Verified Federal Data · No Paid Rankings
Best Small Colleges in America
Ranked by what actually matters: graduation rates, graduate earnings, and student-faculty ratios. Schools under 2,500 students. Federal data, no sponsorships.
447
Small colleges qualifying
1,406
Avg enrollment, top 50
7.8:1
Avg student:faculty, top 50
How We Rank Small Colleges
The 2,500-student enrollment cutoff separates true small colleges from mid-size schools. Within that pool, we rank on a composite score weighted toward outcomes:
Composite Score = (Graduation Rate × 0.4) + (Earnings Score × 0.4) + (Student:Faculty Score × 0.2)
Student:Faculty Score = max(0, 100 − (ratio × 5)) — lower ratio = higher score
- →Graduation rate: Percentage of full-time, first-time students who completed their degree within 150% of normal time. Source: IPEDS.
- →Median earnings at 10 years: Median annual earnings of students 10 years after first receiving federal aid, working and not currently enrolled. Source: College Scorecard.
- →Student-faculty ratio: Number of students per full-time equivalent faculty member. Lower is better — more access to faculty. Source: IPEDS.
What this doesn't measure: campus culture, available majors, financial aid generosity, or fit for your specific goals. A school ranking 30th here that perfectly matches your interests beats the top school that doesn't. Use the full search to factor in everything.
Small Colleges Often Have the Lowest Student-to-Faculty Ratios in the Country
Many small colleges — especially liberal arts colleges — maintain ratios of 8:1 or lower, meaning students work closely with faculty in ways impossible at large research universities. And despite the liberal arts focus, federal data shows strong earnings outcomes at many of these schools. The relationship between a small, engaged environment and graduate success is measurable.
Top 50 Small Colleges (2026)
Ranked by composite score: graduation rate, earnings, and student-faculty ratio. Under 2,500 students.
| # | School | Earnings (10yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $128,566 | |
| 2 | $138,687 | |
| 3 | $129,455 | |
| 4 | $96,980 | |
| 5 | $104,736 | |
| 6 | $94,810 | |
| 7 | $88,665 | |
| 8 | $92,751 | |
| 9 | $137,047 | |
| 10 | $131,426 | |
| 11 | $60,122 | |
| 12 | $84,803 | |
| 13 | $77,644 | |
| 14 | $80,257 | |
| 15 | $82,735 | |
| 16 | $77,779 | |
| 17 | $81,400 | |
| 18 | $79,966 | |
| 19 | $66,072 | |
| 20 | $90,779 | |
| 21 | $47,540 | |
| 22 | $61,033 | |
| 23 | $78,411 | |
| 24 | $71,366 | |
| 25 | $80,490 | |
| 26 | $75,525 | |
| 27 | $52,304 | |
| 28 | $62,200 | |
| 29 | $83,847 | |
| 30 | $88,604 | |
| 31 | $101,253 | |
| 32 | $56,867 | |
| 33 | $84,713 | |
| 34 | $69,498 | |
| 35 | $76,124 | |
| 36 | $75,217 | |
| 37 | $90,610 | |
| 38 | $55,017 | |
| 39 | $77,539 | |
| 40 | $75,001 | |
| 41 | $28,891 | |
| 42 | $75,951 | |
| 43 | $65,222 | |
| 44 | $94,823 | |
| 45 | $71,830 | |
| 46 | $62,830 | |
| 47 | $66,651 | |
| 48 | $37,827 | |
| 49 | $69,107 | |
| 50 | $60,918 |
447 four-year, non-profit schools under 2,500 students with a graduation rate of 50%+ qualified. Data: IPEDS + College Scorecard. Updated annually.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a small college?
This ranking uses an enrollment cutoff of 2,500 undergraduate students. That threshold separates schools where most students will have regular access to faculty and smaller class sizes from schools that function more like mid-size universities. Many liberal arts colleges, honors colleges, and specialized institutions fall in this range. You won't find flagship state schools here.
Are small colleges more expensive?
Often on sticker price, but not necessarily after aid. Many small private colleges have large endowments and offer significant need-based and merit aid. Net price — what students actually pay after grants — is often comparable to or lower than in-state tuition at a large public university. Always look at net price, not the listed tuition. The College Scorecard shows average net price for each school.
Do small colleges have as many majors?
No, and that matters for some students. A liberal arts college with 1,800 students will not offer the range of specialized programs you find at a 30,000-student research university. If you know you want a very specific major — marine biology, supply chain management, game design — check program availability before prioritizing size. For students who are undecided or drawn to interdisciplinary work, smaller schools often offer more flexibility, not less.
What is a good student-faculty ratio?
Below 10:1 is strong for a four-year college. Some of the top small colleges maintain ratios of 7:1 or 8:1, meaning students have meaningful access to full-time faculty in class and for research, mentorship, and advising. By comparison, large public universities often run 18:1 to 25:1. The ratio alone doesn't capture class size distribution — some large schools have excellent graduate student instruction — but for small colleges it is generally a reliable signal of instructional access.
All 447 Colleges in the Dataset
The ranking above shows the top 50. Every qualifying school is listed here.
Agnes Scott CollegeAlbany College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesAlbertus Magnus CollegeAlbion CollegeAlbright CollegeAlfred UniversityAllegheny CollegeAlma CollegeAlvernia UniversityAmerican Musical and Dramatic AcademyAmherst CollegeAmridge UniversityAppalachian Bible CollegeAquinas CollegeArt Center College of DesignAsbury UniversityAssociated Beth Rivkah SchoolsAssumption UniversityAugustana CollegeAugustana UniversityAultman College of Nursing and Health SciencesAustin CollegeAve Maria UniversityAvila UniversityBaker UniversityBaptist University of FloridaBaptist University of the AmericasBard College at Simon's RockBates CollegeBe'er Yaakov Talmudic SeminaryBeacon CollegeBellin CollegeBeloit CollegeBenedictine CollegeBennington CollegeBerea CollegeBerry CollegeBethany Lutheran CollegeBlackburn CollegeBlackfeet Community CollegeBlue Mountain Christian UniversityBluffton UniversityBoricua CollegeBowdoin CollegeBrescia UniversityBridgewater CollegeBryan College of Health SciencesBryan College-DaytonBryn Athyn College of the New ChurchBryn Mawr CollegeBuena Vista UniversityBushnell UniversityCabarrus College of Health SciencesCairn University-LanghorneCaldwell UniversityCalifornia College of the ArtsCalifornia Institute of TechnologyCalifornia Institute of the ArtsCalifornia State University Maritime AcademyCalvary UniversityCapital UniversityCaribbean University-Vega BajaCarleton CollegeCarlow UniversityCarroll CollegeCasa Loma College-Los AngelesCBD CollegeCedar Crest CollegeCentenary College of LouisianaCentenary UniversityCentra CollegeCentral CollegeCentral Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and SciencesCentre CollegeChadron State CollegeCharter Oak State CollegeChatham UniversityChristian Brothers UniversityClaflin UniversityClaremont McKenna CollegeClarke UniversityCleveland Institute of ArtCleveland Institute of MusicCleveland University-Kansas CityCoe CollegeColby CollegeColby-Sawyer CollegeCollege for Creative StudiesCollege of Our Lady of the ElmsCollege of Saint BenedictCollege of Saint MaryCollege of the AtlanticCollege of the OzarksColorado CollegeColumbus College of Art & DesignConception Seminary CollegeConcordia College at MoorheadConnecticut CollegeConverse UniversityCorban UniversityCornell CollegeCornerstone UniversityCornish College of the ArtsCottey CollegeCovenant CollegeCox CollegeCriswell CollegeCurry CollegeDavidson CollegeDean CollegeDelaware Valley UniversityDenison UniversityDePauw UniversityDewey University-CarolinaDewey University-Hato ReyDewey University-Juana DíazDewey University-ManatiDickinson CollegeDickinson State UniversityDoane UniversityDominican University New YorkDominican University of CaliforniaDordt UniversityDrew UniversityDrury UniversityDunwoody College of TechnologyEarlham CollegeEastern Mennonite UniversityEckerd CollegeEdgewood CollegeElizabethtown CollegeElmira CollegeEmmanuel CollegeEmmaus Bible CollegeEmory & Henry UniversityEvangel UniversityEvangel University-College of Online LearningFaith Baptist Bible College and Theological SeminaryFlagler CollegeFlorida CollegeFranklin and Marshall CollegeFranklin CollegeFranklin Pierce UniversityFranklin W Olin College of EngineeringFreed-Hardeman UniversityGeneva CollegeGeorgian Court UniversityGoldey-Beacom CollegeGood Samaritan College of Nursing and Health ScienceGordon CollegeGoshen CollegeGoucher CollegeGrace Christian UniversityGrace College and Theological SeminaryGrand View UniversityGrinnell CollegeGustavus Adolphus CollegeGwynedd Mercy UniversityHallmark UniversityHamilton CollegeHamline UniversityHampden-Sydney CollegeHampshire CollegeHannibal-LaGrange UniversityHanover CollegeHartwick CollegeHarvey Mudd CollegeHaverford CollegeHebrew Theological CollegeHeidelberg UniversityHendrix CollegeHeritage Christian UniversityHeritage UniversityHerzing University-KenoshaHesston CollegeHilbert CollegeHiram CollegeHobart William Smith CollegesHobe Sound Bible CollegeHollins UniversityHoly Cross CollegeHomestead SchoolsHood CollegeHoughton UniversityHumphreys University-Stockton and Modesto CampusesHuntington UniversityIllinois CollegeIllinois Wesleyan UniversityImmaculata UniversityIndiana Wesleyan University-MarionInternational Baptist College and SeminaryJewish Theological Seminary of AmericaJohn Brown UniversityJohn Paul the Great Catholic UniversityJohnson UniversityJudson UniversityJuniata CollegeKalamazoo CollegeKansas City Art InstituteKehilath Yakov Rabbinical SeminaryKentucky Mountain Bible CollegeKenyon CollegeKettering CollegeKettering UniversityKeuka CollegeKing's CollegeKnox CollegeKuyper CollegeLa Sierra UniversityLaboure College of HealthcareLaguna College of Art and DesignLake Forest CollegeLake Superior State UniversityLancaster Bible CollegeLasell UniversityLawrence UniversityLebanon Valley CollegeLinfield UniversityLongy School of Music of Bard CollegeLoras CollegeLubbock Christian UniversityLuther CollegeLycoming CollegeMacalester CollegeMadonna UniversityMaine College of Art & DesignMaine College of Health ProfessionsMaine Maritime AcademyManhattan School of MusicManhattanville UniversityMaranatha Baptist UniversityMarietta CollegeMartin Luther CollegeMaryland Institute College of ArtMaryville CollegeMassachusetts College of Art and DesignMassachusetts College of Liberal ArtsMassachusetts Maritime AcademyMcKendree UniversityMenlo CollegeMercy College of Health SciencesMercy College of OhioMeredith CollegeMessenger CollegeMidAmerica Nazarene UniversityMilligan UniversityMillikin UniversityMillsaps CollegeMilwaukee Institute of Art & DesignMinneapolis College of Art and DesignMirrer Yeshiva Cent InstituteMisericordia UniversityMonmouth CollegeMontana Technological UniversityMontessori Education Center of the RockiesMontreat CollegeMontserrat College of ArtMoody Bible InstituteMoore College of Art and DesignMorningside UniversityMount Angel SeminaryMount Carmel College of NursingMount Holyoke CollegeMount Marty UniversityMount Mercy UniversityMount Saint Mary CollegeMount Saint Mary's UniversityMount Sinai Phillips School of NursingMount St. Joseph UniversityMount St. Mary's UniversityMount Vernon Nazarene UniversityMuhlenberg CollegeMuskingum UniversityNazareth UniversityNebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied HealthNebraska Wesleyan UniversityNeumann UniversityNew College of FloridaNew England Institute of TechnologyNew Hope Christian College-EugeneNew Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologyNew York College of Health ProfessionsNew York School of Interior DesignNichols CollegeNorth Central UniversityNorth Greenville UniversityNorthland CollegeNorthpoint Bible CollegeNorthwest Nazarene UniversityNorthwest UniversityNorthwest University-Center for Online and Extended EducationNorthwood UniversityNotre Dame of Maryland UniversityOakland City UniversityOccidental CollegeOglethorpe UniversityOhio Wesleyan UniversityOklahoma Baptist UniversityOregon State University-Cascades CampusOtis College of Art and DesignOtterbein UniversityOuachita Baptist UniversityOzark Christian CollegePacific Islands UniversityPacific Union CollegeParker UniversityPaul Smiths College of Arts and SciencePennsylvania Academy of the Fine ArtsPennsylvania College of Art and DesignPitzer CollegePolytechnic University of Puerto Rico-MiamiPomona CollegePontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-AreciboPresbyterian CollegePrescott CollegePuerto Rico Conservatory of MusicQueens University of CharlotteRabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei ZionRandolph-Macon CollegeRanken Technical CollegeReed CollegeRhodes CollegeRingling College of Art and DesignRipon CollegeRiverside College of Health CareersRoanoke CollegeRoberts Wesleyan UniversityRose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyRosemont CollegeRussell Sage CollegeSacred Heart Major SeminarySaint Anselm CollegeSaint Elizabeth UniversitySaint Johns UniversitySaint Joseph's College of MaineSaint Joseph's University - LancasterSaint Martin's UniversitySaint Mary's CollegeSaint Michael's CollegeSaint Norbert CollegeSaint Vincent CollegeSalem CollegeSarah Lawrence CollegeScripps CollegeSeton Hill UniversityShasta Bible College and Graduate SchoolSimpson CollegeSoka University of AmericaSouth Dakota School of Mines and TechnologySoutheast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health SciencesSoutheastern Baptist CollegeSouthern California Institute of ArchitectureSouthern California SeminarySouthern California University of Health SciencesSouthern Nazarene UniversitySouthern Wesleyan UniversitySouthwest Baptist UniversitySouthwestern Adventist UniversitySouthwestern UniversitySpalding UniversitySpring Arbor UniversitySpring Hill CollegeSt Lawrence UniversitySt Luke's CollegeSt. John's CollegeSt. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Thomas Aquinas CollegeSUM Bible College and Theological SeminarySUNY Maritime CollegeSusquehanna UniversitySwarthmore CollegeSweet Briar CollegeTalmudical Academy-New JerseyTaylor UniversityTexas Lutheran UniversityThe Christ College of Nursing and Health SciencesThe College of IdahoThe College of WoosterThe Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and ArtThe Juilliard SchoolThe New England Conservatory of MusicThe University of Montana-WesternThe University of the SouthThomas Aquinas CollegeThomas CollegeThomas More College of Liberal ArtsTransylvania UniversityTrinity Christian CollegeTrinity CollegeUnion Adventist UniversityUnion CollegeUnited States Merchant Marine AcademyUnited Talmudical SeminaryUniversal Technology College of Puerto RicoUniversity of DallasUniversity of EvansvilleUniversity of Fort LauderdaleUniversity of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. LouisUniversity of Maine at FarmingtonUniversity of Maine at Presque IsleUniversity of MobileUniversity of Mount OliveUniversity of Mount UnionUniversity of New Hampshire at ManchesterUniversity of North Carolina School of the ArtsUniversity of Puget SoundUniversity of Saint Francis-Fort WayneUniversity of Saint JosephUniversity of Sioux FallsUniversity of the OzarksUrsinus CollegeUrsuline CollegeValley City State UniversityVanderCook College of MusicVanguard University of Southern CaliforniaVassar CollegeViterbo UniversityWabash CollegeWagner CollegeWalla Walla UniversityWalsh UniversityWartburg CollegeWashington & Jefferson CollegeWashington and Lee UniversityWashington CollegeWaynesburg UniversityWelch CollegeWellesley CollegeWest Liberty UniversityWest Virginia Wesleyan CollegeWestminster CollegeWestminster UniversityWestmont CollegeWheaton College (Massachusetts)Whitman CollegeWhittier CollegeWhitworth UniversityWillamette UniversityWilliam Jessup UniversityWilliam Jewell CollegeWilliams CollegeWilliamson Christian CollegeWisconsin Lutheran CollegeWittenberg UniversityWofford CollegeWoodbury UniversityYork University
Size Is One Factor
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