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

Northwest University
N
Kirkland, WA

Northwest University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 1,014enrollment
  • $23,722net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
S
Rapid City, SD

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in South Dakota

  • 2,492enrollment
  • $21,124net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1378SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

D'Youville College
D
Buffalo, NY

D'Youville College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#37 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,518enrollment
  • $21,755net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1025-1265SAT range
  • 18-27ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Agnes Scott College
A
Decatur, GA

Agnes Scott College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 1,114enrollment
  • $24,305net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1350SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Otis College of Art and Design
O
Los Angeles, CA

Otis College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,312enrollment
  • $48,198net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
F
Orlando, FL

Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 1,610enrollment
  • $27,329net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1140SAT range
  • 21-24ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

SUNY Maritime College
S
Throggs Neck, NY

SUNY Maritime College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 1,427enrollment
  • $19,712net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1300SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

Bellarmine University
B
Louisville, KY

Bellarmine University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Kentucky

  • 2,970enrollment
  • $22,813net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1290SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Canisius College
C
Buffalo, NY

Canisius College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#38 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,492enrollment
  • $19,635net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Berry College
B
Mount Berry, GA

Berry College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 2,360enrollment
  • $25,359net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1290SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

Drew University
D
Madison, NJ

Drew University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 2,092enrollment
  • $28,183net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1340SAT range
  • 26-28ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Nebraska Wesleyan University
N
Lincoln, NE

Nebraska Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Nebraska

  • 1,688enrollment
  • $25,201net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1240SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Meredith College
M
Raleigh, NC

Meredith College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,587enrollment
  • $23,259net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1320SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Hamline University
H
Saint Paul, MN

Hamline University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 2,638enrollment
  • $23,021net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1258SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

College of Our Lady of the Elms
O
Chicopee, MA

College of Our Lady of the Elms

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,275enrollment
  • $23,498net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1300SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Saint Ambrose University
S
Davenport, IA

Saint Ambrose University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 2,747enrollment
  • $23,359net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Andrews University
A
Berrien Springs, MI

Andrews University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 2,858enrollment
  • $24,194net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1350SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
N
Omaha, NE
 

Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Nebraska

  • 1,146enrollment
  • $18,661net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA