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

Bethel College Mishawaka
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B
Mishawaka, IN
 

Bethel College Mishawaka

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,292enrollment
  • $18,746net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 800-920SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Hope International University
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H
Fullerton, CA

Hope International University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#32 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,116enrollment
  • $26,146net price
  • 32%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1180SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 20

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Notre Dame College
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N
Cleveland, OH
 

Notre Dame College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,444enrollment
  • $20,151net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 890-1100SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.09Estimated Avg GPA

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Mount Olive College
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M
Mount Olive, NC
 

Mount Olive College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 2,239enrollment
  • $17,878net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 990-1150SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 2.85Avg GPA

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Crown College
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C
Saint Bonifacius, MN

Crown College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,583enrollment
  • $25,504net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 960-1150SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.22Avg GPA

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American International College
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A
Springfield, MA
 

American International College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#34 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,010enrollment
  • $18,317net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 940-1110SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.91Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 7

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Barton College
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B
Wilson, NC
 

Barton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,265enrollment
  • $23,443net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 970-1150SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

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Johnson C Smith University
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J
HBCU
Charlotte, NC

Johnson C Smith University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,093enrollment
  • $20,045net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 800-980SAT range
  • 13-18ACT range
  • 2.48Avg GPA

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Concordia University Texas
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C
Austin, TX

Concordia University Texas

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,863enrollment
  • $24,761net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1190SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

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William Penn University
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W
Oskaloosa, IA
 

William Penn University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,473enrollment
  • $20,922net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 850-1080SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA

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Coker College
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C
Hartsville, SC

Coker College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,160enrollment
  • $19,345net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 940-1160SAT range
  • 16-24ACT range
  • 3.1Estimated Avg GPA

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Dillard University
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D
HBCU
New Orleans, LA

Dillard University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Louisiana

  • 1,224enrollment
  • $18,949net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 988-1176SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

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Arizona Christian University
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A
Phoenix, AZ
 

Arizona Christian University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Arizona

  • 1,082enrollment
  • $28,755net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 960-1170SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.16Avg GPA

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Elizabeth City State University
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E
HBCU
Elizabeth City, NC

Elizabeth City State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 2,149enrollment
  • $4,120net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 850-1070SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.16Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 30

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Concord University
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C
Athens, WV

Concord University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in West Virginia

  • 1,748enrollment
  • $8,464net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 890-1135SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

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Point University
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P
East Point, GA
 

Point University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 2,015enrollment
  • $19,890net price
  • 24%acceptance rate
  • 850-1100SAT range
  • 13-23ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

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Wilmington College
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W
Wilmington, OH
 

Wilmington College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#31 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,046enrollment
  • $24,528net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 850-1010SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Wilson College
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W
Chambersburg, PA
 

Wilson College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#58 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,360enrollment
  • $23,923net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 970-1120SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

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