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Complete List: The Smallest Colleges in the United States

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You might be interested in going to a small college, but just how small is "small," exactly? In general, schools that are considered "small" have fewer than 5,000 students in total. However, quite a few schools are actually less than 1/10 that size!

In this article I'll describe the characteristics of small colleges and then provide a list of the smallest colleges in the nation by category. That way you can decide if going to a small school really is the right decision for you.

 

List of the Smallest Colleges in the US

These are the smallest four-year, non-profit colleges in the nation sorted by type and enrollment number. This list includes schools with fewer than 500 students but more than 50 students because colleges with fewer than 50 students are extremely rare and not relevant to enough students to merit inclusion.

All enrollment data is from the National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

 

Smallest Arts Colleges

College
Enrollment
Compass College of Film and Media
74
VanderCook College of Music
88
Curtis Institute of Music
109
American College of the Building Arts
121
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
121
American Academy of Art
145
Cleveland Institute of Music
208
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
228
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
228
Art Academy of Cincinnati
234
Montserrat College of Art
336
Moore College of Art and Design
357
Johns Hopkins University—Peabody Conservatory of Music
375
Maine College of Art & Design
380
Pacific Northwest College of Art
384
New England Conservatory of Music
423
Cornish College of the Arts
428
New York School of Interior Design
444
Manhattan School of Music
489
Tufts University—School of the Museum of Fine Arts
494

 

Smallest Religious Colleges

For this list, I've focused on colleges that primarily identify as seminaries or Bible colleges. Also, I've excluded religious colleges that only train religious professionals because they are too specialized for most people.

 

College
Enrollment
Yeshivas Be'er Yitzchok
68
Beth Hamedrash Shaarei Yosher Institute
75
Bais HaMedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore
81
Ohr Hameir Theological Seminary
85
Yeshiva of the Telshe Alumni
88
Yeshivas Emek Hatorah
98
Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Rockland
102
Yeshiva Derech Chaim
110
Rabbinical College Ohr Yisroel
114
Kuyper College
114
Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia
117
Bais Medrash Toras Chesed
117
Sterling College
126
Yeshiva Karlin Stolin
129
Faith International University
140
Rabbinical College of Long Island
157
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School
161
Simmons College of Kentucky
163
Hebrew Theological College
170
Women's Institute of Torah Seminary and College
189
Sacred Heart Major Seminary
190
Appalachian Bible College
192
Yeshiva Gedolah Imrei Yosef D'spinka
201
Luther Rice College & Seminary
203
Northpoint Bible College
210
Grace School of Theology
212
Rabbinical College of America
217
South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary
226
Yeshiva Toras Chaim
230
Baptist Bible College
236
Sh'or Yoshuv Rabbinical College
241
Ner Israel Rabbinical College
261
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
297
God’s Bible School and College
314
Multnomah University
336
Mesivta Torah Vodaath Rabbinical Seminary
369
Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah
393
Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion
407
Yeshiva of Machzikai Hadas
411
Rabbinical Seminary of America
415
SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary
416
College of Biblical Studies-Houston
418
San Diego Christian College
438
Talmudical Seminary of Bobov
473

 

Smallest Engineering, Medical, and Other Professional Colleges

All of these college focus on STEM or other professional education paths. 

College
Enrollment
Bastyr University
75
St. John's College of Nursing
93
Webb Institute
105
Trinity College of Nursing and Health
108
Rush University
118
Lakeview College of Nursing
152
Saint Anthony College of Nursing
189
Columbia College
234
Northwestern Health Sciences University
249
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
255
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
255
Southern California Institute of Architecture
256
St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
277
Boston Architectural College
290
Allen College
314
Capitol Technology University
322
Logan University
339
Bellin College
356
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
361
Touro University Worldwide
425
Pacific Oaks College
479

 

Smallest Liberal Arts Colleges

All the colleges on this list offer a variety of degrees and a complete liberal arts education (but note that some of these schools are religiously affiliated).
 
College
Enrollment
American Baptist College
57
Divine Word College
67
Magdalen College
67
Grace Mission University
68
Allegheny Wesleyan College
77
University of the West
77
Heritage Christian University
83
Trinity International University-Florida
83
Thomas More College of Liberal Arts
89
Cleveland University-Kansas City
91
Oak Hills Christian College
94
Webb Institute
105
Antioch College
133
Criswell College
137
Goddard College
146
Davis College
147
Johnson University Florida
149
Baptist University of the Americas
156
Manhattan Christian College
158
Great Lakes Christian College
165
Lincoln University
168
Barclay College
168
Ecclesia College
148
Martin University
180
Beulah Heights University
181
Crowley's Ridge College
197
New Saint Andrews College
198
Trinity College of Florida
204
Bennett College
207
University of Saint Katherine
245
Paine College
251
The Baptist College of Florida
252
Welch College
261
Bethesda University
264
Bacone College
266
Bethany Global University
284
Randall University
285
Lincoln Christian University
287
The King's University
299
Allen College
314
Naropa University
317
Principia College
318
Multnomah University
334
Trinity Baptist College
341
Wells College
341
Salem College
346
Alaska Pacific University
347
Calvary University
348
The King's College
355
Bellin College
356
College of the Atlantic
369
Patrick Henry College
371
University of the Southwest
414
Urshan College
442
Sweet Briar College
451
Prescott College
383
Paul Quinn College
384
North American University
389
Finlandia University
400
Warner Pacific University
406
Stephens College
409
Morris College
410
Life Pacific University
419
Rosemont College
425
Beacon College
431
Soka University of America
435
San Diego Christian College
438
Southwestern Christian University
456
University of Valley Forge
473
Carolina University
477
Bethel College-North Newton
478
East-West University
487
Thomas Aquinas College
497
 
 
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Why Are These Schools So Small? 3 Big Reasons

It might seem unorthodox for the enrollment of an entire college to be the same size as your high school class (or even smaller!). Though definitely uncommon, these schools usually have a solid rationale for keeping their student bodies so tiny. There are three major reasons these colleges are particularly small

 

Reason #1: Extremely Specialized Curriculum

Often, small colleges have a very specialized curriculum that caters to a narrow demographic of students. Many of the smallest colleges are religiously affiliated, specialized art schools, or professional schools.

The smallest liberal arts colleges usually have a curriculum that emphasizes unique modes of learning. For example, some of these schools have a "Great Books" curriculum, meaning that all students must read a collection of classic texts as part of the college's universal academic requirements. If you're looking for an outside-the-box college experience, then a small school could be a perfect choice for you.

 

Reason #2: Spin-Offs of Larger Universities

Some of these schools were once part of larger universities and then branched off to form their own communities. Sometimes this happens when a university system shrinks. Smaller schools that were once affiliated with the flagship university have the option to become independently-functioning entities.

This can also happen if a school no longer fits with the larger campus. They may have developed new types of classes, or perhaps they want to serve a different portion of the student population.

Regardless of the reason why, this legacy goes along with small schools' tendency to be more specialized and attract a much smaller group of prospective students.

 

Reason #3: Dedication to Personalizing the Academic Experience

Small schools are often committed to restricting class sizes in order to give each student individualized attention. Often, students can design their own curricula and access a level of guidance and support from professors and advisors that's unheard of at larger institutions. At small universities, students frequently collaborate with professors and are asked to give self-evaluations.

Tiny schools treat the college experience as an evolving dialogue between students, their teachers, and their communities. This enables them to focus less on grades and more on learning as an ongoing interactive process. In fact, some small schools don't assign course grades at all!

 

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Small colleges tend to be unique...which means that each student will have a unique collegiate experience, too!

 

What Is the Tiny College Experience Like?

So you can get a sense of what the smallest schools are actually like, I've compiled a few student testimonials that provide perspective on the pros and cons of attending these colleges.

 

Thomas Aquinas College

"They create an academic bubble of seclusion, quite literally." (Source)

"The rules are a bit extreme, and never think that someone is not watching. At a school this small, everything gets out in the open." (Source)

"I admit that this school does wonders with the mind. Thomas Aquinas delves into critical thinking and reading beyond the text." (Source)

 

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Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula California (Harold Litwiler/Flickr)

The Manhattan School of Music

“The Manhattan School of Music is an amazing experience. The professors within my major are top notch experts who encourage the growth and individualism of all students.” (Source)

“The professors are world class and the environment is the most welcoming and comfortable that I experienced anywhere.” (Source)

Everyone is so committed to their craft and I am so grateful to be studying alongside such talented human beings. The Musical Theatre curriculum and staff really show me how much I love this area of study.” (Source)

 

New York School of Interior Design

"It's a good school but small. The classes get canceled sometimes because of under-attendance. Tuition is too high!" (Source)

"NYSID offers a lot of opportunities outside of class for students, but they don't have a better way of connecting with students outside of emails. Focusing a career in interior design, my favorite experiences have happened outside of the classroom, being involved in organizations such as the Contract Club and IIDA Representative. These experiences have proved invaluable in networking and meeting professionals in my field." (Source)

 

As you can see from all of these school quotes, the smallest colleges are often limited in their housing and dining options and campus activities.

However, they might be the right fit for students who are interested in a specific academic field or mode of learning. One benefit you can count on is a close bond with professors and other students.

 

What's Next?

If you're just starting your college search, you might not be sure whether a big or small college is the best choice for you. Learn about the major differences between the two.

Another factor to consider in the college search process is location. Do you want to stay close to home or start over somewhere new? Read this article to find out if a college close to home is the right choice for you.

For more advice on how to conduct your college search, read my guide on how to choose the best college for you and my review of the top 10 college search websites.

 

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Samantha Lindsay
About the Author

Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.



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