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

Fayette, Iowa

3,941
3,945

Owosso, Michigan

3,955

New Rochelle, New York

3,958

Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

3,969
3,976

Elmhurst, Illinois

3,997

Lawrenceville, New Jersey

4,003

Middletown, Connecticut

4,011

Niagara University, New York

4,033

Arlington, Virginia

4,060

Ashland, Ohio

4,106
4,124

West Palm Beach, Florida

4,147

Clinton, Mississippi

4,164

Erie, Pennsylvania

4,189

Boston, Massachusetts

4,191

Columbia, Kentucky

4,193

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.