The Best New York Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in New York for 2025

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

32 results

Hamilton College
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H
Clinton, NY

Hamilton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#25 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,048enrollment
  • $26,021net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.87Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Vassar College
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V
Poughkeepsie, NY

Vassar College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,456enrollment
  • $29,733net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1435-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Skidmore College
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S
Saratoga Springs, NY

Skidmore College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,776enrollment
  • $32,368net price
  • 23%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated 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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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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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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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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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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Alfred University
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A
Alfred, NY

Alfred University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#34 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,843enrollment
  • $26,127net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1280SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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SUNY Polytechnic Institute
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S
Utica, NY

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,704enrollment
  • $14,646net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Roberts Wesleyan College
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R
Rochester, NY
 

Roberts Wesleyan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#37 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,619enrollment
  • $24,202net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 965-1250SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 25

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Wagner College
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W
Staten Island, NY

Wagner College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#38 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,932enrollment
  • $28,109net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1320SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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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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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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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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