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

Averett University
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A
Danville, VA

Averett University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,378enrollment
  • $24,091net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 960-1191SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.07Avg GPA

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Quincy University
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Q
Quincy, IL

Quincy University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#24 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,280enrollment
  • $17,424net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1250SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

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Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
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C
Fayette, MO
 

Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Missouri

  • 1,017enrollment
  • $25,050net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1041-1138SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Northwestern College
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N
Orange City, IA

Northwestern College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,665enrollment
  • $24,737net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 940-1240SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.57Avg 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

#28 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,219enrollment
  • $20,273net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 980-1200SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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King College
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K
Bristol, TN
 

King College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,295enrollment
  • $23,282net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1160SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

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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

  • 2,240enrollment
  • $13,150net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 960-1230SAT range
  • 16-25ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Northwood University Michigan
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N
Midland, MI

Northwood University Michigan

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 2,360enrollment
  • $26,429net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 950-1160SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

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Carthage College
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C
Kenosha, WI

Carthage College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 2,771enrollment
  • $24,962net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1205SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

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Marywood University
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M
Scranton, PA

Marywood University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#47 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,850enrollment
  • $24,712net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1240SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.58Avg 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

#26 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,845enrollment
  • $23,293net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 963-1228SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.55Avg 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

  • 1,944enrollment
  • $22,450net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1310SAT range
  • 26-29ACT range
  • 3.39Estimated Avg GPA

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Judson University
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J
Elgin, IL

Judson University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,058enrollment
  • $21,331net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 860-1080SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.16Avg GPA

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University of Pittsburgh Greensburg
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P
Greensburg, PA

University of Pittsburgh Greensburg

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 1,326enrollment
  • $17,196net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 1075-1275SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Guilford College
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G
Greensboro, NC

Guilford College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,208enrollment
  • $22,620net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.14Avg 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

  • 2,942enrollment
  • $17,280net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 970-1200SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.66Avg 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

#48 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,189enrollment
  • $28,401net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1270SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

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Maryville College
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M
Maryville, TN

Maryville College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,147enrollment
  • $20,990net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1018-1188SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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