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

Emory and Henry College
Connect Me
E
Emory, VA

Emory and Henry College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,358enrollment
  • $20,834net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 960-1150SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Connect Me
C
Fayette, MO
 

Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Missouri

  • 1,080enrollment
  • $24,828net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 930-1090SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Mount Marty College
Connect Me
M
Yankton, SD
 

Mount Marty College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in South Dakota

  • 1,252enrollment
  • $21,476net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 810-1050SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Castleton State College
Connect Me
C
Castleton, VT
 

Castleton State College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Vermont

  • 2,363enrollment
  • $16,791net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 970-1210SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.17Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Jamestown College
Connect Me
J
Jamestown, ND
 

Jamestown College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in North Dakota

  • 1,242enrollment
  • $19,950net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 900-1140SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.25Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Coppin State University
Connect Me
C
HBCU
Baltimore, MD

Coppin State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Maryland

  • 2,006enrollment
  • $8,562net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 860-1040SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
La Roche College
Connect Me
L
Pittsburgh, PA
 

La Roche College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#54 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,068enrollment
  • $24,233net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 970-1170SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Heidelberg University
Connect Me
H
Tiffin, OH
 

Heidelberg University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,086enrollment
  • $20,053net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1162SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Grace College and Theological Seminary
Connect Me
G
Winona Lake, IN
 

Grace College and Theological Seminary

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,065enrollment
  • $18,317net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 970-1190SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Johnson & Wales University Charlotte
Connect Me
J
Charlotte, NC
 

Johnson & Wales University Charlotte

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,140enrollment
  • $29,238net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 890-1122SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
SUNY Morrisville
Connect Me
S
Morrisville, NY
 

SUNY Morrisville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 1,803enrollment
  • $16,070net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 860-1060SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 2.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Marian University
Connect Me
M
Fond Du Lac, WI
 

Marian University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 1,340enrollment
  • $25,394net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 800-1080SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.16Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Rockford University
Connect Me
R
Rockford, IL
 

Rockford University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,181enrollment
  • $25,047net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 840-1086SAT range
  • 12-20ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
North Greenville University
Connect Me
N
Tigerville, SC

North Greenville University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 2,125enrollment
  • $11,705net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 980-1210SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 22

Compare Calculate my chances 
Freed Hardeman University
Connect Me
F
Henderson, TN
 

Freed Hardeman University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,330enrollment
  • $18,556net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1240SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Aquinas College
Connect Me
A
Grand Rapids, MI

Aquinas College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,265enrollment
  • $18,605net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1180SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Franklin Pierce University
Connect Me
F
Rindge, NH

Franklin Pierce University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in New Hampshire

  • 1,663enrollment
  • $28,434net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1170SAT range
  • 19-22ACT range
  • 2.97Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Oklahoma Christian University
Connect Me
O
Edmond, OK

Oklahoma Christian University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Oklahoma

  • 2,537enrollment
  • $20,237net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 

Explore the best small schools by state: