50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024

Badge for BEST IN THE US PRIVATE GRADUATE SCHOOLS

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

Sort by:
  1. Harvard University
  2. Stanford University
  3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  4. Yale University
  5. Columbia University
  6. Princeton University
  7. University of Chicago
  8. New York University
  9. University of Pennsylvania
  10. Cornell University
  1. Harvard University
  2. Columbia University
  3. University of Chicago
  4. Stanford University
  5. Yale University
  6. Princeton University
  7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  8. Cornell University
  9. University of Pennsylvania
  10. New York University
  1. Drexel University 83%
  2. The New School 66%
  3. Illinois Institute of Technology 66%
  4. American University 64%
  5. University of Denver 64%
  6. Yeshiva University 63%
  7. Syracuse University 59%
  8. Brigham Young University 59%
  9. Fordham University 58%
  10. Baylor University 57%
  1. Brigham Young University 21 to 1
  2. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 17 to 1
  3. Syracuse University 15 to 1
  4. Baylor University 15 to 1
  5. Boston College 14 to 1
  6. Northeastern University 14 to 1
  7. Fordham University 13 to 1
  8. George Washington University 13 to 1
  9. Howard University 12 to 1
  10. University of Miami 12 to 1
  1. Columbia University $63,530
  2. Tufts University $63,000
  3. Brown University $62,304
  4. University of Chicago $62,241
  5. Wesleyan University $62,049
  6. University of Pennsylvania $61,710
  7. Boston College $61,706
  8. University of Southern California $61,503
  9. Cornell University $61,015
  10. Dartmouth College $60,870
  1. University of Chicago $62,640
  2. Wesleyan University $61,449
  3. Brown University $60,944
  4. University of Southern California $60,446
  5. Tulane University $59,000
  6. Dartmouth College $58,953
  7. Johns Hopkins University $58,720
  8. Boston University $58,560
  9. University of Notre Dame $58,190
  10. Duke University $57,900
  1. University of Denver
  2. Drexel University
  3. Lehigh University
  4. Illinois Institute of Technology
  5. Baylor University
  6. Rockefeller University
  7. Southern Methodist University
  8. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  9. The New School
  10. Howard University
  1. Drexel University
  2. Lehigh University
  3. Baylor University
  4. University of Denver
  5. Northeastern University
  6. Southern Methodist University
  7. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  8. Illinois Institute of Technology
  9. Yeshiva University
  10. American University
  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4%
  2. Stanford University 4%
  3. Harvard University 4%
  4. Columbia University 4%
  5. California Institute of Technology 4%
  6. Princeton University 4%
  7. Yale University 5%
  8. University of Pennsylvania 6%
  9. Dartmouth College 6%
  10. University of Chicago 6%
  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3 to 1
  2. California Institute of Technology 3 to 1
  3. Stanford University 4 to 1
  4. Yale University 4 to 1
  5. Princeton University 4 to 1
  6. Harvard University 5 to 1
  7. Carnegie Mellon University 5 to 1
  8. University of Chicago 5 to 1
  9. Columbia University 6 to 1
  10. Duke University 6 to 1
  1. Brigham Young University $6,120
  2. Howard University $28,916
  3. Yeshiva University $47,500
  4. Baylor University $50,232
  5. Illinois Institute of Technology $50,490
  6. The New School $52,494
  7. Rice University $52,895
  8. American University $53,334
  9. Case Western Reserve University $54,532
  10. University of Miami $54,760
  1. Brigham Young University $7,700
  2. Fordham University $23,112
  3. Northeastern University $25,801
  4. Lehigh University $27,000
  5. Illinois Institute of Technology $29,052
  6. Cornell University $29,500
  7. Southern Methodist University $30,672
  8. Boston College $32,616
  9. George Washington University $32,850
  10. Howard University $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 2023

  1. #1

    Harvard University

    Cambridge , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    97%

    Student body

    40K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Harvard University

    Cost of Degree: $57,261
    Expenses: $26,277
    Starting Salary: $139,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  2. #2

    Stanford University

    Stanford , CA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    19K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1495/33

    Career Outlook for degree at Stanford University

    Cost of Degree: $58,416
    Expenses: $23,746
    Starting Salary: $141,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  3. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    12K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1545/35

    Career Outlook for degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Cost of Degree: $57,986
    Expenses: $21,864
    Starting Salary: $153,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  4. #4

    Yale University

    New Haven , CT
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    5%

    Graduation

    97%

    Student body

    14K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Yale University

    Cost of Degree: $62,250
    Expenses: $22,870
    Starting Salary: $124,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  5. #5

    Columbia University

    New York , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $64K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    97%

    Student body

    34K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1515/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Columbia University

    Cost of Degree: $65,508
    Expenses: $19,958
    Starting Salary: $115,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  6. #6

    Princeton University

    Princeton , NJ
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    98%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1510/33

    Career Outlook for degree at Princeton University

    Cost of Degree: $57,410
    Expenses: $23,005
    Starting Salary: $116,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  7. #7

    University of Chicago

    Chicago , IL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    20K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1535/34

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Chicago

    Cost of Degree: $62,940
    Expenses: $22,596
    Starting Salary: $103,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  8. #8

    New York University

    New York , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    13%

    Graduation

    87%

    Student body

    60K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1455/32

    Career Outlook for degree at New York University

    Cost of Degree: $58,168
    Expenses: $23,927
    Starting Salary: $78,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  9. #9

    University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia , PA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    31K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1515/34

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Pennsylvania

    Cost of Degree: $63,452
    Expenses: $22,286
    Starting Salary: $131,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  10. #10

    Cornell University

    Ithaca , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    9%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    24K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1470/33

    Career Outlook for degree at Cornell University

    Cost of Degree: $63,200
    Expenses: $19,996
    Starting Salary: $101,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  11. #11

    Duke University

    Durham , NC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    18K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Duke University

    Cost of Degree: $62,688
    Expenses: $20,061
    Starting Salary: $114,500
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  12. #12

    Carnegie Mellon University

    Pittsburgh , PA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    14%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    15K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1510/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Carnegie Mellon University

    Cost of Degree: $60,854
    Expenses: $18,886
    Starting Salary: $103,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  13. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    13%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    52K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1435/32

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Southern California

    Cost of Degree: $64,726
    Expenses: $20,338
    Starting Salary: $88,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  14. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1555/35

    Career Outlook for degree at California Institute of Technology

    Cost of Degree: $60,864
    Expenses: $22,734
    Starting Salary: $106,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  15. #15

    Northwestern University

    Evanston , IL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    27K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1490/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Northwestern University

    Cost of Degree: $63,468
    Expenses: $25,926
    Starting Salary: $93,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  16. #16

    Georgetown University

    Washington , DC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    12%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    23K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1465/33

    Career Outlook for degree at Georgetown University

    Cost of Degree: $62,051
    Expenses: $22,644
    Starting Salary: $125,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  17. #17

    Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore , MD
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    8%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    37K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1515/35

    Career Outlook for degree at Johns Hopkins University

    Cost of Degree: $60,480
    Expenses: $20,320
    Starting Salary: $89,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  18. #18

    Brown University

    Providence , RI
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    10K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1500/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Brown University

    Cost of Degree: $65,046
    Expenses: $18,540
    Starting Salary: $89,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  19. #19

    Boston University

    Boston , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    19%

    Graduation

    89%

    Student body

    40K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1405/32

    Career Outlook for degree at Boston University

    Cost of Degree: $62,360
    Expenses: $20,400
    Starting Salary: $75,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  20. #20

    University of Notre Dame

    Notre Dame , IN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    15%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1475/33

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Notre Dame

    Cost of Degree: $60,301
    Expenses: $19,910
    Starting Salary: $98,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  21. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    13%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    18K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Washington University in St. Louis

    Cost of Degree: $60,590
    Expenses: $22,886
    Starting Salary: $87,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  22. #23

    Dartmouth College

    Hanover , NH
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1500/33

    Career Outlook for degree at Dartmouth College

    Cost of Degree: $62,430
    Expenses: $21,144
    Starting Salary: $110,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  23. #24

    Rice University

    Houston , TX
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $53K

    Acceptance

    9%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1515/35

    Career Outlook for degree at Rice University

    Cost of Degree: $54,960
    Expenses: $19,150
    Starting Salary: $91,600
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  24. #25

    Syracuse University

    Syracuse , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $58K

    Acceptance

    59%

    Graduation

    82%

    Student body

    37K

    Career Outlook for degree at Syracuse University

    Cost of Degree: $60,135
    Expenses: $20,812
    Starting Salary: $69,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  25. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    50%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    30K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1360/31

    Career Outlook for degree at George Washington University

    Cost of Degree: $60,946
    Expenses: $18,745
    Starting Salary: $82,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  26. #28

    Vanderbilt University

    Nashville , TN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    14K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1520/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Vanderbilt University

    Cost of Degree: $60,348
    Expenses: $24,064
    Starting Salary: $86,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  27. #29

    Brandeis University

    Waltham , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    39%

    Graduation

    88%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1415/32

    Career Outlook for degree at Brandeis University

    Cost of Degree: $62,322
    Expenses: $19,592
    Starting Salary: $69,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  28. #30

    University of Miami

    Coral Gables , FL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $55K

    Acceptance

    28%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    20K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1335/30

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Miami

    Cost of Degree: $57,194
    Expenses: $21,826
    Starting Salary: $72,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  29. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $55K

    Acceptance

    30%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    12K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1430/32

    Career Outlook for degree at Case Western Reserve University

    Cost of Degree: $61,584
    Expenses: $20,420
    Starting Salary: $89,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  30. #33

    Boston College

    Chestnut Hill , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    19%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    16K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1415/32

    Career Outlook for degree at Boston College

    Cost of Degree: $64,176
    Expenses: $19,570
    Starting Salary: $92,500
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  31. #35

    American University

    Washington , DC
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $53K

    Acceptance

    64%

    Graduation

    79%

    Student body

    16K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1305/29

    Career Outlook for degree at American University

    Cost of Degree: $53,889
    Expenses: $17,814
    Starting Salary: $67,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  32. #38

    Fordham University

    Bronx , NY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    58%

    Graduation

    83%

    Student body

    19K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1320/29

    Career Outlook for degree at Fordham University

    Cost of Degree: $58,082
    Expenses: $25,199
    Starting Salary: $67,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  33. #39

    Wesleyan University

    Middletown , CT
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    19%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for degree at Wesleyan University

    Cost of Degree: $64,022
    Expenses: $20,850
    Starting Salary: $63,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 19 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  34. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $58K

    Acceptance

    18%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    31K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1475/34

    Career Outlook for degree at Northeastern University

    Cost of Degree: $60,192
    Expenses: $21,230
    Starting Salary: $74,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  35. #42

    The New School

    New York , NY

    Tuition + fees

    $52K

    Acceptance

    66%

    Graduation

    70%

    Student body

    10K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1250/28

    Career Outlook for degree at The New School

    Cost of Degree: $54,371
    Expenses: $30,750
    Starting Salary: $55,200
    Cost Recoup Time: 21 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  36. Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    53%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1400/31

    Career Outlook for degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

    Cost of Degree: $60,074
    Expenses: $19,860
    Starting Salary: $86,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  37. #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

  38. #46

    Baylor University

    Waco , TX
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $50K

    Acceptance

    57%

    Graduation

    82%

    Student body

    22K

    Career Outlook for degree at Baylor University

    Cost of Degree: $51,738
    Expenses: $18,433
    Starting Salary: $58,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  39. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $50K

    Acceptance

    66%

    Graduation

    71%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1295/29

    Career Outlook for degree at Illinois Institute of Technology

    Cost of Degree: $50,279
    Expenses: $21,270
    Starting Salary: $78,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  40. #48

    Lehigh University

    Bethlehem , PA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    46%

    Graduation

    87%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1346/31

    Career Outlook for degree at Lehigh University

    Cost of Degree: $59,930
    Expenses: $17,955
    Starting Salary: $94,100
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  41. #49

    Drexel University

    Philadelphia , PA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    78%

    Student body

    27K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1280/28

    Career Outlook for degree at Drexel University

    Cost of Degree: $58,965
    Expenses: $20,180
    Starting Salary: $78,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
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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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