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

Linfield University
L
McMinnville, OR

Linfield University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Oregon

  • 1,754enrollment
  • $31,585net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1210SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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

  • 1,689enrollment
  • $10,429net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.63Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

University of Dallas
D
Irving, TX

University of Dallas

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 2,328enrollment
  • $27,250net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1400SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Nazareth College
N
Rochester, NY

Nazareth College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,522enrollment
  • $31,620net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1320SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Milwaukee School of Engineering
M
Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 2,729enrollment
  • $25,661net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1405SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 1

John Brown University
J
Siloam Springs, AR

John Brown University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Arkansas

  • 2,326enrollment
  • $20,997net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1390SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Goucher College
G
Baltimore, MD

Goucher College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Maryland

  • 1,727enrollment
  • $30,945net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1113-1328SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Lebanon Valley College
L
Annville, PA

Lebanon Valley College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,080enrollment
  • $26,743net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1280SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Saint Marys College of California
S
Moraga, CA

Saint Marys College of California

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,765enrollment
  • $32,129net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1253SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Kettering University
K
Flint, MI

Kettering University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,769enrollment
  • $34,486net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1370SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica Rome
S
Utica, NY

SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica Rome

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 2,842enrollment
  • $13,799net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1400SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Knox College
K
Galesburg, IL

Knox College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,058enrollment
  • $26,882net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1420SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Moravian University
M
Bethlehem, PA

Moravian University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,533enrollment
  • $31,168net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1253SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

DeSales University
D
Center Valley, PA

DeSales University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#21 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,991enrollment
  • $29,104net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1280SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Washington & Jefferson College
W
Washington, PA

Washington & Jefferson College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,151enrollment
  • $25,636net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Lake Forest College
L
Lake Forest, IL

Lake Forest College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,753enrollment
  • $27,839net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1153-1340SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Wagner College
W
Staten Island, NY

Wagner College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#33 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,949enrollment
  • $29,710net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1290SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Whittier College
W
Whittier, CA

Whittier College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,192enrollment
  • $28,368net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA