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

University of Wisconsin Superior
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W
Superior, WI

University of Wisconsin Superior

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Public Universities in Wisconsin

  • 2,726enrollment
  • $13,126net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.32Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Schreiner University
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S
Kerrville, TX

Schreiner University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#24 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,208enrollment
  • $21,786net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 970-1160SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

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Grand View University
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G
Des Moines, IA
 

Grand View University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,796enrollment
  • $22,296net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 920-1080SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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William Penn University
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W
Oskaloosa, IA
 

William Penn University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,536enrollment
  • $22,361net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 830-1100SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA

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Mount Aloysius College
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M
Cresson, PA
 

Mount Aloysius College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#58 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,967enrollment
  • $20,570net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 900-1105SAT range
  • 15-24ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

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Limestone University
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L
Gaffney, SC
 

Limestone University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,782enrollment
  • $21,177net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 980-1160SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

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Friends University
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F
Wichita, KS
 

Friends University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Kansas

  • 1,927enrollment
  • $22,579net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 915-1090SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

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Nichols College
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N
Dudley, MA

Nichols College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#33 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,354enrollment
  • $31,032net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1190SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.9Avg GPA

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University of Maryland Eastern Shore
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M
HBCU
Princess Anne, MD

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in Maryland

  • 2,844enrollment
  • $14,595net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 840-1010SAT range
  • 16-19ACT range
  • 3.07Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Columbia College
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C
Columbia, SC
 

Columbia College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,572enrollment
  • $23,920net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 850-1140SAT range
  • 14-18ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

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SUNY College of Technology at Canton
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O
Canton, NY

SUNY College of Technology at Canton

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#33 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,919enrollment
  • $14,451net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1160SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA

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Belmont Abbey College
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B
Belmont, NC

Belmont Abbey College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,650enrollment
  • $23,463net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 940-1190SAT range
  • 17-25ACT range
  • 3.32Avg GPA

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Midway University
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M
Midway, KY

Midway University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky

  • 1,945enrollment
  • $24,739net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1120SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

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Hope International University
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H
Fullerton, CA

Hope International University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,140enrollment
  • $30,514net price
  • 35%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1180SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 20

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Lourdes University
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L
Sylvania, OH
 

Lourdes University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,014enrollment
  • $22,614net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 850-1080SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

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University of South Carolina Beaufort
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S
Bluffton, SC

University of South Carolina Beaufort

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in South Carolina

  • 2,121enrollment
  • $15,781net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 940-1110SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

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Wilson College
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W
Chambersburg, PA
 

Wilson College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#59 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,694enrollment
  • $21,567net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 940-1110SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

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Newberry College
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N
Newberry, SC

Newberry College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,507enrollment
  • $20,941net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 820-1060SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

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