Setting
These colleges are classified as rural in the federal locale data. 17 of the 354 colleges in our dataset qualify for this list, and colleges with a missing value for the fields used here are left out rather than guessed. The table below shows the top 17, led by Colgate University (New York).
Across all 17 qualifying colleges the graduation rate runs from 12.0% (Wilberforce University) to 91.2% (Colgate University), with a median of 53.9%. For comparison, the median across the 353 colleges in the full dataset that report it is 73.1%.
| # | College | State | Graduation rate | Acceptance rate | Net price | Undergrads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colgate University | NY | 91.2% | 13.9% | $28,786 | 3,180 |
| 2 | United States Air Force Academy | CO | 87.5% | 14.1% | — | 4,114 |
| 3 | Kenyon College | OH | 82.3% | 31.0% | $38,512 | 1,732 |
| 4 | Bard College | NY | 67.6% | 52.1% | $34,649 | 2,414 |
| 5 | Spring Arbor University | MI | 63.5% | 51.5% | $19,353 | 1,010 |
| 6 | Hampden-Sydney College | VA | 62.2% | 40.9% | $22,400 | 946 |
| 7 | Maine Maritime Academy | ME | 58.2% | 54.1% | $23,414 | 942 |
| 8 | Alcorn State University | MS | 57.4% | 45.3% | $13,265 | 2,363 |
| 9 | Ave Maria University | FL | 53.9% | 41.4% | $24,860 | 1,298 |
| 10 | Anna Maria College | MA | 46.2% | 50.3% | $28,333 | 906 |
| 11 | Crown College | MN | 45.4% | 22.8% | $26,672 | 796 |
| 12 | Warner University | FL | 42.1% | 42.8% | $19,748 | 756 |
| 13 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce | PR | 41.4% | 33.7% | $9,026 | 2,404 |
| 14 | Sterling College | KS | 41.3% | 48.2% | $22,371 | 538 |
| 15 | University of West Alabama | AL | 34.7% | 42.6% | $12,684 | 2,974 |
| 16 | Ohio Christian University | OH | 33.9% | 38.0% | $20,607 | 862 |
| 17 | Wilberforce University | OH | 12.0% | 40.5% | $5,567 | 822 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution, May 2026 release (file published 2026-05-26). Data fetched 2026-10-14. Open any row for the full college profile.
Of the 17 qualifying colleges, 4 are public and 13 are private nonprofit. Within the table, Ohio appears 3 times, New York appears 2 times, Florida appears 2 times. The median acceptance rate among the 17 listed colleges that report it is 41.4%, against 44.6% for the whole dataset. The median net price among the 16 listed colleges that report it is $22,386, against $19,857 for the whole dataset. 10 of the 17 listed colleges report an SAT range, and the midpoints of those ranges have a median near 1160.
Locale comes from the NCES classification of the area around each campus. Rural campuses are less common among four-year colleges with 500 or more undergraduates, so this list is short.
Each column in the table means the following.
A rural classification says nothing about the quality of a college, and distance from a city may affect internships, transportation and cost of living.
To see how your own score compares, read what a 1160 SAT or a 26 ACT means for a college list, then check college costs by state for price context.
Colgate University is first on this list, with graduation rate of 91.2%. It leads 17 qualifying colleges in the dataset, so check what the number measures before treating it as a recommendation.
17 of the 354 colleges in our dataset qualify, and the table shows the top 17. Colleges with a missing value are excluded.
No. The list sorts on one number. It does not measure teaching, fit, program strength or what you would pay, so use it to find colleges to look at and then check each profile and the college's own website.
Colleges are drawn from the 354-college dataset built from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (May 2026 release (file published 2026-05-26); fetched 2026-10-14). Selection: Four-year public and private nonprofit colleges with at least 500 undergraduates: every college admitting 55% or fewer applicants, plus the 150 largest by undergraduate enrollment. Colleges that do not report test ranges are included with ranges shown as not reported. Reporting periods for the fields on this page: AcadYr 2021-22; Fall 2016 or AcadYr 2016-17 entry cohort, as applicable; Fall 2022. Full definitions are on the methodology page, and the numbers are available as an open download.
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