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
5,016

Nashville, Tennessee

5,017

La Verne, California

5,021

Waltham, Massachusetts

5,205
5,219

Washington, District Of Columbia

5,243

Mequon, Wisconsin

5,253

Boston, Massachusetts

5,263

Madison, Wisconsin

5,274

Moon Township, Pennsylvania

5,275

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

5,321

Waltham, Massachusetts

5,333

Brooklyn, New York

5,356

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

5,381

La Mirada, California

5,434

Cincinnati, Ohio

5,501

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

5,514

Chicago, Illinois

5,570

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.