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

Christian Brothers University
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C
Memphis, TN
 

Christian Brothers University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,043enrollment
  • $17,068net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1300SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

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Anderson University
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A
Anderson, IN

Anderson University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,255enrollment
  • $21,914net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 940-1170SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

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McKendree University
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M
Lebanon, IL

McKendree University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,075enrollment
  • $25,200net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 871-1277SAT range
  • 18-28ACT range
  • 3.38Avg GPA

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Our Lady of the Lake College
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O
Baton Rouge, LA
 

Our Lady of the Lake College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Louisiana

  • 1,204enrollment
  • $15,239net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 20-24ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Fisk University
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F
HBCU
Nashville, TN

Fisk University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,005enrollment
  • $19,836net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1480SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Gallaudet University
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G
Washington, DC

Gallaudet University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in District Of Columbia

  • 1,364enrollment
  • $15,025net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 750-933SAT range
  • 14-18ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

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Bridgewater College
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B
Bridgewater, VA

Bridgewater College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,436enrollment
  • $19,660net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1375SAT range
  • 28-29ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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MidAmerica Nazarene University
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M
Olathe, KS
 

MidAmerica Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Kansas

  • 1,539enrollment
  • $29,992net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 928-1118SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.28Avg GPA

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Saint Martin's University
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S
Lacey, WA

Saint Martin's University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 1,505enrollment
  • $22,779net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 970-1180SAT range
  • 14-22ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

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Hiram College
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H
Hiram, OH

Hiram College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,011enrollment
  • $21,362net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 890-1100SAT range
  • 16-24ACT range
  • 3.28Avg GPA

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Chaminade University of Honolulu
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C
Honolulu, HI

Chaminade University of Honolulu

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Hawaii

  • 2,602enrollment
  • $27,695net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1085-1320SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

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Oglethorpe University
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O
Atlanta, GA

Oglethorpe University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 1,522enrollment
  • $22,251net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1106-1320SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Penn State Altoona
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P
Altoona, PA
 

Penn State Altoona

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 2,421enrollment
  • $22,506net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.4Estimated Avg GPA

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North Park University
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N
Chicago, IL

North Park University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,624enrollment
  • $19,910net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 890-1162SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

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Valley City State University
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V
Valley City, ND
 

Valley City State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in North Dakota

  • 1,754enrollment
  • $13,841net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1110SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

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Dominican College of Blauvelt
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D
Orangeburg, NY
 

Dominican College of Blauvelt

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#54 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,378enrollment
  • $23,907net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1095-1235SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.09Avg GPA

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Alvernia University
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A
Reading, PA

Alvernia University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#46 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,485enrollment
  • $26,166net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1066-1253SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

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University of Lynchburg
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L
Lynchburg, VA

University of Lynchburg

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 2,592enrollment
  • $22,921net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 980-1230SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 1

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