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

Capital University
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C
Columbus, OH

Capital University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,388enrollment
  • $22,480net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 980-1190SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Georgian Court University
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G
Lakewood, NJ

Georgian Court University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 1,910enrollment
  • $21,072net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1043-1251SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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Westminster College
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W
New Wilmington, PA

Westminster College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#42 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,203enrollment
  • $21,089net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1258SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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Central College
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C
Pella, IA

Central College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,095enrollment
  • $22,499net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 935-1205SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

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Spring Arbor University
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S
Spring Arbor, MI
 

Spring Arbor University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 2,390enrollment
  • $21,720net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 935-1165SAT range
  • 17-25ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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College of Mount St. Joseph
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M
Cincinnati, OH
 

College of Mount St. Joseph

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,083enrollment
  • $15,887net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 880-1083SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

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Ave Maria University
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A
Ave Maria, FL

Ave Maria University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 1,335enrollment
  • $23,515net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1018-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

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Texas Lutheran University
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T
Seguin, TX

Texas Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,361enrollment
  • $23,600net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1230SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

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Tuskegee University
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T
HBCU
Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Alabama

  • 2,846enrollment
  • $35,126net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 995-1255SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

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Oklahoma Baptist University
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O
Shawnee, OK

Oklahoma Baptist University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Oklahoma

  • 1,526enrollment
  • $25,099net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1190SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

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Northwest Nazarene University
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N
Nampa, ID

Northwest Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Idaho

  • 1,774enrollment
  • $27,291net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 940-1210SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Saint Thomas Aquinas College
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S
Sparkill, NY
 

Saint Thomas Aquinas College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#53 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,950enrollment
  • $21,257net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 920-1270SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Walsh University
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W
North Canton, OH
 

Walsh University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,160enrollment
  • $21,009net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1056-1215SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.38Estimated Avg GPA

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Wartburg College
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W
Waverly, IA
 

Wartburg College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,472enrollment
  • $23,321net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 978-1235SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

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Emory and Henry College
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E
Emory, VA

Emory and Henry College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,364enrollment
  • $21,714net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1240SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Cedar Crest College
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C
Allentown, PA

Cedar Crest College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#44 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,248enrollment
  • $23,036net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1230SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

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Mercy College of Ohio
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M
Toledo, OH
 

Mercy College of Ohio

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#24 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,150enrollment
  • $15,705net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 850-1070SAT range
  • 15-22ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Huntington University
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H
Huntington, IN
 

Huntington University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,504enrollment
  • $21,149net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1190SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

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