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.

List of United States Private Colleges Ranked by Smallest Enrollment
College Enrollment

Hiram, Ohio

 1,061

Palo Alto, California

 1,065

Laurel, Maryland

 1,065

Omaha, Nebraska

 1,067

Pasadena, California

 1,068

Buffalo, New York

 1,069

New York, New York

 1,073

Decatur, Georgia

 1,079

New Orleans, Louisiana

 1,080

Pella, Iowa

 1,084

New York, New York

 1,084

Caldwell, Idaho

 1,090

Tiffin, Ohio

 1,091

Franklin, Massachusetts

 1,092

Boulder, Colorado

 1,094

Mount Vernon, Iowa

 1,094

Clinton, South Carolina

 1,095

Toledo, Ohio

 1,096
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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.