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

University of Saint Joseph
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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

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College of Our Lady of the Elms
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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

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Canisius College
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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

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SUNY Maritime College
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S
Throggs Neck, NY

SUNY Maritime College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 1,350enrollment
  • $20,398net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1091-1285SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

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Emmanuel College
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E
Boston, MA

Emmanuel College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,059enrollment
  • $33,214net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1330SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Hartwick College
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H
Oneonta, NY

Hartwick College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#41 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,113enrollment
  • $26,818net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1280SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.36Estimated Avg GPA

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University of Pittsburgh Johnstown
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P
Johnstown, PA

University of Pittsburgh Johnstown

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 1,940enrollment
  • $17,909net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1255SAT range
  • 19-32ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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University of Pittsburgh Bradford
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P
Bradford, PA

University of Pittsburgh Bradford

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Pennsylvania

  • 1,003enrollment
  • $17,015net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1260SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.28Avg GPA

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Houghton College
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H
Houghton, NY

Houghton College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#43 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,014enrollment
  • $22,358net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1390SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

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Manhattanville College
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M
Purchase, NY

Manhattanville College

Private 4 Year

25 reviews

#44 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,379enrollment
  • $25,017net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1230SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.19Avg GPA

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Marymount Manhattan College
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M
New York, NY

Marymount Manhattan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#45 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,648enrollment
  • $38,426net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1300SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Curry College
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C
Milton, MA

Curry College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#29 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,994enrollment
  • $30,367net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.01Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Saint Francis University
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S
Loretto, PA

Saint Francis University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#35 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,835enrollment
  • $27,421net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1250SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

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Immaculata University
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I
Immaculata, PA

Immaculata University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#37 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,407enrollment
  • $29,499net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • 26-28ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Caldwell University
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C
Caldwell, NJ
 

Caldwell University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 1,864enrollment
  • $23,071net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1320SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

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King's College
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K
Wilkes-Barre, PA

King's College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#38 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,932enrollment
  • $25,608net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1240SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Mount Saint Mary College
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M
Newburgh, NY

Mount Saint Mary College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#49 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,246enrollment
  • $24,588net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1255SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

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Saint Bonaventure University
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S
Saint Bonaventure, NY

Saint Bonaventure University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#50 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,603enrollment
  • $27,659net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 30

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