Sometimes Smaller Is Better
Big campuses with thousands of people can be overwhelming.
While colleges and universities with large enrollments tout bustling communities, smaller schools draw the student looking to pursue an education away from the daunting crowds.
These schools are often heavily religious, geared toward early high school grads or have a different structure than that of traditional four-year colleges. Here are the 10 ranked schools with the smallest undergraduate enrollment in 2015-16 of the 1,270 ranked schools that reported these data to U.S. News in an annual survey.
Bard College at Simon’s Rock (MA)
Enrollment: 329
Location: Great Barrington, Massachusetts
U.S. News rank: 144 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges
Learn more about Bard College at Simon’s Rock.
Welch College (TN)
Enrollment: 327
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
U.S. News rank: 31, Regional Colleges (South)
Learn more about Welch College.
St. John’s College (NM)
Enrollment: 324
Location: Sante Fe, New Mexico
U.S. News rank: 83 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges
Learn more about St. John’s College.
Cottey College (MO)
Enrollment: 320
Location: Nevada, Missouri
U.S. News rank: 22 (tie), Regional Colleges (Midwest)
Learn more about Cottey College.
Sweet Briar College (VA)
Enrollment: 316
Location: Sweet Briar, Virginia
U.S. News rank: 140 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges
Learn more about Sweet Briar College.
Amridge University (AL)
Enrollment: 308
Location: Montgomery, Alabama
U.S. News rank: Rank Not Published, Regional Universities (South)
Learn more about Amridge University.
Alaska Pacific University
Enrollment: 282
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
U.S. News rank: 52 (tie), Regional Universities (West)
Learn more about Alaska Pacific University.
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church (PA)
Enrollment: 273
Location: Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania
U.S. News rank: RNP, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Learn more about Bryn Athyn College of the New Church.
College of St. Joseph (VT)
Enrollment: 255
Location: Rutland, Vermont
U.S. News rank: RNP, Regional Colleges (North)
Learn more about College of St. Joseph.
Marlboro College (VT)
Enrollment: 192
Location: Marlboro, Vermont
U.S. News rank: 128 (tie), National LIberal Arts Colleges
Learn more about Marlboro College.
Find the College for You
Get more information about how to choose a college and check out the complete rankings of the 2017 Best Colleges to find the school that’s the right fit for you.
For more advice and information on selecting a college, connect with U.S. News Education on Twitter and Facebook.
More from U.S. News
10 Colleges With the Highest SAT Scores
10 Colleges That Have Produced the Most Millionaires
10 States With the Highest High School Graduation Rates
10 Schools With the Smallest Undergraduate Enrollment originally appeared on usnews.com
