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

Elizabethtown College
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E
Elizabethtown, PA
 

Elizabethtown College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,021enrollment
  • $26,723net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1280SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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Juniata College
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J
Huntingdon, PA

Juniata College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#24 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,212enrollment
  • $29,926net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1340SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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John Carroll University
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J
University Heights, OH

John Carroll University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,922enrollment
  • $30,496net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1320SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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College of Saint Benedict
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S
Saint Joseph, MN

College of Saint Benedict

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,470enrollment
  • $28,746net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1055-1245SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

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Chatham University
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C
Pittsburgh, PA

Chatham University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,387enrollment
  • $28,322net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1270SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

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Queens University of Charlotte
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Q
Charlotte, NC

Queens University of Charlotte

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,873enrollment
  • $29,459net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1255SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.41Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 7

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University of Saint Joseph
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S
West Hartford, CT

University of Saint Joseph

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 1,992enrollment
  • $25,860net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1275SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

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University of North Carolina School of the Arts
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N
Winston-Salem, NC

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 1,104enrollment
  • $11,251net price
  • 32%acceptance rate
  • 1115-1350SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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Saint Johns University
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S
Collegeville, MN

Saint Johns University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,645enrollment
  • $27,982net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 915-1185SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

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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

  • 2,603enrollment
  • $21,755net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1190SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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Augustana College
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A
Rock Island, IL

Augustana College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,349enrollment
  • $24,660net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Whitworth University
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W
Spokane, WA

Whitworth University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 2,415enrollment
  • $28,299net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1350SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Pacific Lutheran University
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P
Tacoma, WA

Pacific Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Washington

  • 2,633enrollment
  • $24,825net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1253-1423SAT range
  • 27-30ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Valparaiso University
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V
Valparaiso, IN

Valparaiso University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,958enrollment
  • $22,755net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1360SAT range
  • 27-30ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

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University of Evansville
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E
Evansville, IN

University of Evansville

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,017enrollment
  • $19,301net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1045-1300SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

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Gwynedd Mercy College
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G
Gwynedd Valley, PA
 

Gwynedd Mercy College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#26 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,091enrollment
  • $28,122net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1015-1235SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.34Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 20

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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

  • 1,068enrollment
  • $11,169net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Susquehanna University
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S
Selinsgrove, PA

Susquehanna University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,231enrollment
  • $28,605net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1088-1280SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

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