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

Rochester College
Connect Me
R
Rochester Hills, MI
 

Rochester College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,167enrollment
  • $18,665net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 840-1060SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.13Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Grand View University
Connect Me
G
Des Moines, IA
 

Grand View University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,827enrollment
  • $20,236net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 920-1080SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Wisconsin Superior
Connect Me
W
Superior, WI

University of Wisconsin Superior

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Public Universities in Wisconsin

  • 2,710enrollment
  • $12,908net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.32Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Schreiner University
Connect Me
S
Kerrville, TX

Schreiner University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#24 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,193enrollment
  • $24,278net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 970-1160SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Muskingum University
Connect Me
M
New Concord, OH
 

Muskingum University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#28 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,117enrollment
  • $19,682net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 950-1120SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Adams State College
Connect Me
A
Alamosa, CO

Adams State College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in Colorado

  • 2,854enrollment
  • $13,224net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 910-1130SAT range
  • 15-26ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
West Liberty University
Connect Me
W
West Liberty, WV

West Liberty University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in West Virginia

  • 2,315enrollment
  • $13,788net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 888-1130SAT range
  • 6-9ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Chestnut Hill College
Connect Me
C
Philadelphia, PA

Chestnut Hill College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#56 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,420enrollment
  • $25,357net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 900-1090SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.12Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Midway University
Connect Me
M
Midway, KY

Midway University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky

  • 1,441enrollment
  • $22,848net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1130SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Columbia College
Connect Me
C
Columbia, SC
 

Columbia College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,514enrollment
  • $18,779net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 850-1140SAT range
  • 14-18ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Mount Aloysius College
Connect Me
M
Cresson, PA
 

Mount Aloysius College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#57 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,752enrollment
  • $20,564net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 940-1110SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Belmont Abbey College
Connect Me
B
Belmont, NC

Belmont Abbey College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,501enrollment
  • $23,522net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 950-1140SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.32Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Lourdes University
Connect Me
L
Sylvania, OH
 

Lourdes University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,136enrollment
  • $22,634net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 850-1080SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Connect Me
M
HBCU
Princess Anne, MD

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in Maryland

  • 2,518enrollment
  • $12,020net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 840-1010SAT range
  • 16-19ACT range
  • 3.07Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
SUNY College of Technology at Canton
Connect Me
O
Canton, NY

SUNY College of Technology at Canton

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,836enrollment
  • $14,049net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1160SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Nichols College
Connect Me
N
Dudley, MA

Nichols College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#33 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,403enrollment
  • $27,192net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 945-1180SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.9Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
North Carolina Wesleyan College
Connect Me
N
Rocky Mount, NC
 

North Carolina Wesleyan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,337enrollment
  • $18,701net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 860-1120SAT range
  • 15-21ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
The University of Montana Western
Connect Me
M
Dillon, MT
 

The University of Montana Western

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Montana

  • 1,424enrollment
  • $11,584net price
  • 36%acceptance rate
  • 890-1120SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 

Explore the best small schools by state: