United States Private Colleges Ranked by Smallest Enrollment
Below is a ranking of the 1262 private colleges in the United States with the smallest enrollment of full and part time students. The University of America leads the list with a population of 0 students.
Enrollment is a measure of the size of the student body. Larger schools are more likely to offer a wider range of programs and services while smaller schools may have a more intimate and personalized experience.
| College | Enrollment |
|---|---|
|
Heritage University
Toppenish, Washington |
937 |
|
Illinois College
Jacksonville, Illinois |
942 |
|
Hampden Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, Virginia |
946 |
|
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, Iowa |
947 |
|
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
Paul Smiths, New York |
948 |
|
Emmanuel University
Franklin Springs, Georgia |
950 |
|
Thiel College
Greenville, Pennsylvania |
950 |
|
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, California |
951 |
|
Keystone College
La Plume, Pennsylvania |
952 |
|
Hastings College
Hastings, Nebraska |
956 |
|
William Jewell College
Liberty, Missouri |
959 |
|
University of Western States
Portland, Oregon |
959 |
|
Bluefield University
Bluefield, Virginia |
959 |
|
Judson University
Elgin, Illinois |
960 |
|
Maranatha Baptist University
Watertown, Wisconsin |
960 |
|
Clarke University
Dubuque, Iowa |
962 |
|
Montreat College
Montreat, North Carolina |
962 |
|
Shaw University
Raleigh, North Carolina |
964 |
This list is updated annually based on the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Last updated: March 15, 2026
Data source: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025 - National Center for Education Statistics.