The Best New England Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in New England for 2025

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in New England 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.


35 results

Williams College
W
Williamstown, MA

Williams College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,168enrollment
  • $16,988net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

Amherst College
A
Amherst, MA

Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,910enrollment
  • $17,965net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1550SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

Wellesley College
W
Wellesley, MA

Wellesley College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,418enrollment
  • $21,501net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

Bowdoin College
B
Brunswick, ME

Bowdoin College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#21 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 1,850enrollment
  • $23,110net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Middlebury College
M
Middlebury, VT

Middlebury College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 2,857enrollment
  • $22,912net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 33-34ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Colby College
C
Waterville, ME

Colby College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 2,284enrollment
  • $15,163net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Bates College
B
Lewiston, ME

Bates College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Maine

  • 1,753enrollment
  • $26,658net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1510SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Trinity College
T
Hartford, CT

Trinity College

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Connecticut

  • 2,276enrollment
  • $31,806net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 17

Smith College
S
Northampton, MA

Smith College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,830enrollment
  • $27,823net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1408-1540SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Connecticut College
C
New London, CT

Connecticut College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 1,995enrollment
  • $42,941net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1470SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Mount Holyoke College
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

Rhode Island School of Design
R
Providence, RI

Rhode Island School of Design

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Rhode Island

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

Applications Due Feb 1

Wheaton College
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

Springfield College
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

Saint Anselm College
S
Manchester, NH

Saint Anselm College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in New Hampshire

  • 2,078enrollment
  • $35,091net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 25-27ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Salve Regina University
S
Newport, RI

Salve Regina University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 2,836enrollment
  • $37,794net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1295SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Massachusetts Maritime Academy
M
Buzzards Bay, MA

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 1,362enrollment
  • $20,759net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1185SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

Saint Michael's College
S
Colchester, VT

Saint Michael's College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Vermont

  • 1,370enrollment
  • $30,806net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1310SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.27Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1