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

Marietta College
Connect Me
M
Marietta, OH

Marietta College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,171enrollment
  • $21,333net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 990-1295SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Roanoke College
Connect Me
R
Salem, VA

Roanoke College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,835enrollment
  • $27,695net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Valparaiso University
Connect Me
V
Valparaiso, IN

Valparaiso University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,846enrollment
  • $23,168net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1310SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Otis College of Art and Design
Connect Me
O
Los Angeles, CA

Otis College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,284enrollment
  • $49,440net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Saint Vincent College
Connect Me
S
Latrobe, PA

Saint Vincent College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,442enrollment
  • $23,857net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 993-1231SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham
Connect Me
F
Madison, NJ

Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 2,778enrollment
  • $26,472net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1310SAT range
  • 19-30ACT range
  • 3.42Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Ohio Wesleyan University
Connect Me
O
Delaware, OH

Ohio Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,452enrollment
  • $23,826net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1105-1350SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Presbyterian College
Connect Me
P
Clinton, SC

Presbyterian College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,136enrollment
  • $20,058net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 21

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Saint Joseph
Connect Me
S
West Hartford, CT

University of Saint Joseph

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 1,939enrollment
  • $27,558net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 960-1250SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
College of Our Lady of the Elms
Connect Me
O
Chicopee, MA

College of Our Lady of the Elms

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,332enrollment
  • $22,311net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1320SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Eckerd College
Connect Me
E
Saint Petersburg, FL

Eckerd College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 1,986enrollment
  • $40,122net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1336SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Andrews University
Connect Me
A
Berrien Springs, MI

Andrews University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 2,837enrollment
  • $24,874net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1370SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Berry College
Connect Me
B
Mount Berry, GA

Berry College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 2,370enrollment
  • $25,383net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1278SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Canisius College
Connect Me
C
Buffalo, NY

Canisius College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#40 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,545enrollment
  • $19,321net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Taylor University
Connect Me
T
Upland, IN

Taylor University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,398enrollment
  • $25,698net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1340SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
Connect Me
N
Omaha, NE
 

Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Nebraska

  • 1,040enrollment
  • $20,650net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Clarke University
Connect Me
C
Dubuque, IA
 

Clarke University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,025enrollment
  • $25,692net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 890-1045SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Coe College
Connect Me
C
Cedar Rapids, IA

Coe College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,278enrollment
  • $20,940net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 

Explore the best small schools by state: