# Smallest Colleges in America

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: National
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/smallest-colleges

## Methodology

Ranked by smallest enrollment (min 100 students)

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Only 100 students attend the smallest colleges in America. For families, this means a more intimate learning environment.

Students searching for small colleges often seek personalized attention and unique communities. The underlying question is about outcomes: will these colleges lead to better earnings and less debt? Data shows that smaller institutions can provide pathways to success, but outcomes vary significantly.

Dallas Christian College and Bryn Athyn College of the New Church illustrate this variation. Dallas Christian graduates earn $43,503 annually but have a graduation rate of only 26%. In contrast, Bryn Athyn boasts a 55% graduation rate with lower average earnings of $40,457, highlighting the trade-offs families face.

## Key Findings

- Dallas Christian College has a $43,503 average earnings but only a 26% graduation rate.
- Cottey College graduates earn $35,422 and have a 59% graduation rate, showcasing a different approach to student success.
- Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences leads with $63,582 average earnings and a 53% graduation rate.
- The average earnings across these colleges is $52,906, while the average graduation rate is 47%.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Cottey College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cottey-college) | Nevada, MO | 59% | $35,422 | $13,805 | $19,043 | 0.54x |
| 2 | [Dallas Christian College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dallas-christian-college) | Dallas, TX | 26% | $43,503 | $22,960 | $24,912 | 0.57x |
| 3 | [Stephens College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stephens-college) | Columbia, MO | 45% | $43,071 | $23,459 | $27,000 | 0.63x |
| 4 | [Bryn Athyn College of the New Church](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bryn-athyn-college-of-the-new-church) | Bryn Athyn, PA | 55% | $40,457 | $20,586 | $22,250 | 0.55x |
| 5 | [Randall University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/randall-university) | Moore, OK | 23% | $42,051 | $16,383 | $22,626 | 0.54x |
| 6 | [Salem College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/salem-college) | Winston-Salem, NC | 57% | $44,640 | $18,277 | $26,649 | 0.6x |
| 7 | [Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/aultman-college-of-nursing-and-health-sciences) | Canton, OH | 53% | $63,582 | $24,204 | $20,000 | 0.31x |
| 8 | [Kentucky Christian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kentucky-christian-university) | Grayson, KY | 35% | $42,375 | $24,038 | $22,250 | 0.53x |
| 9 | [University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-health-sciences-and-pharmacy-in-st-louis) | Saint Louis, MO | 69% | $137,047 | $31,817 | $17,755 | 0.13x |
| 10 | [Sweet Briar College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sweet-briar-college) | Sweet Briar, VA | 50% | $51,943 | $17,758 | $27,000 | 0.52x |
| 11 | [Wesleyan College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wesleyan-college) | Macon, GA | 50% | $44,317 | $12,724 | $24,094 | 0.54x |
| 12 | [Washington Adventist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/washington-adventist-university) | Takoma Park, MD | 33% | $64,249 | $18,526 | $30,500 | 0.47x |
| 13 | [Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-penn-state-wilkes-barre) | Dallas, PA | 19% | $63,435 | $16,448 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 14 | [Blackburn College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/blackburn-college) | Carlinville, IL | 55% | $46,802 | $18,460 | $24,242 | 0.52x |
| 15 | [Williams Baptist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/williams-baptist-university) | Walnut Ridge, AR | 31% | $38,484 | $15,745 | $21,820 | 0.57x |
| 16 | [Art Academy of Cincinnati](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/art-academy-of-cincinnati) | Cincinnati, OH | 42% | $34,368 | $34,253 | $27,000 | 0.79x |
| 17 | [Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/albany-college-of-pharmacy-and-health-sciences) | Albany, NY | 68% | $131,426 | $29,882 | $25,500 | 0.19x |
| 18 | [John Paul the Great Catholic University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/john-paul-the-great-catholic-university) | Escondido, CA | 65% | $56,930 | $34,666 | $26,968 | 0.47x |
| 19 | [Prescott College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/prescott-college) | Prescott, AZ | 44% | $42,359 | $22,583 | $16,300 | 0.38x |
| 20 | [Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-penn-state-greater-allegheny) | McKeesport, PA | 23% | $63,435 | $15,521 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 21 | [Mitchell College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mitchell-college) | New London, CT | 43% | $39,115 | $30,260 | $25,150 | 0.64x |
| 22 | [Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-penn-state-fayette-eberly) | Lemont Furnace, PA | 36% | $63,435 | $14,596 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 23 | [Oakland City University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/oakland-city-university) | Oakland City, IN | 68% | $43,283 | $15,210 | $16,758 | 0.39x |
| 24 | [Defiance College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/defiance-college) | Defiance, OH | 34% | $49,351 | $26,337 | $26,813 | 0.54x |
| 25 | [Baptist University of Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/baptist-university-of-florida) | Graceville, FL | 62% | $42,836 | $10,372 | $23,590 | 0.55x |
| 26 | [Hannibal-LaGrange University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hannibal-lagrange-university) | Hannibal, MO | 47% | $42,643 | $22,814 | $18,599 | 0.44x |
| 27 | [Bellin College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bellin-college) | Green Bay, WI | 68% | $76,222 | $37,408 | $18,000 | 0.24x |
| 28 | [Eureka College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eureka-college) | Eureka, IL | 41% | $51,641 | $17,349 | $23,250 | 0.45x |
| 29 | [The King's University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-kings-university) | Southlake, TX | 44% | $41,471 | $14,140 | $27,000 | 0.65x |
| 30 | [York University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/york-university) | York, NE | 44% | $44,130 | $20,951 | $21,500 | 0.49x |
| 31 | [Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-penn-state-shenango) | Sharon, PA | 33% | $63,435 | $18,095 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 32 | [Trinity Baptist College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/trinity-baptist-college) | Jacksonville, FL | 38% | $37,275 | $20,011 | $24,250 | 0.65x |
| 33 | [Maranatha Baptist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/maranatha-baptist-university) | Watertown, WI | 65% | $45,593 | $26,005 | $14,143 | 0.31x |
| 34 | [Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pontifical-catholic-university-of-puerto-rico-arecibo) | Arecibo, PR | 47% | $24,908 | $11,117 | $15,500 | 0.62x |
| 35 | [Lourdes University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lourdes-university) | Sylvania, OH | 35% | $48,150 | $23,206 | $27,000 | 0.56x |
| 36 | [College of the Atlantic](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-the-atlantic) | Bar Harbor, ME | 69% | $40,264 | $25,184 | $25,050 | 0.62x |
| 37 | [Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/faith-baptist-bible-college-and-theological-seminary) | Ankeny, IA | 64% | $40,650 | $16,282 | $12,971 | 0.32x |
| 38 | [Millsaps College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/millsaps-college) | Jackson, MS | 56% | $53,848 | $26,034 | $27,000 | 0.5x |
| 39 | [Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/charles-r-drew-university-of-medicine-and-science) | Los Angeles, CA | 37% | $83,438 | $35,558 | $18,750 | 0.22x |
| 40 | [Albizu University-Miami](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/albizu-university-miami) | Miami, FL | 48% | $41,544 | $19,849 | $5,500 | 0.13x |
| 41 | [Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-penn-state-new-kensington) | New Kensington, PA | 26% | $63,435 | $18,305 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 42 | [Warner Pacific University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/warner-pacific-university) | Portland, OR | 66% | $55,204 | $25,629 | $25,000 | 0.45x |
| 43 | [Southwestern Adventist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwestern-adventist-university) | Keene, TX | 47% | $52,946 | $22,778 | $26,998 | 0.51x |
| 44 | [Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/puerto-rico-conservatory-of-music) | San Juan, PR | 62% | $19,474 | $7,260 | $8,875 | 0.46x |
| 45 | [Central Baptist College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-baptist-college) | Conway, AR | 35% | $46,789 | $12,287 | $22,250 | 0.48x |
| 46 | [Rosemont College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rosemont-college) | Rosemont, PA | 49% | $48,555 | $20,150 | $27,000 | 0.56x |
| 47 | [Capitol Technology University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/capitol-technology-university) | Laurel, MD | 44% | $85,035 | $22,102 | $20,264 | 0.24x |
| 48 | [Bluffton University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bluffton-university) | Bluffton, OH | 51% | $49,547 | $19,943 | $27,000 | 0.54x |
| 49 | [Rust College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rust-college) | Holly Springs, MS | 17% | $32,275 | $12,587 | $26,159 | 0.81x |
| 50 | [University of New Hampshire at Manchester](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-new-hampshire-at-manchester) | Manchester, NH | 56% | $66,479 | $9,992 | $26,814 | 0.4x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Smallest Colleges in America." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/smallest-colleges

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.