The Best Eastern Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in the East for 2023

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in the East 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 Amherst College. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


96 results

Amherst College
A
Amherst, MA

Amherst College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,971enrollment
  • $18,832net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

Wellesley College
W
Wellesley, MA

Wellesley College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,461enrollment
  • $21,614net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1540SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

Hamilton College
H
Clinton, NY

Hamilton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#24 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,055enrollment
  • $23,936net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.87Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Middlebury College
M
Middlebury, VT

Middlebury College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Vermont

  • 2,937enrollment
  • $24,517net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1530SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Haverford College
H
Haverford, PA

Haverford College

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,420enrollment
  • $25,215net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Swarthmore College
S
Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#16 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 1,651enrollment
  • $20,360net price
  • 8%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

Colby College
C
Waterville, ME

Colby College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 2,262enrollment
  • $18,552net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1400-1530SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Trinity College
T
Hartford, CT

Trinity College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Connecticut

  • 2,190enrollment
  • $26,233net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1333-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 17

Vassar College
V
Poughkeepsie, NY

Vassar College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,516enrollment
  • $26,028net price
  • 20%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1540SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Skidmore College
S
Saratoga Springs, NY

Skidmore College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,686enrollment
  • $26,995net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1440SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Lafayette College
L
Easton, PA

Lafayette College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,725enrollment
  • $28,735net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Connecticut College
C
New London, CT

Connecticut College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 1,829enrollment
  • $40,474net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 1333-1476SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Smith College
S
Northampton, MA

Smith College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,924enrollment
  • $28,422net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Gettysburg College
G
Gettysburg, PA

Gettysburg College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,401enrollment
  • $34,850net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Union College
U
Schenectady, NY

Union College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,096enrollment
  • $37,630net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1450SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Mount Holyoke College
M
South Hadley, MA

Mount Holyoke College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 2,342enrollment
  • $31,165net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1510SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Rhode Island School of Design
R
Providence, RI

Rhode Island School of Design

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Rhode Island

  • 2,576enrollment
  • $40,048net price
  • 19%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.71Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Muhlenberg College
M
Allentown, PA

Muhlenberg College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,095enrollment
  • $35,152net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1370SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1