Private higher education has grown rapidly around the world over the years. The United States is not excluded, as it is well-known for its educational quality. As private higher education continues to gain prominence in the educational system, an increasing number of students are lured to acquiring degrees from privately funded universities.

This article discusses the USA’s top seven private universities that offer degrees for professional interests. So, let’s get going!

Top Private Universities in the USA

Out of many, we have compiled a list of the top seven private universities in the USA. We shall talk about those below.

INSTITUTION NAME TOP-RATED PROGRAMS
Princeton University Social Sciences, Engineering, and Computer Sciences
Stanford University Computer Science, Business, and Engineering
Duke University Computer Science, Mathematics, and Engineering
University of Chicago Economics, Mathematics, and Sciences
Rice University, Psychology, Mechanical Engineering, and Biology
Brown University Neuroscience, Public Health, and English Language and Literature
Northwestern University Business, Systems Engineering, and Economics

1. Princeton University

Princeton University established in 1746, is a private Ivy League research university in New Jersey. Princeton is the fourth-oldest higher education institution in the US and one of nine colonial institutions established before the American Revolution. The college offers over 100 degree programs in science, engineering, business, finance, architecture, and other fields to students from all over the world.

Avi Wigderson, a Princeton graduate, has earned the 2023 A.M. Turing Award from the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), which is considered the top accolade in computer science and is often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of computing.”

2. Stanford University

Stanford University, founded in 1885, is a private research institution located in Stanford, California. The institution is organized into seven schools on the same campus. The facility also houses the Hoover Institution, a public policy think organization. The university participates in 36 varsity sports and it is one of only two private colleges in the Pacific-12 Conference. Stanford holds the record for the most NCAA team championships and has won the NACDA Directors’ Cup for 25 years in a row, starting in 1994. Stanford students and alumni have earned at least 296 Olympic medals.

3. Duke University

Duke University, founded in 1838, is a private research institution in Durham, North Carolina. The institution runs two schools in Asia: Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore and Duke Kunshan institution in Kunshan, China. Duke University has a highly selective undergraduate admissions process, with a 5.1% acceptance rate for the 2028 class. Applicants should click this link to learn more about the requirements for obtaining their desired degree.

4. University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is a private, research institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The university’s main campus is located in Chicago’s Hyde Park area. It consists of an undergraduate college and four graduate research divisions, which include all graduate programs and multidisciplinary committees. It has eight professional schools, with an international tuition charge of 61,179 USD per year for bachelor’s and 30,000 – 86,859 USD for master’s degrees. The tuition fee is slightly higher compared to other public colleges. However, you can be assured that you will receive a high-quality education and an ideal environment in which to achieve your full potential. The University of Chicago is a major private university in the United States and is ranked among the best in the world.

5. Rice University

Rice University, formerly William Marsh Rice University, is a private research institution in Houston, Texas. It is located on a 300-acre site near the Houston Museum District and the Texas Medical Center. The university provides scholarships at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. If you want to be admitted to this university, follow the above scholarship link to learn more about the university’s scholarship program.

6. Brown University

Brown University, founded in 1764, is a private, Ivy League research university in Rhode Island. It is the eighth-oldest higher education institution in the US. The institution offers many courses to welcome students from all around the world. The university hosts the oldest applied mathematics program in the US, the oldest engineering department in the Ivy League, and the third-oldest medical program in New England. This private university in the USA has a College, Graduate School, Alpine Medical School, Schools of Engineering, Public Health, and Professional Studies. If you are particularly interested in any of the programs, you must apply on time and before the deadline.

7. Northwestern University

Another top private university in the USA to consider for your studies is Northwestern University. Established in 1851, Northwestern University (NU) is a private research institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The oldest chartered university in Illinois serves the historic Northwest Territory. The university’s main campus is located along Lake Michigan in the Chicago metropolitan area. At the University the annual bachelor’s tuition fees for overseas students at Northwestern University are USD 60,276. The master’s tuition price for overseas students at Northwestern University ranges from 44,823 USD to 62,400 USD annually. Therefore, if you want to pursue your future studies at Northwestern University, you should apply as soon as possible.

FAQs: Studying in American Private Universities

What Are the Advantages of Enrolling in a Private University in the USA?

Public educational institutions have indeed been at the forefront for a long time. In the United States, we can never criticize any of the colleges because practically all of them scrupulously adhere to educational standards and maintain the greatest level of quality. As we all know, public colleges have low tuition and are heavily subsidized by the government. However, private colleges often provide more cutting-edge instruction, IT assistance, practical training, and other benefits. Furthermore, most private universities will assist you in landing your first job after graduation. As a result, pursuing a degree at a private university in the United States is advantageous for you.

 

For your convenience, we have simply listed the top seven private universities in the United States, but there are many more.

 

We hope that this list of the best private universities in the USA will help narrow down your choices for where to study in the USA. If you’re interested in knowing more about studying abroad,  feel free to check out our Guide to Studying in the USA and Available Programs for International Students sections!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hi! I am Hyun, and I am the founder at Global Scholarships. I've received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College and a $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for my undergraduate degree and was offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. You can read more about my scholarship journey here. If you are interested, you can follow me on Linkedin where I regularly write about scholarships. I also provide consulting services as well, and you can check the consulting services page for more information.

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