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

Saint Vincent College
S
Latrobe, PA

Saint Vincent College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#28 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,536enrollment
  • $23,121net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1250SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Alfred University
A
Alfred, NY

Alfred University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#36 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,813enrollment
  • $26,183net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1085-1290SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Augustana University
A
Sioux Falls, SD

Augustana University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in South Dakota

  • 2,086enrollment
  • $23,843net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1325SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

Salve Regina University
S
Newport, RI

Salve Regina University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 2,872enrollment
  • $37,997net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1280SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Albion College
A
Albion, MI

Albion College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,456enrollment
  • $19,351net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 930-1160SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

Presbyterian College
P
Clinton, SC

Presbyterian College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Value Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,199enrollment
  • $21,571net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1270SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 21

Hanover College
H
Hanover, IN

Hanover College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,124enrollment
  • $26,599net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Maryland Institute College of Art
M
Baltimore, MD

Maryland Institute College of Art

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Maryland

  • 1,952enrollment
  • $43,545net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 967-1362SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Luther College
L
Decorah, IA

Luther College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,610enrollment
  • $25,734net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1075-1330SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Massachusetts Maritime Academy
M
Buzzards Bay, MA

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 1,425enrollment
  • $21,668net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1185SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

North Central College
N
Naperville, IL

North Central College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,695enrollment
  • $25,285net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham
F
Madison, NJ

Fairleigh Dickinson University College at Florham

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 2,823enrollment
  • $21,408net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1310SAT range
  • 19-30ACT range
  • 3.42Estimated Avg GPA

Saint Michael's College
S
Colchester, VT

Saint Michael's College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Vermont

  • 1,399enrollment
  • $27,700net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1315SAT range
  • 27-30ACT range
  • 3.27Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Eckerd College
E
Saint Petersburg, FL

Eckerd College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 1,993enrollment
  • $40,119net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1300SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Wittenberg University
W
Springfield, OH

Wittenberg University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,299enrollment
  • $22,912net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1370SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Hendrix College
H
Conway, AR

Hendrix College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Arkansas

  • 1,144enrollment
  • $22,626net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1133-1328SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

Taylor University
T
Upland, IN

Taylor University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,221enrollment
  • $27,366net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1310SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Ohio Wesleyan University
O
Delaware, OH

Ohio Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,410enrollment
  • $27,311net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1123-1358SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1