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

Curry College
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C
Milton, MA

Curry College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#29 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,052enrollment
  • $31,091net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1083-1165SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.01Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Huntington University
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H
Huntington, IN
 

Huntington University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,472enrollment
  • $20,066net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 970-1210SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

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North Park University
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N
Chicago, IL

North Park University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,660enrollment
  • $19,029net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 890-1162SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

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Ave Maria University
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A
Ave Maria, FL

Ave Maria University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 1,310enrollment
  • $21,078net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1018-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

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Carthage College
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C
Kenosha, WI

Carthage College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 2,667enrollment
  • $26,209net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 980-1200SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

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Christian Brothers University
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C
Memphis, TN
 

Christian Brothers University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,934enrollment
  • $18,612net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1280SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

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McKendree University
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M
Lebanon, IL

McKendree University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,960enrollment
  • $22,431net price
  • 68%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

#2 Best Private Colleges in Louisiana

  • 1,228enrollment
  • $15,916net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 20-24ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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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

  • 2,465enrollment
  • $18,502net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1140SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Tennessee Wesleyan College
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T
Athens, TN
 

Tennessee Wesleyan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,052enrollment
  • $13,591net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 950-1150SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Trinity International University
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T
Deerfield, IL
 

Trinity International University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#24 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,242enrollment
  • $16,703net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 925-1106SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

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Mount Vernon Nazarene University
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M
Mount Vernon, OH
 

Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,941enrollment
  • $23,391net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 963-1228SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

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Viterbo University
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V
La Crosse, WI

Viterbo University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 2,456enrollment
  • $23,257net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1240SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Texas Lutheran University
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T
Seguin, TX

Texas Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,369enrollment
  • $21,442net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1220SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

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Pfeiffer University
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P
Misenheimer, NC

Pfeiffer University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,076enrollment
  • $21,575net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 891-1165SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.18Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Delaware Valley University
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D
Doylestown, PA

Delaware Valley University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#45 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,178enrollment
  • $29,256net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1198SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

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Fisk University
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F
HBCU
Nashville, TN

Fisk University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,055enrollment
  • $20,578net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1450SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Virginia Wesleyan College
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V
Norfolk, VA

Virginia Wesleyan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,538enrollment
  • $23,046net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1365SAT range
  • 27-29ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

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