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

Averett University
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A
Danville, VA

Averett University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,363enrollment
  • $23,781net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 850-1170SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.07Avg GPA

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Benedictine College
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B
Atchison, KS
 

Benedictine College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Kansas

  • 2,362enrollment
  • $30,067net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1360SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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Methodist University
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M
Fayetteville, NC
 

Methodist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,811enrollment
  • $28,129net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1063-1200SAT range
  • 23-26ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

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Bridgewater College
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B
Bridgewater, VA

Bridgewater College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,421enrollment
  • $19,332net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1230SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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University of Pittsburgh Greensburg
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P
Greensburg, PA

University of Pittsburgh Greensburg

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 1,328enrollment
  • $18,194net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1275SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Holy Family University
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H
Philadelphia, PA
 

Holy Family University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#47 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,912enrollment
  • $12,379net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 852-1092SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.13Avg 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

#9 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 1,609enrollment
  • $21,811net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 925-1180SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

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Mount Mary College
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M
Milwaukee, WI
 

Mount Mary College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 1,198enrollment
  • $22,897net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 866-1123SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.13Avg GPA

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Illinois College
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I
Jacksonville, IL

Illinois College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,029enrollment
  • $16,296net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 960-1126SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

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Thomas More University
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T
Crestview Hills, KY
 

Thomas More University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky

  • 1,958enrollment
  • $21,962net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1005-1256SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.35Avg 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

  • 1,658enrollment
  • $12,164net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1110SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

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Fisher College
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F
Boston, MA

Fisher College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#32 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,421enrollment
  • $26,257net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 800-1070SAT range
  • 15-24ACT range
  • 2.72Avg GPA

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SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill
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O
Cobleskill, NY

SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#27 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 1,783enrollment
  • $17,602net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 910-1150SAT range
  • 17-26ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

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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

#15 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,903enrollment
  • $18,162net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 930-1130SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

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Guilford College
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G
Greensboro, NC

Guilford College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,167enrollment
  • $23,882net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 910-1180SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

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Oglethorpe University
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O
Atlanta, GA

Oglethorpe University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 1,491enrollment
  • $20,094net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1065-1305SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Cabrini College
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C
Radnor, PA

Cabrini College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#50 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,613enrollment
  • $21,981net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1210SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.1Avg 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

  • 1,596enrollment
  • $23,551net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 940-1190SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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