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

Cedar Crest College
C
Allentown, PA

Cedar Crest College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#24 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,440enrollment
  • $22,438net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1210SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Manhattanville College
M
Purchase, NY

Manhattanville College

Private 4 Year

25 reviews

#33 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,350enrollment
  • $24,499net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1230SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.19Avg GPA

SUNY Maritime College
S
Throggs Neck, NY

SUNY Maritime College

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Public Universities in New York

  • 1,545enrollment
  • $18,496net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1288SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

Lycoming College
L
Williamsport, PA

Lycoming College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,089enrollment
  • $19,659net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1250SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Massachusetts Maritime Academy
M
Buzzards Bay, MA

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Massachusetts

  • 1,538enrollment
  • $17,635net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1185SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

Gordon College
G
Wenham, MA

Gordon College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,804enrollment
  • $27,502net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1153-1370SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Emmanuel College
E
Boston, MA

Emmanuel College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#23 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,950enrollment
  • $31,581net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1280SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

University of Saint Joseph
S
West Hartford, CT

University of Saint Joseph

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Connecticut

  • 2,132enrollment
  • $24,176net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1036-1181SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

D'Youville College
D
Buffalo, NY

D'Youville College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#35 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,619enrollment
  • $21,377net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1225SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Roberts Wesleyan College
R
Rochester, NY
 

Roberts Wesleyan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#37 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,662enrollment
  • $23,359net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1250SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 25

Gwynedd Mercy College
G
Gwynedd Valley, PA
 

Gwynedd Mercy College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#29 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 2,521enrollment
  • $25,219net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 990-1200SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.34Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 20

College of Our Lady of the Elms
O
Chicopee, MA

College of Our Lady of the Elms

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#26 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts

  • 1,379enrollment
  • $25,340net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1195SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Marymount Manhattan College
M
New York, NY

Marymount Manhattan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#41 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,770enrollment
  • $39,928net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1253SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Saint Thomas Aquinas College
S
Sparkill, NY
 

Saint Thomas Aquinas College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#42 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,026enrollment
  • $21,139net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1035-1235SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Westminster College
W
New Wilmington, PA

Westminster College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#32 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

  • 1,225enrollment
  • $21,101net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1258SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Caldwell University
C
Caldwell, NJ
 

Caldwell University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey

  • 2,098enrollment
  • $19,664net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1310SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Saint Bonaventure University
S
Saint Bonaventure, NY

Saint Bonaventure University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#43 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 2,594enrollment
  • $23,748net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1270SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 30

Hartwick College
H
Oneonta, NY

Hartwick College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#44 Best Private Colleges in New York

  • 1,170enrollment
  • $24,208net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1220SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.36Estimated Avg GPA