The Best Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in America for 2023

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in the United States as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment under 3,000. Small colleges allow students a more intimate and personalized experience where it's more likely you will get to know your professors. Leading the list for 2023 is California Institute of Technology. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
small Public Private 4 year

372 results nationwide

California Institute of Technology
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C
Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,397enrollment
  • $26,591net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Amherst College
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A
Amherst, MA

Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,971enrollment
  • $18,832net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Claremont McKenna College
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C
Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,422enrollment
  • $22,004net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1530SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Pomona College
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P
Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,764enrollment
  • $30,392net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

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Wellesley College
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W
Wellesley, MA

Wellesley College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,461enrollment
  • $21,614net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1540SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

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Hamilton College
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H
Clinton, NY

Hamilton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#24 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,055enrollment
  • $23,936net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.87Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Washington and Lee University
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W
Lexington, VA

Washington and Lee University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 2,238enrollment
  • $27,148net price
  • 19%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1530SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.87Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Middlebury College
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M
Middlebury, VT

Middlebury College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Vermont

  • 2,937enrollment
  • $24,517net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1530SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Haverford College
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H
Haverford, PA

Haverford College

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,420enrollment
  • $25,215net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Carleton College
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C
Northfield, MN

Carleton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in Minnesota

  • 2,044enrollment
  • $30,843net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1408-1550SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Swarthmore College
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S
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#16 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 1,651enrollment
  • $20,360net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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Davidson College
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D
Davidson, NC

Davidson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,973enrollment
  • $28,615net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

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Colby College
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C
Waterville, ME

Colby College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 2,262enrollment
  • $18,552net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1530SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Trinity College
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T
Hartford, CT

Trinity College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Connecticut

  • 2,190enrollment
  • $26,233net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1333-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 17

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Vassar College
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V
Poughkeepsie, NY

Vassar College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,516enrollment
  • $26,028net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1540SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Scripps College
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S
Claremont, CA

Scripps College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,116enrollment
  • $40,259net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1520SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Skidmore College
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S
Saratoga Springs, NY

Skidmore College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,686enrollment
  • $26,995net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1440SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Grinnell College
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G
Grinnell, IA

Grinnell College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,748enrollment
  • $32,091net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1530SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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