Lens covers 24 large private universities, all private. They range from Boston College (10,085 undergraduates) to Southern New Hampshire University (163,164). Acceptance rates run from 5% to 100%, and 11 of the 24 admit at least half of applicants.
Large private universities here have 10,000 or more undergraduates (IPEDS).
Open these 24 colleges in the College Filter → Narrow them by cost at your rate, majors, size and more.
The 24 large private universities
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor University | Waco, Texas | 14,785 | 51% | $58,100 |
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | 10,085 | 16% | $70,702 |
| Boston University | Boston, Massachusetts | 18,248 | 11% | $68,102 |
| Brigham Young University | Provo, Utah | 32,952 | 68% | $6,688 |
| Brigham Young University–Idaho | Rexburg, Idaho | 44,397 | 96% | $4,800 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, New York | 15,995 | 9% | $69,314 |
| DePaul University | Chicago, Illinois | 14,090 | 76% | $45,999 |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 13,233 | 79% | $62,412 |
| Fordham University | Bronx, New York | 10,512 | 59% | $64,915 |
| George Washington University | Washington, District of Columbia | 11,182 | 47% | $67,710 |
| Howard University | Washington, District of Columbia | 10,108 | 41% | $35,810 |
| Liberty University | Lynchburg, Virginia | 50,012 | 99% | $22,465 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | 11,737 | 82% | $53,710 |
| New York University | New York, New York | 28,663 | 9% | $62,796 |
| Northeastern University | Boston, Massachusetts | 17,326 | 5% | $66,162 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, New York | 13,215 | 67% | $59,274 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, Georgia | 15,243 | 83% | $41,630 |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Manchester, New Hampshire | 163,164 | 100% | $17,200 |
| Syracuse University | Syracuse, New York | 15,477 | 46% | $65,528 |
| Texas Christian University | Fort Worth, Texas | 11,026 | 44% | $61,740 |
| The University of Tampa | Tampa, Florida | 10,572 | 40% | $34,408 |
| University of Miami | Coral Gables, Florida | 12,913 | 19% | $62,616 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 10,650 | 5% | $68,686 |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles, California | 20,443 | 10% | $72,097 |
Sources: IPEDS (fall 2024 enrollment and admissions); College Scorecard (published tuition and fees before aid, about 2023–24). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Related lists
FAQ
Which large private universities admit at least half of applicants? 11 of the 24: Baylor University, Brigham Young University, Brigham Young University–Idaho, DePaul University, Drexel University, Fordham University, Liberty University, Loyola University Chicago, Rochester Institute of Technology, Savannah College of Art and Design, Southern New Hampshire University (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest large private universities? Southern New Hampshire University is the largest, with 163,164 undergraduates, and Boston College is the smallest, with 10,085 (fall 2024).
Where these numbers come from
Lens covers the 850 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges that receive the most applications, so some smaller colleges are not listed. Enrollment, acceptance rates and degrees come from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education, fall 2024); published prices from the College Scorecard. Each college's page lists its own sources. See the data behind Lens.