago

    Chicago , IL
    #6 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #6 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2023 #6 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #8 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1535/34

    What is University of Chicago known for?

    University of Chicago’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  9. #8

    New York University

    New York , NY
    #9 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #10 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #13 Best Universities in the World 2023 #23 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    13%

    Graduation

    87%

    Student body

    49K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1455/32

    What is New York University known for?

    New York University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  10. #9

    University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia , PA
    #3 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #11 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #12 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #12 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    28K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1515/34

    What is University of Pennsylvania known for?

    University of Pennsylvania’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  11. #10

    Cornell University

    Ithaca , NY
    #10 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #12 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #15 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2023 #15 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    9%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    25K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1470/33

    What is Cornell University known for?

    Cornell University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  13. #11

    Duke University

    Durham , NC
    #1 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #1 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees #1 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2023 #13 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    14K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

    What is Duke University known for?

    Duke University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  14. #12

    Carnegie Mellon University

    Pittsburgh , PA
    #9 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #9 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2023 #9 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #15 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    14%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    16K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1510/34

    What is Carnegie Mellon University known for?

    Carnegie Mellon University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  15. #13

    University of Southern California

    Los Angeles , CA
    #16 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #18 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #2 Best Private Colleges in California 2023 #4 Best Colleges in California 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    13%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    38K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1435/32

    What is University of Southern California known for?

    University of Southern California’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  16. #14

    California Institute of Technology

    Pasadena , CA
    #1 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #1 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2023 #1 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #1 50 Best Small Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1555/35

    What is California Institute of Technology known for?

    California Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  17. #15

    Northwestern University

    Evanston , IL
    #14 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #15 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #16 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #16 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    20K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1490/34

    What is Northwestern University known for?

    Northwestern University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  19. #16

    Georgetown University

    Washington , DC
    #2 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2023 #11 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #12 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #12 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    12%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    14K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1465/33

    What is Georgetown University known for?

    Georgetown University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  20. #17

    Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore , MD
    #10 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #11 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #11 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2023 #14 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    8%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    27K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1515/35

    What is Johns Hopkins University known for?

    Johns Hopkins University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  21. #18

    Brown University

    Providence , RI
    #17 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #18 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2023 #19 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #24 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    9K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1500/34

    What is Brown University known for?

    Brown University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  27. #23

    Dartmouth College

    Hanover , NH
    #19 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #21 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2023 #22 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #1 Best Grad Schools in New Hampshire 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    6K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1500/33

    What is Dartmouth College known for?

    Dartmouth College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  46. #39

    Wesleyan University

    Middletown , CT
    #2 50 Best Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students #4 50 Best Small Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2023 #1 Best Small Colleges in Connecticut 2023 #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Connecticut 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    19%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    3K

    What is Wesleyan University known for?

    Wesleyan University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  51. #43

    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

    Troy , NY
    #9 Best Private Colleges in New York 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    53%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1400/31

    What is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute known for?

    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  53. #45

    Rockefeller University

    New York , NY

    Student body

    <1K

    What is Rockefeller University known for?

    Rockefeller University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

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Find the Best Grad Schools Near You

The best grad schools in your state
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Find the Best Private Grad Schools in Your Area of Interest

The best private grad schools by discipline
2021 Ranking Archive
  1. Harvard University
  2. Stanford University
  3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  4. Columbia University
  5. Yale University
  6. Princeton University
  7. University of Chicago
  8. New York University
  9. Cornell University
  10. University of Pennsylvania
  11. Johns Hopkins University
  12. Northwestern University
  13. Duke University
  14. University of Southern California
  15. California Institute of Technology
  16. Boston University
  17. Carnegie Mellon University
  18. Brown University
  19. George Washington University
  20. Georgetown University
  21. Tufts University
  22. Rice University
  23. Washington University in St. Louis
  24. Dartmouth College
  25. Syracuse University
  26. Brandeis University
  27. Vanderbilt University
  28. Emory University
  29. The New School
  30. University of Rochester
  31. Brigham Young University
  32. University of Notre Dame
  33. Wesleyan University
  34. American University
  35. Case Western Reserve University
  36. Howard University
  37. University of Miami
  38. Fordham University
  39. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  40. Drexel University
  41. Northeastern University
  42. Yeshiva University
  43. Boston College
  44. Tulane University
  45. The Catholic University of America
  46. Southern Methodist University
  47. Illinois Institute of Technology
  48. Pepperdine University
  49. Santa Clara University
  50. DePaul University
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