Private colleges on the East coast tend to be more selective than public universities. This is why it is important to be prepared for this college application season and to familiarize yourself with holistic college admissions policies.
In order to be considered a competitive applicant, you will want to know how to write a unique college essay and include meaningful extracurricular activities. You may want to learn more about Early Decision programs as well, in order to strengthen your overall chances of admission.
While many students favor private colleges, public colleges and universities have their advantages as well. This is why it is important to understand the differences between private and public colleges. In this article, we will review some of these key differences as well as provide important facts and figures for some of the best private colleges on the east coast.
How many private universities are in the U.S.?
According to U.S. News, there are nearly 4,000 degree-granting academic institutions in the United States. But how many private colleges are in the U.S.? Currently, there are 2,357 — 1,660 of which are nonprofit and 697 of which are for-profit.
Advantages of attending a private college
Due to their private funding and endowments, private colleges can offer generous scholarships and financial aid packages. This is partly why private colleges tend to be more selective than public colleges and universities and why private colleges are better for many students.
While it’s true that private colleges and universities have high costs of tuition, they are able to offer generous funding to students with demonstrated financial need. In fact, in many instances, students who qualify for financial aid and are admitted to private colleges, find that attending a private college is more affordable than attending a public university.
This is one of the advantages of attending a private college and the reason why private universities are better than public universities for many students.
The differences between private and public colleges
Is a private or a public university better? It all depends on the school and the student, but the reason why private universities are better for many students is that private colleges have a lot of funding and are able to offer generous financial aid packages.
The fact that private colleges and universities have generous endowments also means that more money is available for the school to provide additional educational opportunities for students. Many private colleges host notable speakers, conferences, and funding for student projects.
In contrast, public universities receive their funding from the government. Students who attend in-state public colleges and universities receive a lower cost of tuition, subsidized by the government. Public universities also have much larger student bodies and offer more academic programs.
Due to their differences in size, students who are self-directed, independent learners tend to do well in public universities. Students who value more individual attention tend to favor smaller private colleges.
The differences between private and public colleges
Is a private or a public university better? It all depends on the school and the student, but the reason why private universities are better for many students is that private colleges have a lot of funding and are able to offer generous financial aid packages.
The fact that private colleges and universities have generous endowments also means that more money is available for the school to provide additional educational opportunities for students. Many private colleges host notable speakers, conferences, and funding for student projects.
In contrast, public universities receive their funding from the government. Students who attend in-state public colleges and universities receive a lower cost of tuition, subsidized by the government. Public universities also have much larger student bodies and offer more academic programs.
Due to their differences in size, students who are self-directed, independent learners tend to do well in public universities. Students who value more individual attention tend to favor smaller private colleges.
List of top private colleges (East Coast)
The eight Ivy League colleges — Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, Dartmouth College, Cornell University, Brown University, and Columbia University — are the most renowned private colleges and universities in the United States. In fact, each of these schools is internationally recognized for its academic excellence.
That said, there are lots of esteemed private colleges and universities on the East Coast, in addition to the eight Ivy League colleges. Let’s take a look at 20 top private colleges on the east coast (listed in alphabetical order).
In this section, we will review key facts and figures for private universities (East coast). For each of these East coast private colleges, we will include its:
- Location
- Undergraduate student population
- 2022 acceptance rate
- Cost of tuition
- 2022 Best National Universities ranking (U.S. News)
If you are interested in learning more about the top private colleges and universities in the U.S., refer to the following section.
Boston College
Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, and has an undergraduate population of 9,445. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 16% and its annual tuition and fees are $61,706. According to the U.S. News, Boston College is tied for #36 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is located in Waltham, Massachusetts, and has an undergraduate population of 3,493. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 29.3% and its annual tuition and fees are $60,391. According to the U.S. News, Brandeis University is tied for #42 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and has an undergraduate population of 7,073. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 15.4% and its annual tuition and fees are $58,924. According to the U.S. News, Carnegie Mellon University is tied for #25 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Duke University
Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina, and has an undergraduate population of 6,717. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 6.2% and its annual tuition and fees are $60,489. According to the U.S. News, Duke University is tied for #9 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Emory University
Emory University is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and has an undergraduate population of 7,010. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 15.8% and its annual tuition and fees are $55,468. According to the U.S. News, Emory University is ranked #21 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is located in Washington D.C. and has an undergraduate population of 7,357. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 12% and its annual tuition and fees are $59,957. According to the U.S. News, Georgetown University is tied for #23 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Johns Hopkins University
John Hopkins University is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and has an undergraduate population of 6,331. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 6.5% and its annual tuition and fees are $58,720. According to the U.S. News, John Hopkins University is tied for #9 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Lehigh University
Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and has an undergraduate population of 5,203. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 35% and its annual tuition and fees are $57,470. According to the U.S. News, Lehigh University is tied for #49 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has an undergraduate population of 4,361. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 3.9% and its annual tuition and fees are $55,878. According to the U.S. News, MIT is tied for #2 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
New York University
New York University is located in New York City, New York, and has an undergraduate population of 27,444. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 12.2% and its annual tuition and fees are $56,500. According to the U.S. News, New York University is tied for #28 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is located in Troy, New York, and has an undergraduate population of 6,283. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 47% and its annual tuition and fees are $58,526. According to U.S. News, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is ranked #55 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is located in Hoboken, New Jersey, and has an undergraduate population of 3,670. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 53% and its annual tuition and fees are $56,920. According to the U.S. News, Stevens Institute of Technology is tied for #83 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Tufts University
Tufts University is located in Medford, Massachusetts, and has an undergraduate population of 6,114. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 9% and its annual tuition and fees are $63,000. According to the U.S. News, Tufts University is tied for #28 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
University of Miami
University of Miami is located in Coral Gables, Florida, and has an undergraduate population of 11,334. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 29% and its annual tuition and fees are $54,760. According to U.S. News, the University of Miami is tied for #55 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
University of Rochester
University of Rochester is located in Rochester, New York, and has an undergraduate population of 6,521. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 29% and its annual tuition and fees are $59,344. According to the U.S. News, the University of Rochester is tied for #34 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and has an undergraduate population of 7,057. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 6.1% and its annual tuition and fees are $56,966. According to the U.S. News, Vanderbilt University is tied for #14 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Villanova University
Villanova University is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania, and has an undergraduate population of 7,037. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 23% and its annual tuition and fees are $59,900. According to the U.S. News, Villanova University is tied for #49 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and has an undergraduate population of 5,441. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 25% and its annual tuition and fees are $59,770. According to the U.S. News, Wake Forest University is tied for #28 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and has an undergraduate population of 4,892. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 59% and its annual tuition and fees are $55,531. According to the U.S. News, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is tied for #63 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is located in New York City, New York, and has an undergraduate population of 2,017. Its 2022 acceptance rate is 7% and its annual tuition and fees are $47,500. According to the U.S. News, Yeshiva University is tied for #68 in the 2022 Best National Universities.
Key takeaways and moving forward
Private colleges and universities have ample funding. Oftentimes this means that private colleges offer generous financial aid packages and are able to offer additional educational resources and opportunities for students. These are two reasons why private colleges are favored by so many students.
If you are interested in attending an East Coast private college, you will need to assemble a thoughtful and thorough college application. This can be a difficult and time-consuming process. Thankfully, there are lots of resources available for you. If you feel like you could benefit from professional guidance during this process, reach out to learn more about our services.
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