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

Dominican University of California
D
San Rafael, CA

Dominican University of California

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#24 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,877enrollment
  • $49,907net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1088-1236SAT range
  • 23-25ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Concordia College at Moorhead
C
Moorhead, MN

Concordia College at Moorhead

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,903enrollment
  • $23,087net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1218SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Simpson College
S
Indianola, IA

Simpson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,151enrollment
  • $23,185net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 890-1280SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Brigham Young University Hawaii
B
Laie, HI

Brigham Young University Hawaii

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Hawaii

  • 2,735enrollment
  • $15,835net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1023-1236SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.47Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Hartwick College
H
Oneonta, NY

Hartwick College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#41 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,103enrollment
  • $22,396net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1210SAT range
  • 10-27ACT range
  • 3.36Estimated Avg GPA

Roanoke College
R
Salem, VA

Roanoke College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,826enrollment
  • $29,169net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1260SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Saint Norbert College
S
De Pere, WI

Saint Norbert College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 1,882enrollment
  • $26,983net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1270SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Emmanuel College
E
Boston, MA

Emmanuel College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#26 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,012enrollment
  • $32,273net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1310SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Saint Bonaventure University
S
Saint Bonaventure, NY

Saint Bonaventure University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#42 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,602enrollment
  • $26,004net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1220SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 30

Cornell College
C
Mount Vernon, IA

Cornell College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,073enrollment
  • $25,686net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1380SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Mount St Mary's University
M
Emmitsburg, MD

Mount St Mary's University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Maryland

  • 2,456enrollment
  • $24,379net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1250SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Manhattanville College
M
Purchase, NY

Manhattanville College

Private 4 Year

25 reviews

#44 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,240enrollment
  • $24,702net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1230SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.19Avg GPA

Lycoming College
L
Williamsport, PA

Lycoming College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,059enrollment
  • $19,697net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1053-1238SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

The College of Idaho
I
Caldwell, ID

The College of Idaho

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Idaho

  • 1,082enrollment
  • $24,075net price
  • 46%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1240SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Millikin University
M
Decatur, IL

Millikin University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,807enrollment
  • $10,492net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 930-1200SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

University of North Carolina at Asheville
N
Asheville, NC

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 2,914enrollment
  • $14,730net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1145-1340SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Carroll College
C
Helena, MT

Carroll College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in Montana

  • 1,168enrollment
  • $23,916net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1200SAT range
  • 13-29ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 28

Southwestern College
S
Winfield, KS
 

Southwestern College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Kansas

  • 1,174enrollment
  • $27,003net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 900-1220SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 22