The Best Eastern Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in the East for 2024

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 2024 is Williams College. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


125 results

Union College
U
Schenectady, NY

Union College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,107enrollment
  • $41,136net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1490SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Bryn Mawr College
B
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,742enrollment
  • $39,072net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1495SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Mount Holyoke College
M
South Hadley, MA

Mount Holyoke College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,392enrollment
  • $35,765net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1540SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Muhlenberg College
M
Allentown, PA

Muhlenberg College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,959enrollment
  • $32,926net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1400SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Rhode Island School of Design
R
Providence, RI

Rhode Island School of Design

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 2,620enrollment
  • $39,800net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1525SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.71Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Hobart William Smith Colleges
H
Geneva, NY

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,607enrollment
  • $34,259net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Sarah Lawrence College
S
Bronxville, NY

Sarah Lawrence College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,696enrollment
  • $42,781net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1450SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

St Lawrence University
S
Canton, NY

St Lawrence University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,175enrollment
  • $33,283net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1410SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Wheaton College
W
Norton, MA

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,667enrollment
  • $32,863net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1390SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Springfield College
S
Springfield, MA

Springfield College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,921enrollment
  • $27,930net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1300SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Allegheny College
A
Meadville, PA

Allegheny College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,353enrollment
  • $26,719net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1114-1372SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
O
Syracuse, NY

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 1,976enrollment
  • $20,928net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1300SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Ursinus College
U
Collegeville, PA

Ursinus College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,527enrollment
  • $33,546net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1380SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Saint Anselm College
S
Manchester, NH

Saint Anselm College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in New Hampshire

  • 1,977enrollment
  • $35,080net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1290SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Nazareth College
N
Rochester, NY

Nazareth College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,522enrollment
  • $31,620net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1320SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Lebanon Valley College
L
Annville, PA

Lebanon Valley College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,080enrollment
  • $26,743net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1280SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica Rome
S
Utica, NY

SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica Rome

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,842enrollment
  • $13,799net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1400SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Moravian University
M
Bethlehem, PA

Moravian University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,533enrollment
  • $31,168net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1253SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA