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 Mary of the Woods College
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S
Saint Mary of the Woods, IN
 

Saint Mary of the Woods College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,227enrollment
  • $18,470net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 875-1070SAT range
  • 15-18ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

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Texas Wesleyan University
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T
Fort Worth, TX

Texas Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 2,595enrollment
  • $21,169net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 970-1150SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

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McMurry University
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M
Abilene, TX

McMurry University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 2,549enrollment
  • $20,817net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1170SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Brenau University
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B
Gainesville, GA

Brenau University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 2,420enrollment
  • $20,860net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 990-1170SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

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Coppin State University
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C
HBCU
Baltimore, MD

Coppin State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Maryland

  • 2,101enrollment
  • $7,684net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 860-1040SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Cleary University
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C
Howell, MI
 

Cleary University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,040enrollment
  • $24,965net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 950-1170SAT range
  • 18-19ACT range
  • 3.17Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Spalding University
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S
Louisville, KY

Spalding University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky

  • 1,555enrollment
  • $25,539net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 853-1103SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

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Adrian College
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A
Adrian, MI

Adrian College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,760enrollment
  • $22,053net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 880-1120SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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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

#31 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 1,792enrollment
  • $18,122net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 990-1170SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

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West Virginia University Institute of Technology
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W
Montgomery, WV

West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in West Virginia

  • 1,448enrollment
  • $11,015net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 900-1120SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Lancaster Bible College
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L
Lancaster, PA
 

Lancaster Bible College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#55 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,455enrollment
  • $22,872net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1270SAT range
  • 21-23ACT range
  • 3.31Estimated Avg GPA

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Freed Hardeman University
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F
Henderson, TN
 

Freed Hardeman University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,294enrollment
  • $18,267net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 934-1084SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

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SUNY Morrisville
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S
Morrisville, NY
 

SUNY Morrisville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#32 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,040enrollment
  • $16,855net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 860-1060SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 2.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Ottawa University Ottawa
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O
Ottawa, KS
 

Ottawa University Ottawa

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Kansas

  • 1,055enrollment
  • $28,126net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 880-1140SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.12Avg GPA

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Heidelberg University
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H
Tiffin, OH
 

Heidelberg University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,059enrollment
  • $19,620net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1162SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

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Felician College
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F
Lodi, NJ
 

Felician College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 2,236enrollment
  • $15,818net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 890-1150SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.05Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Concordia University Ann Arbor
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C
Ann Arbor, MI

Concordia University Ann Arbor

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,351enrollment
  • $28,020net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.19Avg GPA

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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

  • 1,224enrollment
  • $19,409net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 866-1123SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.13Avg GPA

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