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

Lawrence, New York

156

Cincinnati, Ohio

156

Brooklyn, New York

157

Torrance, California

158

Long Beach, New York

159

Manhattan, Kansas

160

Dallas, Texas

160

El Cajon, California

161

Grand Rapids, Michigan

161

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

161

Schenectady, New York

162
163

Brooklyn, New York

164

Nashville, Tennessee

166

Pasadena, California

168

Ridgeland, Mississippi

170
170
173

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.