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

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

  • 1,962enrollment
  • $18,187net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1043-1251SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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Gordon College
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G
Wenham, MA

Gordon College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#28 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,628enrollment
  • $24,483net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1086-1313SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Malone University
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M
Canton, OH
 

Malone University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,199enrollment
  • $21,571net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 943-1190SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

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Cardinal Stritch University
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C
Milwaukee, WI
 

Cardinal Stritch University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 1,332enrollment
  • $20,002net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1220SAT range
  • 18-21ACT range
  • 3.18Avg GPA

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Southern Adventist University
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S
Collegedale, TN
 

Southern Adventist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,903enrollment
  • $24,332net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 980-1280SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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University of Pittsburgh Johnstown
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P
Johnstown, PA

University of Pittsburgh Johnstown

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 2,043enrollment
  • $17,545net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1200SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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Saint Thomas Aquinas College
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S
Sparkill, NY
 

Saint Thomas Aquinas College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#49 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,033enrollment
  • $21,745net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 920-1270SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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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

  • 1,261enrollment
  • $14,564net price
  • 46%acceptance rate
  • 780-1030SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Gallaudet University
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G
Washington, DC

Gallaudet University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value Colleges in District Of Columbia

  • 1,322enrollment
  • $13,787net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 752-1089SAT range
  • 14-20ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

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Mount Saint Mary College
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M
Newburgh, NY

Mount Saint Mary College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#50 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,918enrollment
  • $23,439net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1075-1225SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

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MidAmerica Nazarene University
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M
Olathe, KS
 

MidAmerica Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Kansas

  • 1,508enrollment
  • $28,787net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 916-1118SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.28Avg GPA

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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

#51 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,786enrollment
  • $23,294net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1001-1228SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Madonna University
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M
Livonia, MI

Madonna University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 2,109enrollment
  • $18,344net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 890-1140SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

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St. Francis College
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S
Brooklyn Heights, NY

St. Francis College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#52 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,661enrollment
  • $18,602net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 990-1240SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 2.9Avg GPA

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Penn State Altoona
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P
Altoona, PA
 

Penn State Altoona

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 2,577enrollment
  • $20,621net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.4Estimated Avg GPA

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University of Lynchburg
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L
Lynchburg, VA

University of Lynchburg

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 2,394enrollment
  • $23,256net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1230SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 1

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Marywood University
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M
Scranton, PA

Marywood University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#44 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,729enrollment
  • $22,504net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1200SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

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Converse College
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C
Spartanburg, SC

Converse College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,284enrollment
  • $19,653net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1235SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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