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

Rochester Hills, Michigan

1,193

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

1,195

Alma, Michigan

1,197

Athens, Tennessee

1,198

Houghton, New York

1,200

Paxton, Massachusetts

1,202

Columbus, Ohio

1,209

Quincy, Illinois

1,210

Sherman, Texas

1,217

Huntsville, Alabama

1,226

Anderson, Indiana

1,228

Waynesburg, Pennsylvania

1,231

Waleska, Georgia

1,233

Wilson, North Carolina

1,235

New Haven, Connecticut

1,239

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

1,239

Milligan, Tennessee

1,240

Rockford, Illinois

1,241

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.