The Best Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in America for 2024

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 2024 is California Institute of Technology. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


414 results nationwide

Westminster College
W
Salt Lake City, UT

Westminster College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Utah

  • 1,280enrollment
  • $27,068net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1166-1373SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Saint Mary's College
S
Notre Dame, IN

Saint Mary's College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,519enrollment
  • $27,960net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1328SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Wheaton College
W
Wheaton, IL

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,885enrollment
  • $29,961net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Union University
U
Jackson, TN

Union University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,731enrollment
  • $28,585net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1370SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Wheaton College
W
Norton, MA

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,667enrollment
  • $32,863net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1390SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

University of Puget Sound
P
Tacoma, WA

University of Puget Sound

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 2,023enrollment
  • $41,363net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1390SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Southwestern University
S
Georgetown, TX

Southwestern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,483enrollment
  • $31,014net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1355SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Austin College
A
Sherman, TX

Austin College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Texas

  • 1,182enrollment
  • $24,739net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1370SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

Oklahoma City University
O
Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Oklahoma

  • 2,550enrollment
  • $25,235net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1233SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Springfield College
S
Springfield, MA

Springfield College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,921enrollment
  • $27,930net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1300SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

The College of Wooster
W
Wooster, OH

The College of Wooster

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Value Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,967enrollment
  • $28,976net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1450SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Allegheny College
A
Meadville, PA

Allegheny College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,353enrollment
  • $26,719net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1114-1372SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
O
Syracuse, NY

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 1,976enrollment
  • $20,928net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1300SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Lawrence University
L
Appleton, WI

Lawrence University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in Wisconsin

  • 1,426enrollment
  • $26,368net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1460SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Ursinus College
U
Collegeville, PA

Ursinus College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,527enrollment
  • $33,546net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1380SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Eastern Mennonite University
E
Harrisonburg, VA

Eastern Mennonite University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,334enrollment
  • $23,783net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1590SAT range
  • 25-34ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Saint Anselm College
S
Manchester, NH

Saint Anselm College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in New Hampshire

  • 1,977enrollment
  • $35,080net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1290SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Kalamazoo College
K
Kalamazoo, MI

Kalamazoo College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,210enrollment
  • $26,981net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1370SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15