ocity

Top Private Universities 2026

The best private universities ranked by outcomes and selectivity

50 universities ranked • Source: US Dept of Education
#1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private
B+
#2
Samuel Merritt University
Oakland, CA · Private
B-
#3
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Albany, NY · Private
C+
#4
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA · Private
B+
#5
MCPHS University
Boston, MA · Private
C+
#6
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · Private
B+
#7
Roseman University of Health Sciences
Henderson, NV · Private
B-
#8
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private
B
#9
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA · Private
B
#10
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA · Private
B-
#11
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA · Private
B-
#12
Touro University Nevada
Henderson, NV · Private
C+
#13
Georgetown University
Washington, DC · Private
B
#14
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA · Private
C+
#15
West Coast University-Orange County
Anaheim, CA · Private
C
#16
West Coast University-Miami
Doral, FL · Private
C
#17
West Coast University-Ontario
Ontario, CA · Private
C
#18
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private
B+
#19
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Private
B+
#20
Yale University
New Haven, CT · Private
B
#21
Neumont College of Computer Science
Salt Lake City, UT · Private
C+
#22
Duke University
Durham, NC · Private
B
#23
Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing
New York, NY · Private
C
#24
Kettering University
Flint, MI · Private
C
#25
Brown University
Providence, RI · Private
B
#26
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
New York, NY · Private
C
#27
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Private
B
#28
Northeastern University Professional Programs
Boston, MA · Private
C
#29
Northeastern University Oakland
Oakland, CA · Private
C
#30
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private
B
#31
Chamberlain University-Texas
Houston, TX · Private
C
#32
Chamberlain University-Missouri
St. Louis, MO · Private
C
#33
Chamberlain University-California
Rancho Cordova, CA · Private
C+
#34
Chamberlain University-Arizona
Phoenix, AZ · Private
C
#35
Chamberlain University-North Carolina
Charlotte, NC · Private
C
#36
Chamberlain University-Michigan
Troy, MI · Private
C
#37
Chamberlain University-Nevada
Las Vegas, NV · Private
C
#38
Chamberlain University-Indiana
Indianapolis, IN · Private
C
#39
Chamberlain University-Florida
Jacksonville, FL · Private
C
#40
Chamberlain University-Georgia
Sandy Springs, GA · Private
C
#41
Chamberlain University-Ohio
Columbus, OH · Private
C
#42
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private
B+
#43
Vanderbilt University
Nashville-Davidson, TN · Private
B+
#44
George Washington University
Washington, DC · Private
C+
#45
Trinity College
Hartford, CT · Private
C+
#46
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · Private
B-
#47
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA · Private
C+
#48
Rice University
Houston, TX · Private
B+
#49
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · Private
B
#50
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI · Private
C

Methodology: Rankings are generated from verified data provided by the US Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS. We use real outcome data — not surveys. Each university is scored based on the specific criteria for this ranking category. Last updated: March 2026.

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