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.


372 results nationwide

Saint Johns University
S
Collegeville, MN

Saint Johns University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,643enrollment
  • $28,128net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1085-1240SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

Kettering University
K
Flint, MI

Kettering University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,858enrollment
  • $34,713net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Lake Forest College
L
Lake Forest, IL

Lake Forest College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,690enrollment
  • $26,968net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1345SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

John Brown University
J
Siloam Springs, AR

John Brown University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Arkansas

  • 2,459enrollment
  • $21,578net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1320SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

University of North Carolina School of the Arts
N
Winston-Salem, NC

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 1,119enrollment
  • $11,940net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1380SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

Lebanon Valley College
L
Annville, PA

Lebanon Valley College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,041enrollment
  • $27,963net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1078-1290SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Elizabethtown College
E
Elizabethtown, PA
 

Elizabethtown College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,933enrollment
  • $25,767net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1280SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
N
Socorro, NM

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in New Mexico

  • 1,734enrollment
  • $14,834net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.63Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

University of Evansville
E
Evansville, IN

University of Evansville

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,078enrollment
  • $23,212net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1250SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Goucher College
G
Baltimore, MD

Goucher College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Maryland

  • 1,917enrollment
  • $29,659net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1086-1360SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Hendrix College
H
Conway, AR

Hendrix College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 1,120enrollment
  • $20,778net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1340SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

Knox College
K
Galesburg, IL

Knox College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,156enrollment
  • $23,266net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1380SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

College of Saint Benedict
S
Saint Joseph, MN

College of Saint Benedict

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,557enrollment
  • $27,960net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1220SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Beloit College
B
Beloit, WI

Beloit College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 1,011enrollment
  • $24,419net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1390SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

Hanover College
H
Hanover, IN

Hanover College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,083enrollment
  • $22,389net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1310SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Birmingham Southern College
B
Birmingham, AL

Birmingham Southern College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Alabama

  • 1,058enrollment
  • $21,474net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1240SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Indiana Wesleyan University
I
Marion, IN

Indiana Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,862enrollment
  • $21,827net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 990-1200SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Northwest University
N
Kirkland, WA

Northwest University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Washington

  • 1,083enrollment
  • $21,825net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 985-1210SAT range
  • 24-32ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1