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

King College
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K
Bristol, TN
 

King College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,357enrollment
  • $22,626net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1160SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

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Lasell College
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L
Newton, MA

Lasell College

Private 4 Year

18 reviews

#31 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,591enrollment
  • $29,706net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 995-1268SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.12Avg GPA

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Quincy University
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Q
Quincy, IL

Quincy University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,307enrollment
  • $11,985net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1240SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

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Rocky Mountain College
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R
Billings, MT

Rocky Mountain College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Montana

  • 1,054enrollment
  • $19,353net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 970-1230SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

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Hiram College
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H
Hiram, OH

Hiram College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#26 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,018enrollment
  • $19,384net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 890-1100SAT range
  • 16-24ACT range
  • 3.28Avg GPA

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Northwestern College
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N
Orange City, IA

Northwestern College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,651enrollment
  • $25,198net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 940-1240SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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University of Montevallo
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M
Montevallo, AL

University of Montevallo

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 2,586enrollment
  • $17,421net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 970-1200SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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University of Hawaii at Hilo
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H
Hilo, HI

University of Hawaii at Hilo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Hawaii

  • 2,977enrollment
  • $13,867net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 960-1200SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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University of Connecticut Stamford
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C
Stamford, CT

University of Connecticut Stamford

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Connecticut

  • 2,297enrollment
  • $13,933net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 990-1240SAT range
  • 18-27ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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La Sierra University
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L
Riverside, CA
 

La Sierra University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,614enrollment
  • $25,076net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 880-1140SAT range
  • 18-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

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Graceland University Lamoni
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G
Lamoni, IA
 

Graceland University Lamoni

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,237enrollment
  • $16,627net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 880-1120SAT range
  • 16-24ACT range
  • 3.22Avg GPA

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University of Maine at Farmington
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M
Farmington, ME
 

University of Maine at Farmington

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Maine

  • 1,837enrollment
  • $14,486net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 990-1245SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.15Avg GPA

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College of Mount Saint Vincent
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M
Bronx, NY

College of Mount Saint Vincent

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#53 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,877enrollment
  • $17,084net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 943-1216SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.14Estimated Avg GPA

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Greenville University
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G
Greenville, IL

Greenville University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#26 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,088enrollment
  • $20,718net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 809-1209SAT range
  • 15-28ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

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Seton Hill University
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S
Greensburg, PA

Seton Hill University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#46 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,988enrollment
  • $24,576net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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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

  • 1,444enrollment
  • $23,683net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 970-1120SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

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Penn State Berks
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P
Reading, PA

Penn State Berks

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 2,077enrollment
  • $21,728net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1290SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.39Estimated Avg GPA

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Vanguard University of Southern California
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V
Costa Mesa, CA
 

Vanguard University of Southern California

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#30 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,256enrollment
  • $24,279net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 980-1200SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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