The Best Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in America for 2024

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in the United States as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment under 3,000. Small colleges allow students a more intimate and personalized experience where it's more likely you will get to know your professors. Leading the list for 2024 is California Institute of Technology. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
small Public Private 4 year

414 results nationwide

Asbury University
Connect Me
A
Wilmore, KY

Asbury University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Kentucky

  • 1,650enrollment
  • $21,506net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1320SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
King's College
Connect Me
K
Wilkes-Barre, PA

King's College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#33 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,993enrollment
  • $25,869net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1260SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Marymount Manhattan College
Connect Me
M
New York, NY

Marymount Manhattan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#46 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,608enrollment
  • $39,442net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Montana Tech of the University of Montana
Connect Me
M
Butte, MT
 

Montana Tech of the University of Montana

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Montana

  • 1,625enrollment
  • $16,045net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
College of Mount St. Joseph
Connect Me
M
Cincinnati, OH
 

College of Mount St. Joseph

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,027enrollment
  • $17,506net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1068-1233SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
William Jessup University
Connect Me
W
Rocklin, CA
 

William Jessup University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,624enrollment
  • $27,591net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1230SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Saint Mary of the Woods College
Connect Me
S
Saint Mary of the Woods, IN
 

Saint Mary of the Woods College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,147enrollment
  • $17,358net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 868-1052SAT range
  • 18-30ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Ouachita Baptist University
Connect Me
O
Arkadelphia, AR

Ouachita Baptist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Arkansas

  • 1,784enrollment
  • $21,677net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1200SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Randolph Macon College
Connect Me
R
Ashland, VA

Randolph Macon College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,490enrollment
  • $28,389net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1220SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Dordt College
Connect Me
D
Sioux Center, IA

Dordt College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,861enrollment
  • $27,375net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1260SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Westminster College
Connect Me
W
New Wilmington, PA

Westminster College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#36 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,211enrollment
  • $22,645net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1258SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Siena Heights University
Connect Me
S
Adrian, MI

Siena Heights University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,857enrollment
  • $20,074net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 930-1133SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.32Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Immaculata University
Connect Me
I
Immaculata, PA

Immaculata University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#37 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,361enrollment
  • $29,188net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1260SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Anderson University
Connect Me
A
Anderson, IN

Anderson University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,290enrollment
  • $21,459net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 980-1220SAT range
  • 17-25ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Tuskegee University
Connect Me
T
HBCU
Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Alabama

  • 2,570enrollment
  • $35,596net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 970-1215SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Marietta College
Connect Me
M
Marietta, OH

Marietta College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,198enrollment
  • $22,895net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 940-1130SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Spring Arbor University
Connect Me
S
Spring Arbor, MI
 

Spring Arbor University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 2,396enrollment
  • $22,375net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 970-1135SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Drury University
Connect Me
D
Springfield, MO
 

Drury University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Missouri

  • 1,595enrollment
  • $20,996net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1360SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 30

Compare Calculate my chances 

Explore the best small schools by state: