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The United States is a big country. This means lots of different people with different ideas, goals, needs and dreams. Postsecondary education in the US therefore offers lots of options, one of which is the private university and college sector. In fact, private institutions have been educating Americans since 1636, when the nation's first private institution, Harvard University, was founded.

Today there are about 1,600 private, non-profit higher education institutions in the US, representing an estimated 3.4 million students. These private institutions include every type of school: liberal arts colleges, major research universities, church- and faith-affiliated institutions, historically black colleges and universities, women's colleges, art institutes, two-year colleges, and schools of law, medicine, engineering, business, and other professions. From small schools with under 100 students to the larger universities with over 30,000, private universities and colleges can be found across the country and offer a huge variety of academic and professional programs.

Many people think private universities and colleges are too traditional or just for the rich, but almost 90% of students at these schools receive some sort of financial assistance. So be sure to investigate what's offered at private universities and colleges in the USA; they are challenging, true, but also more innovative and accessible than you might imagine!



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Other Private Colleges and Universities in the USA
Our database of Private Colleges and Universities has been divided for ease of use into six regions consistent with the six regional accrediting associations recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). In addition, the states within each region are represented by similar histories, traditions, economies, climates and geography and are therefore, likely to define the typical boundaries for your search for a post-secondary institution.

Select a region from the map below or list right to browse Private Colleges and Universities

Other Schools in the USA Browse all other Universities and Colleges by Accrediting Region     Middle States Region - MSACS     New England Region - NEACS     North Central Region - NCACS     Northwest Region - NWCCU     Western Region - WASC     Southern Region - SACS