Company lists · Data refreshed September 2026

Top 25 Independent colleges and universities based in the United States

Name: Independent colleges and universities based in the United States
Creator: RevenueBase
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Compiled by the RevenueBase Data Team Data refreshed Sep 20, 2026 289 companies tracked

RevenueBase identified 289 independent colleges and universities headquartered in the United States as of September 2026 and tracks 548,287 professional contacts across them, including 203,066 with verified work emails. New York is the largest hub.

This list covers independent colleges and universities headquartered in the United States, matched on what each company actually does as described in its own words. Ranked by team size, largest first. Every row shows the company's own description, its RevenueBase Smart Search rating, and when it was last checked. Data refreshed September 20, 2026.

Published by RevenueBase, a B2B data infrastructure company. This list was built with RevenueBase Smart Search, the natural-language company search RevenueBase customers use to build their own targeted lists and unlock verified emails and direct dials at the companies on them. How these lists are built and judged.

How to read this list HQ checked on every row RevenueBase Smart Search rating on every row Refreshed Sep 20, 2026 86% judged on-target in blind review

289Companies

548,287Contacts tracked

203,066Verified emails

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The 25 largest independent colleges and universities based in the United States

Ranked by team size

Top 25 of 289 independent colleges and universities based in the United States, ranked by team size, largest first. Data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. RevenueBase Smart Search rates how each company's information relates to independent colleges and universities: strong evidence (its own description names it), partial (names part of it), indirect (matched on the rest of its profile rather than the description shown). Click a contact count to view that company's people.
#	Company	RevenueBase Smart Search	Headquarters	Employees	Contacts
1	Penn State University	Partial evidence	University Park, PA, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	10001+	26,844 contacts →
	Partial evidence “There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
2	University Of Washington	Indirect evidence	Seattle, WA, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	10001+	26,178 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest state-supported institutions of higher education on the West Coast and is one of the preeminent research…” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
3	University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	Indirect evidence	Champaign, IL, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	10001+	22,281 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is dedicated to building upon its tradition of excellence in education, research, public engagement and economic development.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
4	Columbia University	Indirect evidence	New York, NY, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	10001+	20,014 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “For more than 250 years, Columbia has been a leader in higher education in the nation and around the world.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
5	University Of Pennsylvania	Partial evidence	Philadelphia, PA, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	10001+	19,612 contacts →
	Partial evidence “The University of Pennsylvania is one of the oldest universities in America and, as a member of the Ivy League, one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in all…” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
6	University Of Southern California	Indirect evidence	Los Angeles, CA, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	10001+	19,295 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “The University of Southern California is a leading private research university located in Los Angeles, the capital of the Pacific Rim.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
7	University Of California, Berkeley	Indirect evidence	Berkeley, CA, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	10001+	18,637 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “A wellspring of innovation, the school occupies a 1,232-acre campus near downtown Berkeley.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
8	University Of California, Davis	Indirect evidence	Davis, CA, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	10001+	16,897 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “UC Davis was founded in 1908 to serve the state of California.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
9	Duke University	Indirect evidence	Durham, NC, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	10001+	13,949 contacts →
	Indirect evidence Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
10	Boston University	Indirect evidence	Boston, MA, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	5,001-10,000	13,517 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “Boston University is one of the leading private research and teaching institutions in the world today, with three primary campuses in the heart of Boston and programs around the…” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
11	Northwestern University	Partial evidence	Evanston, IL, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	5,001-10,000	13,396 contacts →
	Partial evidence “Northwestern is one of the nation’s premier research universities, combining innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary, and diverse…” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
12	Florida State University	Indirect evidence	Tallahassee, FL, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	5,001-10,000	12,867 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “Florida State University offers a unique academic environment built on our cherished values, distinctive heritage, and welcoming campus.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
13	Vanderbilt University	Indirect evidence	Nashville, TN, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	1,001-5,000	11,139 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “Vanderbilt University is a top-ranked teaching and research university in Nashville, Tennessee.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
14	Temple University	Indirect evidence	Philadelphia, PA, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	5,001-10,000	10,839 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “As the largest university in one of the nation’s most iconic cities, Temple educates diverse future leaders from across Philadelphia, the country and the world who share a common…” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
15	University Of Connecticut	Indirect evidence	Storrs, CT, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	1,001-5,000	10,591 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “The University of Connecticut (UConn), a Wall Street Journal top 10 public university, is home to more than students, 1,500 faculty, proud alumni, and a handsome husky named…” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
16	University Of South Carolina	Indirect evidence	Columbia, SC, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	10001+	10,587 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “With thriving academic and research excellence and a lively, welcoming student experience, the University of South Carolina brings the opportunities of higher education to new…” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
17	University Of Rochester	Indirect evidence	Rochester, NY, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	10001+	10,132 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “The University of Rochester is a private research university located in Rochester, New York.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
18	Texas Tech University	Indirect evidence	79409, TX, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	1,001-5,000	9,539 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “A new era of excellence is dawning at Texas Tech University as it stands on the cusp of being one of the nation's premier research institutions.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
19	The George Washington University	Partial evidence	Washington, DC, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	5,001-10,000	9,026 contacts →
	Partial evidence “The George Washington University, an independent academic institution chartered by the Congress of the United States in 1821, dedicates itself to furthering human well-being.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
20	University Of Oklahoma	Partial evidence	Norman, OK, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	1,001-5,000	8,731 contacts →
	Partial evidence “Attracting top students from across the nation and more than 100 countries around the world, OU provides a major university experience in a private college atmosphere.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
21	Kansas State University	Indirect evidence	Manhattan, KS, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	5,001-10,000	8,579 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “Kansas State University, often referred to as K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
22	Ohio University	Indirect evidence	Athens, OH, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	1,001-5,000	8,007 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “Established in 1804, Ohio University is the oldest university in the Northwest Territory.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
23	Kent State University	Partial evidence	Kent, OH, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	5,001-10,000	7,487 contacts →
	Partial evidence “Kent State University is the highest-ranked public university in northern Ohio on the Top Public Schools and Best National Universities lists by U.S.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
24	Miami University	Indirect evidence	Oxford, OH, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	1,001-5,000	7,349 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “Strong academics, highly personal instruction, energetic campus life, successful graduates, Miami University sets the standard for public higher education on one of America’s…” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026
25	UC Santa Barbara	Indirect evidence	Santa Barbara, CA, United StatesHQ checked Sep 20, 2026	5,001-10,000	7,206 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “UC Santa Barbara is consistently recognized for excellence across broad fields of study.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 20, 2026

RevenueBase Smart Search

RevenueBase Smart Search assesses information from a company’s LinkedIn profile, information supplied directly by the company, its website, and other publicly available sources. It uses that information to rate how closely the company relates to this list’s category: independent colleges and universities. Every row carries its rating and the description the rating was read from, so each one can be checked rather than taken on trust.

Strong evidence: The company's own public description of its business names independent colleges and universities.
Partial evidence: Its own public description names part of independent colleges and universities, so it works in or next to the category without describing itself that way.
Indirect evidence: The description shown does not name independent colleges and universities. The match rests on the rest of the company's public profile rather than the one sentence quoted here, so this is the rating to check first.

RevenueBase Smart Search is how these lists are built: RevenueBase's data engine and AI assemble the companies that match a category defined in a user's own words, so a list can be about what companies actually do rather than about whichever industry code they were filed under.

Showing 25 of 289 independent colleges and universities based in the United States

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Independent colleges and universities based in the United States at a glance

As of Sep 20, 2026

37.0%Verified-email coverage

1897.2Average contacts per company

201-500Median size (employees)

3.1%Largest-city concentration · New York

Sep 20, 2026Page data refreshed

Companies by employee count

1-10

11-50

51-200

201-500

501-1,000

1,001-5,000

5,001-10,000

10001+

Email recency for this list is measured worldwide rather than for United States, so it is reported there. Company counts and contact totals on this page are exact for United States, over 289 companies.

How this list was built

Company categories are rarely black and white. RevenueBase reads each company's own description of its business to decide whether it belongs among independent colleges and universities, so some rows will be adjacent to the category rather than pure plays. The description and RevenueBase Smart Search rating on every row are there so you can check each match yourself.

Source: The RevenueBase company graph: 60 million companies and 398.9 million professional contacts resolved from primary sources, queried with RevenueBase Smart Search, the natural-language company search available to every RevenueBase user.
What qualifies: Companies headquartered in the United States whose own description of what they do matches “independent colleges and universities”. Matching reads each company's description, not its industry code or its name.
RevenueBase Smart Search: RevenueBase Smart Search is how this list is assembled and how each row is rated. RevenueBase's data engine and AI assess a company's LinkedIn profile, information supplied directly by the company, its website and other publicly available information, then relate it to a category defined in a user's own words. Each row is rated strong evidence (its own description names independent colleges and universities), partial evidence (it names part of the category) or indirect evidence (the description shown names none of it and the match rests on the rest of the company's profile). The description supporting each rating is quoted on the row.
What we exclude: Companies whose own description does not clearly place them among independent colleges and universities, and records with no verified work email. Companies headquartered outside United States are excluded even when they keep an office there.
Match quality: In blind human judging of this matching method, 86% of matched companies were on target. Expect roughly 1 in 7 rows to be adjacent to the category rather than a pure play. Every row shows the company's own description and its RevenueBase Smart Search rating so you can judge each match yourself. Read the full methodology: how the lists are built, how the judging worked, and what the figure means.
Ranking: Team size, largest first: companies are ordered by the number of professionals RevenueBase tracks at each one. Employee ranges shown are reported bands, for context.
Verification: Every listed company carries at least one verified work email, 203,066 across the full list. Contacts re-verify on a rolling cadence, and each contact's own verification date is shown inside RevenueBase.
Refresh: This page's figures were pulled from the company graph on September 20, 2026. Lists refresh periodically as the graph is re-checked.
Corrections: Wrong category, wrong headquarters, or a company that has closed? Use “Report an issue” on any row. Reports go to the RevenueBase Data Team and feed back into the company graph.

Frequently asked

What is RevenueBase Smart Search?

RevenueBase Smart Search is how RevenueBase decides which companies belong on this list and how strongly each one fits. Its data engine and AI assess a company's LinkedIn profile, information supplied directly by the company, its website and other publicly available information, then relate it to the category the list is about. Each row is rated strong evidence when the company's own description names independent colleges and universities, partial evidence when it names part of the category, and indirect evidence when the description shown names none of it and the match rests on the rest of the company's profile.

How many independent colleges and universities are there based in the United States?

RevenueBase identified 289 independent colleges and universities headquartered in the United States as of September 2026, matched on each company's own description of what it does rather than its industry code.

What is the largest company on this list?

Penn State University, headquartered in University Park, tops this list with the largest team on record.

Which city has the most independent colleges and universities?

New York leads with 9 headquartered companies, followed by Boston (7) and Philadelphia (6).

How do I get contact information for these companies?

A free RevenueBase account lets you run this exact search and work the top results, verified emails and direct dials included. Upgrading unlocks all 203,066 verified decision-maker contacts tracked across these 289 companies.

How current is this list?

The list refreshes periodically as the company graph is re-checked. This page's figures were pulled on September 20, 2026.

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About this data

RevenueBase is a B2B data infrastructure company. Its company graph covers 60 million companies and 398.9 million professional contacts, with emails verified on a rolling cadence rather than scraped once and left to decay. These company lists are generated directly from that graph with RevenueBase Smart Search, the same natural-language company search every RevenueBase user has: describe a market in plain words, get the companies that match, and add verified emails and direct dials for the people at them. It is the same data that powers RevenueBase's B2B data products, and a free account includes 500 credits to start. How these lists are built and judged.