The Best Eastern Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in the East for 2025

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in the East 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 Williams College. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
East small Public Private 4 year

123 results

Bryn Mawr College
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B
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,666enrollment
  • $39,383net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Union College
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U
Schenectady, NY

Union College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,082enrollment
  • $42,884net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Mount Holyoke College
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M
South Hadley, MA

Mount Holyoke College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,330enrollment
  • $35,782net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1500SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Rhode Island School of Design
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R
Providence, RI

Rhode Island School of Design

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 2,540enrollment
  • $42,106net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1540SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.71Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Muhlenberg College
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M
Allentown, PA

Muhlenberg College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,818enrollment
  • $31,814net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1400SAT range
  • 28-31ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Sarah Lawrence College
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S
Bronxville, NY

Sarah Lawrence College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,743enrollment
  • $43,571net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1440SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Hobart William Smith Colleges
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H
Geneva, NY

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,669enrollment
  • $33,172net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1360SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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St Lawrence University
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S
Canton, NY

St Lawrence University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,089enrollment
  • $36,175net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1255-1410SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Wheaton College
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W
Norton, MA

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,778enrollment
  • $31,638net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1420SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Allegheny College
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A
Meadville, PA

Allegheny College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,231enrollment
  • $27,929net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Bard College
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B
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY

Bard College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,922enrollment
  • $25,218net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1440SAT range
  • 30-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Ursinus College
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U
Collegeville, PA

Ursinus College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,492enrollment
  • $31,625net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Moravian University
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M
Bethlehem, PA

Moravian University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,658enrollment
  • $30,720net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1230SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

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Nazareth College
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N
Rochester, NY

Nazareth College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,439enrollment
  • $31,321net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1330SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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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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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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