The Best Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in America for 2025

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 2025 is California Institute of Technology. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
small Public Private 4 year

415 results nationwide

Mount Saint Mary College
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M
Newburgh, NY

Mount Saint Mary College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#49 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,246enrollment
  • $24,588net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1255SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

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Saint Bonaventure University
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S
Saint Bonaventure, NY

Saint Bonaventure University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#50 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,603enrollment
  • $27,659net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 30

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University of Mount Union
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M
Alliance, OH

University of Mount Union

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,169enrollment
  • $22,835net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1290SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.33Estimated Avg GPA

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Gwynedd Mercy College
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G
Gwynedd Valley, PA
 

Gwynedd Mercy College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#39 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,165enrollment
  • $26,733net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1048-1180SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.34Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 20

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Cabrini College
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C
Radnor, PA

Cabrini College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#40 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,048enrollment
  • $24,733net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1069-1257SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

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Southwestern College
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S
Winfield, KS
 

Southwestern College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Kansas

  • 1,139enrollment
  • $27,337net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 900-1220SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 22

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Millikin University
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M
Decatur, IL

Millikin University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,659enrollment
  • $10,078net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 860-1170SAT range
  • 14-24ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

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Nebraska Wesleyan University
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N
Lincoln, NE

Nebraska Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Nebraska

  • 1,690enrollment
  • $24,863net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1210SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Viterbo University
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V
La Crosse, WI

Viterbo University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 2,301enrollment
  • $23,901net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1380SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Drury University
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D
Springfield, MO
 

Drury University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Missouri

  • 1,596enrollment
  • $22,194net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1310SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 30

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Malone University
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M
Canton, OH
 

Malone University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,205enrollment
  • $23,362net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 885-1236SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

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Montana Tech of the University of Montana
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M
Butte, MT
 

Montana Tech of the University of Montana

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Montana

  • 1,622enrollment
  • $15,866net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1250SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Waynesburg University
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W
Waynesburg, PA

Waynesburg University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#41 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,315enrollment
  • $22,837net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1220SAT range
  • 16-25ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

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Bay Path University
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B
Longmeadow, MA

Bay Path University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,643enrollment
  • $14,935net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1140SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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D'Youville College
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D
Buffalo, NY

D'Youville College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#51 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,544enrollment
  • $20,268net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 885-1190SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

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Otterbein University
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O
Westerville, OH

Otterbein University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,357enrollment
  • $22,242net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1035-1260SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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Wayland Baptist University
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W
Plainview, TX

Wayland Baptist University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 2,861enrollment
  • $20,222net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 900-1090SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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The College of Saint Rose
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S
Albany, NY
 

The College of Saint Rose

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#52 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,538enrollment
  • $24,618net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1001-1228SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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