2018 Top Private Universities in AmericaAbout this List

Stanford University

• 4 Year
• Stanford, CA
• 1,095

Sophomore: I've really enjoyed Stanford so far.
Academics are certainly challenging, but rewarding, and students usually aren't excessively stressed about grades.
Professors are, for the most part, incredibly knowledgeable and care about students, but there are some (particularly those teaching intro classes) who could use some improvement.
The local area can be a bit expensive and far away (especially without a car).
Currently, the administration is facing a lot of criticism about the school's handling of sexual assault. It's not the best situation, but a lot of the criticism also comes from Stanford's own professors and students, so I do still feel relatively safe and supported on campus.
Read 1,095 Reviews

• A+

• 5% Acceptance Rate
• $19,245 Net Price
• 1390-1580 SAT Range

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• 4 Year
• Cambridge, MA
• 582

College Freshman: I absolutely love my school and I wouldn't change it at all! It's probably the most stressful, hard, and demanding thing I've done up to now but that's what I love about it! It's a challenge and it really is intense but the people I've met, my friends, help me through it all and I love that! The community at MIT is amazing too, there are so many different people on campus both mainstream and off-stream(I guess that's how you say it?) but that makes everyday much better in an open and accepting campus.
Read 582 Reviews

• A+

• 8% Acceptance Rate
• $21,691 Net Price
• 1430-1580 SAT Range

Harvard University

• 4 Year
• Cambridge, MA
• 623

Alum: Harvard University offers the most incredible experience for its students. From the rich history to the esteemed faculty to the vibrant atmosphere of Harvard Square, it is truly one of a kind and inspiring. During my time at Harvard, I got to dance to Gangnam Style with Psy, read a Gutenberg Bible, study and work under my hero, perform fMRIs, and eat brunch in what is essentially the Great Hall of Hogwarts. I cannot begin to tell you the opportunities available here nor what you will learn from working and studying alongside people from all over the world. Harvard also tries to promote diversity further by offering a needs-blind application process and a financial aid package that guarantees you will not have to turn down your acceptance due to financial hardship! Harvard truly takes care of its students, giving them every opportunity imaginable and giving them an experience they will never forget.
Read 623 Reviews

• A+

• 6% Acceptance Rate
• $15,742 Net Price
• 1400-1600 SAT Range

Yale University

• 4 Year
• New Haven, CT
• 917

Freshman: Yale managed to exceed my expectations. I originally chose Yale because of how genuine every student I met was and that perception continues to persist. I have met the most interesting and talented people while at Yale and have made some of the closest friends. One moment we'll be discussing a bio problem set, the next discussing the real solution to economic disparity, the next talking about our upbringings. While it's easy to think of Yale as a competitive college, I think that's far from the truth. I have never collaborated as much as I have at Yale. Everyone wants the best for each other and grades are not a focus. The social scene at Yale is also great. Frat parties are open to anyone for the most part and it's very easy to get integrated with Greek life members even if you aren't in it yourself. Just based off of the year I've been here, I can already say that Yale has changed me to be a more well-rounded person.
Read 917 Reviews

• A+

• 7% Acceptance Rate
• $18,164 Net Price
• 1430-1600 SAT Range

Rice University

• 4 Year
• Houston, TX
• 975

Sophomore: Rice is incredible. The people are so friendly and collaborative, and the residential college system gives you an automatic support system and built-in friends/family. While people are smart, the atmosphere is close-knit and not cutthroat, which I've come to realize is hugely important when I hear my friends at other top universities talk about the pressure and competition they suffer through. The academics aren't easy- especially the STEM programs, which are structured to be some of the most rigorous in the country, but that's why we have such a good reputation and ease with post-graduation placements. Compared to other colleges, there's a lot of freedom with social life/partying and distribution requirements. Overall, the campus is beautiful and quality of life (dorms/food/area) very high. I love Rice and wouldn't go anywhere else!
Read 975 Reviews

• A+

• 16% Acceptance Rate
• $22,462 Net Price
• 1390-1560 SAT Range

Princeton University

• 4 Year
• Princeton, NJ
• 383

• A+

• 7% Acceptance Rate
• $17,901 Net Price
• 1390-1590 SAT Range

University of Pennsylvania

• 4 Year
• Philadelphia, PA
• 1,114

Graduate Student: Like any colleges, Penn has both pros and cons. As a graduate student in the School of Social Policy and Practice at Penn (Master's of Social Work), I find that the biggest strength of Penn is its wide reach of professional network, research, etc.

The amount of resources/networking opportunities available for developing insight, experience, and others is unimaginable here at Penn. Having deep connections with all three sectors of the non-profit, for-profit, and governmental world brings its students enormous opportunities and information/knowledge to learn and grow from.

The cons, however, is that Penn as a whole seems a bit lacking in terms of student activism and engagement. There are clubs to join. But, I rarely see them out in the quad or the walkway outreaching or being vocal about a variety of issues students are concerned with in this age and time.
Read 1,114 Reviews

• A+

• 10% Acceptance Rate
• $23,924 Net Price
• 1380-1550 SAT Range

Brown University

• 4 Year
• Providence, RI
• 919

College Freshman: Professors, even in large lecture classes, are always approachable and friendly. They are open to extensions when asked and even small talk. However, with the amount of time you have with each professor (this also depends on the size of the class) it's unlikely for you to become very friendly with any teachers throughout college unless you take initiative.

Classes can range from 7 people to 200. There are a variety of options, usually intro classes are big while seminars, language classes, and specific topic classes are smaller. With large classes there is an immense amount of TAs that are always available to help. They also run review/discussion sections to allow students to ask specific questions and get advice from experts who already aced the class.

Most classes, in the humanities, make you do a lot of reading, have a smaller discussion section, and then 2-4 big assignments like midterms, finals, essays, take home exams, etc.

The variety of courses speaks for itself. There are too many choices and they are all interesting!
Read 919 Reviews

• A+

• 9% Acceptance Rate
• $22,957 Net Price
• 1370-1560 SAT Range

Bowdoin College

• 4 Year
• Brunswick, ME
• 639

Freshman: Whether its the Outing Club, the Literary Magazine, the Film Society, or an a Capella group, there is always something for every kind of person to get involved in. Also, people here are incredibly friendly and willing to go out of their way to help you. Bowdoin's size, with 1700 students, really enables this sense of community. If I could change one thing about Bowdoin, I would offer class credit for laboratory time. Also , this is just my wish , but I think Bowdoin should advertise more to the outside world. I grew up overseas, so most of my other friends had not heard of Bowdoin, or Brunswick for that matter. I can understand that I was surprised that not many people in United States knew about this school either. The social scene is great on the weekends, but for the most part exists only on the weekends as people work very hard during the week. As for food, you can guess exactly how delicious it is from just taking a peek at the NYtimes article and the college rankings.
Read 639 Reviews

• A+

• 15% Acceptance Rate
• $23,156 Net Price
• 1360-1510 SAT Range

California Institute of Technology

• 4 Year
• Pasadena, CA
• 105

Freshman: As a freshman in the second term, the experience here has been pretty positive. The coursework is definitely challenging, but it keeps me motivated to pursue higher goals. I am extremely grateful for finding such a like-minded community of scholars who are supportive and caring.
Read 105 Reviews

• A+

• 9% Acceptance Rate
• $23,213 Net Price
• 1500-1600 SAT Range

Columbia University

• 4 Year
• New York, NY
• 1,090

Graduate Student: I am currently enrolled in graduate school at the prestigious Columbia University. I am impressed with the level of diversity at Columbia. There is a majority minority. Most of my seminars are comprised of Asian, Indian students I myself am typically the only African American student. I believe that Columbia truly wants their students to thrive. They bring in some of the best professors from the corporate world. For instances in one of my courses I have three different professors. Each have a very different perspective and method of teaching. I will say that I am disappointed that there are not more scholarships available to graduate students; I am working a full-time job in addition to taking a full course load so that I can graduate in a two year span and pay for school. Mind you I have a 3.8 G.P.A I believe that their should be some source of funding other than loans for students in my situation.
Read 1,090 Reviews

• A+

• 7% Acceptance Rate
• $17,678 Net Price
• 1380-1570 SAT Range

Duke University

• 4 Year
• Durham, NC
• 1,012

Freshman: If you aren't entirely decided on what you want to study, or want to combine two fields that don't seem to fit, Duke is the best school available to you. The flexible pathway through Duke is one of its best features, and it guarantees there's something academic for nearly everyone here. Not to mention everything that goes on outside of academics. Whether you're a performance artist, coder, engineer, service-learner, researcher, intense athlete, or a just for fun one, there's a place for you here. If you're anything at all, and looking to challenge yourself, then come to Duke!
Read 1,012 Reviews

• A+

• 11% Acceptance Rate
• $21,295 Net Price
• 1360-1550 SAT Range

Vanderbilt University

• 4 Year
• Nashville, TN
• 1,161

Sophomore: Vanderbilt is an excellent place to continue your education. It is easy to find your place at this school because the environment is amazingly friendly and welcoming. Greek life is huge here and many people get involved. The weather is usually mild and the faculty is great. The food is ranked in the country, and as a sophomore, I still enjoy it. Anchor Down! This school is not without flaws, however. The campus is pretty divided racially. There is no malice, but it is clear that intermingling between races only truly occurs in the classroom. That is one thing this school could improve.
Read 1,161 Reviews

• A+

• 12% Acceptance Rate
• $22,937 Net Price
• 1430-1590 SAT Range

Washington University in St. Louis

• 4 Year
• Saint Louis, MO
• 1,326

Freshman: WUSTL is a fantastic university! I first came here because of the prestigious pre-med program, comfy dorms, yummy food, beautiful campus, and great FA. I found all of those here to be true. My experience truly has been an excellent one. Although the academics are undoubtedly challenging, it is equally rewarding.
Read 1,326 Reviews

• A+

• 17% Acceptance Rate
• $33,261 Net Price
• 1400-1550 SAT Range

Dartmouth College

• 4 Year
• Hanover, NH
• 657

College Junior: I would definitely choose Dartmouth again. I love the spirit of the school, the people, the professors and all of the non-academic learning experiences that are available. I think in the Engineering school there is a lot of room for improvement in terms of consistently having consistently good teachers. For the most part, teachers are good in the entry level classes, occasionally there is a great teacher, but often ( so far 1 class out of three, every trimester) there is one teacher who isvery suboptimal in their ability to teach or communicate well. Not acceptable at this type of school.

Additionally, because Dartmouth is out of the way for most companies, their engineering recruiting fairs are extremely lacking in depth and availability. Much of the fair is online. Being only 3 hours from Boston, The Thayer school of engineering should host a weekend or trip to Boston for a recruiting fair to coincide with all the other colleges there when there are HUNDREDS of companies available to talk to and connect with. Students could take a bus to Boston and even make up the classes that are missed at some later point if necessary. Job hunting and internship opportunities are far inferior than at many other schools, even if they are not as highly ranked as Dartmouth!
Read 657 Reviews

• A+

• 11% Acceptance Rate
• $21,348 Net Price
• 1330-1560 SAT Range

University of Notre Dame

• 4 Year
• Notre Dame, IN
• 1,227

Niche User: I attended Notre Dame's Summer Scholars Program. So, I will give my perspective on that experience. At the beginning of the session, the Dean told us it would be "life changing." Indeed, it was. The friends, the environment, the professors and the spirituality of this campus is unmatched. The grounds are impeccable and incredibly gorgeous with flowers everywhere. Based on my experience, I have changed my career goals- a life changing experience. I have had lots of college experiences since age 3. Notre Dame, without exception, is the FINEST. I am a triplet and I speak for my siblings too. We are ND fans and always will be.
Read 1,227 Reviews

• A+

• 20% Acceptance Rate
• $26,698 Net Price
• 1350-1530 SAT Range

University of Chicago

• 4 Year
• Chicago, IL
• 1,109

College Sophomore: My experience at UChicago so far has been wonderful! There is such a variety of courses to choose from, and so many interesting majors are available. All of the courses are respectable and worth taking. The professors and TA's are all very experienced in their fields, and are very passionate about what they're teaching. The Core classes are usually taught in lecture halls, but also have classes periods that are broken up into smaller groups (during discussion). Other classes can have as few as five students, like my Yucatec Maya class, which allows students to have awesome conversations with their professors and TA's.
Read 1,109 Reviews

• A+

• 8% Acceptance Rate
• $33,107 Net Price
• 1440-1600 SAT Range

Pomona College

• 4 Year
• Claremont, CA
• 350

Junior: Pomona's largest assets are not its $2b endowment, its buildings, or its location, but rather its people. Here, some of the world's most inquisitive, interesting, and downright intelligent students come together in the pursuit of knowledge and with the intention of changing the world. Professors care deeply about students and are some of the most well-regarded in their fields, a rare combination that allows for students to do meaningful work and learn from people who love to teach, never a teacher's assistant. The admitted class of 2021 is made up of 56.7% domestic students of color, plus 11.4% international students, making Pomona's the most diverse campus in the country.
Read 350 Reviews

• A+

• 10% Acceptance Rate
• $18,423 Net Price
• 1360-1530 SAT Range

University of Southern California

• 4 Year
• Los Angeles, CA
• 3,343

Sophomore: I love attending the University of Southern California! The school has high caliber academics, a competitive yet fun environment for students of all majors, and a gorgeous campus. USC is a bit expensive however, hardworking students can come in with large scholarships to defray this cost. I definitely think that this experience is worth the cost of living and expenses out here and will truly pay off in the end. I have definitely met life long friends and have made unforgettable memories throughout my time here!
Read 3,343 Reviews

• A+

• 17% Acceptance Rate
• $31,384 Net Price
• 1270-1500 SAT Range

Cornell University

• 4 Year
• Ithaca, NY
• 1,732

College Junior: My experience at Cornell had been a whirlwind of endless opportunities. It has absolutely had it's ups and downs, with times where the stress and fast pace of classes seems to be unbearable, but usually when that happens a break was right around the corner and there was time to catch up. All the students at this school, from the engineers to the Hotelies, are used to being the top of their class in high school. It takes some getting used to learn that not everyone can be the best at this university.

That being said, Cornell can offer you the change to truly impact the world in whatever field you pursue. Your plant science degree with lead to cutting edge research, your business major with give you connections others need years to build and your engineering degree will give you your choice of career straight out of college. But that diploma does not come easy, you will have to work relentlessly for four years to earn it (five years if you're studying architecture!).

Looking back to choosing this university my senior year of high school, I wouldn't change a thing. My experience has been far from perfect: I've experienced failure just like the rest of my peers. I'm not, however, the same person I was in high school and this is a good thing. Cornell has changed me for the better and I highly recommend you let it do the same to you!
Read 1,732 Reviews

• A+

• 15% Acceptance Rate
• $28,656 Net Price
• 1330-1530 SAT Range

Northwestern University

• 4 Year
• Evanston, IL
• 1,254

Alum: I attended Northwestern because of the music program and the professor I would be working with. My professor was amazing, and so was the music program as a whole. I was able to pursue a double major with an outside field, and while it was difficult and busy, the administration helped me every quarter by allowing me to take extra classes to finish on time. The campus is beautiful, but there is always construction. It is not a huge party school, but there are parties and lots of other ways to have fun. I loved the proximity to Chicago and the public transit system. Overall, I liked the student body. There was a general hard work ethic, and though my majors weren't particularly competitive, I know there were some that were fairly cut-throat. The mental health services can be improved upon, but I felt that NU was a very accepting, diverse, and progressive school overall. Financial aid was great, and getting better!
Read 1,254 Reviews

• A+

• 13% Acceptance Rate
• $30,552 Net Price
• 1400-1560 SAT Range

Tufts University

• 4 Year
• Medford, MA
• 861

Freshman: Tufts is an amazing school! The intellectual environment is extremely is stimulative. The Professors are very passionate about what they teach and are open to helping any of their students. The food is good too! Students are generally friendly depending on the crowd you hang out with. The political environment is one of liberalism. I love this school and would attend it again when given the chance. There is diversity in terms of the many people from different backgrounds and categories. The surrounding area is beautiful! The school is not called the "Light on the Hill" for no reason
Read 861 Reviews

• A+

• 16% Acceptance Rate
• $26,976 Net Price
• 1370-1520 SAT Range

Georgetown University

• 4 Year
• Washington, DC
• 1,073

Freshman: Academics are hard but it's worth it! The job opportunities, the connections you make, and everything in between makes it all worth it. Wouldn't change a thing if I had to relive my college decision process
Read 1,073 Reviews

• A+

• 17% Acceptance Rate
• $26,749 Net Price
• 1320-1500 SAT Range

Carleton College

• 4 Year
• Northfield, MN
• 471

Freshman: The school has an incredibly open community; cliques are fluid and almost anyone is welcome and can feel comfortable sitting with any group. Dining hall food is great, although there are few good restaurants in the area. Classes are fantastic and the trimester system works very well for people who live far away (winter break extends from before thanksgiving to after new years). In addition, the trimester system allows students to fit three academic terms into one year while focusing more intensely on less during those terms, all the while still leaving room for a long winter break.
The biggest downside for me is that students seem less individual and more self-effacing than some other similar liberal arts colleges.
Read 471 Reviews

• A+

• 21% Acceptance Rate
• $31,568 Net Price
• 1320-1520 SAT Range

Harvey Mudd College

• 4 Year
• Claremont, CA
• 124

College Freshman: Although Harvey Mudd is very difficult, and teachers will definitely push you with hard coursework, I've so far rarely felt alone. Teachers are accessible, there are always other classmates to work with and get help from, and the environment feels very positive in general, with a lot of interest in the wellbeing of the students. It's a great challenge.
Read 124 Reviews

• A+

• 13% Acceptance Rate
• $34,529 Net Price
• 1400-1560 SAT Range