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

Milwaukee School of Engineering
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M
Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 2,834enrollment
  • $26,122net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1405SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 1

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Linfield University
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L
McMinnville, OR

Linfield University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Oregon

  • 1,726enrollment
  • $31,462net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1210SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Kalamazoo College
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K
Kalamazoo, MI

Kalamazoo College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,196enrollment
  • $26,050net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1188-1373SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Indiana Wesleyan University
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I
Marion, IN

Indiana Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,207enrollment
  • $23,364net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 970-1180SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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Washington & Jefferson College
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W
Washington, PA

Washington & Jefferson College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,162enrollment
  • $26,051net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

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Seattle Pacific University
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S
Seattle, WA

Seattle Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Washington

  • 2,659enrollment
  • $26,155net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 11

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John Carroll University
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J
University Heights, OH

John Carroll University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,773enrollment
  • $30,790net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1350SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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Kettering University
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K
Flint, MI

Kettering University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,605enrollment
  • $33,616net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1310SAT range
  • 26-29ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

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Willamette University
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W
Salem, OR

Willamette University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Oregon

  • 2,112enrollment
  • $27,716net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
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O
Syracuse, NY

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,737enrollment
  • $19,644net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1300SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Elizabethtown College
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E
Elizabethtown, PA
 

Elizabethtown College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,152enrollment
  • $27,019net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1280SAT range
  • 19-29ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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Springfield College
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S
Springfield, MA

Springfield College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,785enrollment
  • $29,198net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1260SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of Minnesota Morris
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M
Morris, MN

University of Minnesota Morris

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,020enrollment
  • $9,539net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Goucher College
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G
Baltimore, MD

Goucher College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Maryland

  • 1,500enrollment
  • $28,749net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1366SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Concordia College at Moorhead
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C
Moorhead, MN

Concordia College at Moorhead

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,868enrollment
  • $25,488net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1420SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

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Saint Anselm College
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S
Manchester, NH

Saint Anselm College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in New Hampshire

  • 2,078enrollment
  • $35,091net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 25-27ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Lake Forest College
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L
Lake Forest, IL

Lake Forest College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,818enrollment
  • $29,894net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1365SAT range
  • 28-31ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Saint Johns University
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S
Collegeville, MN

Saint Johns University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,624enrollment
  • $29,473net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1145-1280SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

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