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

Dickinson State University
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D
Dickinson, ND

Dickinson State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in North Dakota

  • 1,453enrollment
  • $15,490net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 875-1130SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.11Avg GPA

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Catawba College
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C
Salisbury, NC

Catawba College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,241enrollment
  • $18,319net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1186SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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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

  • 1,611enrollment
  • $28,076net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 880-1140SAT range
  • 18-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

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Minot State University
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M
Minot, ND

Minot State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in North Dakota

  • 2,741enrollment
  • $12,349net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 930-1180SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 30

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Baker University
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B
Baldwin City, KS

Baker University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Kansas

  • 1,945enrollment
  • $23,410net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 970-1130SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

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Siena Heights University
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S
Adrian, MI

Siena Heights University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,832enrollment
  • $17,740net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 890-1140SAT range
  • 16-20ACT range
  • 3.32Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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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

  • 1,527enrollment
  • $28,477net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1085-1260SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.12Avg GPA

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North Greenville University
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N
Tigerville, SC

North Greenville University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 2,219enrollment
  • $20,264net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 22

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University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne
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S
Fort Wayne, IN
 

University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,852enrollment
  • $20,897net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 920-1130SAT range
  • 17-25ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

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Graceland University Lamoni
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G
Lamoni, IA
 

Graceland University Lamoni

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,195enrollment
  • $16,632net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 880-1120SAT range
  • 16-24ACT range
  • 3.22Avg GPA

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Benedictine College
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B
Atchison, KS
 

Benedictine College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Kansas

  • 2,465enrollment
  • $28,451net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1117-1310SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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Centenary University
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C
Hackettstown, NJ

Centenary University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 1,453enrollment
  • $22,838net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 990-1170SAT range
  • 15-22ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

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La Roche College
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L
Pittsburgh, PA
 

La Roche College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#49 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,618enrollment
  • $24,638net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1055-1235SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.2Avg 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

#12 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,711enrollment
  • $21,862net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 28-29ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

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Hastings College
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H
Hastings, NE
 

Hastings College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Nebraska

  • 1,011enrollment
  • $21,821net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 960-1180SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Lubbock Christian University
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L
Lubbock, TX

Lubbock Christian University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,589enrollment
  • $25,351net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 900-1160SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Keuka College
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K
Keuka Park, NY
 

Keuka College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#55 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,284enrollment
  • $26,153net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1008-1183SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

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The Evergreen State College
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E
Olympia, WA

The Evergreen State College

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Washington

  • 2,320enrollment
  • $18,480net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 890-1260SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.12Avg GPA

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