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

Saint Joseph's College of Maine
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S
Standish, ME
 

Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Maine

  • 1,463enrollment
  • $28,268net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 910-1140SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA

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Johnson & Wales University Charlotte
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J
Charlotte, NC
 

Johnson & Wales University Charlotte

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,128enrollment
  • $29,481net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 920-1140SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Thomas University
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T
Thomasville, GA

Thomas University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 1,583enrollment
  • $19,087net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 970-1110SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Keene State College
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K
Keene, NH

Keene State College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in New Hampshire

  • 2,846enrollment
  • $20,405net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 970-1170SAT range
  • 24-25ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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Hardin Simmons University
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H
Abilene, TX

Hardin Simmons University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,655enrollment
  • $21,321net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 968-1190SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.43Avg GPA

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Life University
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L
Marietta, GA

Life University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 2,711enrollment
  • $30,403net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 900-1120SAT range
  • 15-19ACT range
  • 3.11Avg GPA

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Mount Marty College
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M
Yankton, SD
 

Mount Marty College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in South Dakota

  • 1,314enrollment
  • $23,163net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 810-1050SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

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Rockford University
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R
Rockford, IL
 

Rockford University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#28 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,249enrollment
  • $24,098net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 850-1070SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

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The University of Virginia's College at Wise
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V
Wise, VA

The University of Virginia's College at Wise

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 1,911enrollment
  • $10,409net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 935-1175SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Penn State Brandywine
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P
Media, PA

Penn State Brandywine

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 1,223enrollment
  • $21,739net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1340SAT range
  • 18-29ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Grace College and Theological Seminary
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G
Winona Lake, IN
 

Grace College and Theological Seminary

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,271enrollment
  • $21,680net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 950-1200SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Marian University
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M
Fond Du Lac, WI
 

Marian University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 1,319enrollment
  • $23,552net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 800-1080SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.16Estimated Avg 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

#3 Best Public Universities in Maine

  • 1,950enrollment
  • $15,383net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 915-1210SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.15Avg GPA

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Carlow University
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C
Pittsburgh, PA

Carlow University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#54 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,310enrollment
  • $20,561net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 850-1100SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

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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

#2 Best Public Universities in Hawaii

  • 2,781enrollment
  • $12,936net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 898-1110SAT range
  • 15-22ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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Greenville University
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G
Greenville, IL

Greenville University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,053enrollment
  • $21,442net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 811-1219SAT range
  • 14-24ACT range
  • 3.23Avg 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

  • 1,501enrollment
  • $27,827net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 800-1070SAT range
  • 15-24ACT range
  • 2.72Avg GPA

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Carson Newman College
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C
Jefferson City, TN
 

Carson Newman College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,735enrollment
  • $19,755net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 940-1130SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

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