An independent college refers to a college independent of a university or higher education institution, also known as a "private university". They are usually founded and managed by private institutions such as individuals, non-profit organizations or companies, and are not public universities funded by the government.

The following are some examples of independent colleges: Amherst College: an independent college located in Massachusetts, USA, founded in 182 1, is considered as one of the best liberal arts colleges in the United States, with high quality education in liberal arts, social sciences and natural sciences. Bard College: a private college of arts and sciences located in New York State, USA, founded in 1860, which has rich cultural and artistic education resources, including music, drama, literature, etc. Tufts University: A top research university located in Massachusetts, USA, with not only outstanding medical, dental and veterinary colleges, but also liberal arts, social sciences, art and engineering. KU Leuven: An independent Catholic university in Leuven, Belgium, founded in 1425, is considered as one of the oldest and most famous universities in Europe and one of the best universities in Belgium, covering many disciplines. In short, independent colleges are independent of universities or educational institutions, founded and managed by private organizations or companies, usually with high academic status and popularity, and have educational resources covering many disciplines.