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

Flagler College St Augustine
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F
Saint Augustine, FL

Flagler College St Augustine

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 2,441enrollment
  • $31,085net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 990-1200SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.38Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Thomas More University
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T
Crestview Hills, KY
 

Thomas More University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky

  • 1,947enrollment
  • $21,314net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1150SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

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University of Charleston
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C
Charleston, WV

University of Charleston

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in West Virginia

  • 2,758enrollment
  • $21,100net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 985-1160SAT range
  • 19-23ACT range
  • 3.13Estimated Avg GPA

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Reinhardt University
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R
Waleska, GA

Reinhardt University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 1,170enrollment
  • $27,507net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 940-1160SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

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Seton Hill University
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S
Greensburg, PA

Seton Hill University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#50 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,984enrollment
  • $23,732net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1270SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Cairn University
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C
Langhorne, PA
 

Cairn University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#51 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,056enrollment
  • $27,603net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

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Lake Superior State University
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L
Sault Ste Marie, MI

Lake Superior State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in Michigan

  • 1,669enrollment
  • $14,345net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1225SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

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University of Saint Mary
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S
Leavenworth, KS
 

University of Saint Mary

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Kansas

  • 1,414enrollment
  • $23,611net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 926-1093SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

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Methodist University
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M
Fayetteville, NC
 

Methodist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,768enrollment
  • $25,786net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1220SAT range
  • 23-25ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

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University of Dubuque
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D
Dubuque, IA

University of Dubuque

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,795enrollment
  • $25,216net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 950-1160SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

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Jamestown College
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J
Jamestown, ND
 

Jamestown College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in North Dakota

  • 1,215enrollment
  • $20,897net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 900-1140SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.25Estimated Avg GPA

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Aquinas College
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A
Grand Rapids, MI

Aquinas College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,295enrollment
  • $19,890net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 990-1210SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

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Piedmont College
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P
Demorest, GA

Piedmont College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 1,840enrollment
  • $21,599net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 990-1170SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Buena Vista University
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B
Storm Lake, IA

Buena Vista University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,951enrollment
  • $18,156net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 930-1130SAT range
  • 20-24ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

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Converse College
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C
Spartanburg, SC

Converse College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,341enrollment
  • $19,438net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1238SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.89Avg 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

#14 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,074enrollment
  • $16,414net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 960-1100SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Neumann University
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N
Aston, PA
 

Neumann University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#53 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,171enrollment
  • $29,298net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 905-1085SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Madonna University
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M
Livonia, MI

Madonna University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 2,054enrollment
  • $18,583net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 890-1120SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

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