Size
These colleges enroll fewer than 3,000 undergraduates and graduate a high share of students. 136 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 20, led by Bowdoin College (Maine).
Across all 136 qualifying colleges the graduation rate runs from 0.0% (Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses) to 95.3% (Bowdoin College), with a median of 66.8%. For comparison, the median across the 353 colleges in the full dataset that report it is 73.1%.
| # | College | State | Graduation rate | Undergrads | Students per faculty | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bowdoin College | ME | 95.3% | 1,873 | 9:1 | $14,398 |
| 2 | California Institute of Technology | CA | 94.4% | 987 | 3:1 | $16,075 |
| 3 | Amherst College | MA | 93.9% | 1,911 | 6:1 | $23,367 |
| 4 | Washington and Lee University | VA | 93.9% | 1,881 | 7:1 | $23,781 |
| 5 | Williams College | MA | 93.6% | 2,076 | 6:1 | $17,716 |
| 6 | Pomona College | CA | 93.2% | 1,666 | 7:1 | $19,285 |
| 7 | Babson College | MA | 93.1% | 2,728 | 15:1 | $40,514 |
| 8 | United States Coast Guard Academy | CT | 92.7% | 1,108 | 7:1 | — |
| 9 | Swarthmore College | PA | 92.3% | 1,613 | 7:1 | $23,149 |
| 10 | Harvey Mudd College | CA | 91.9% | 921 | 8:1 | $35,924 |
| 11 | Wellesley College | MA | 91.5% | 2,300 | 7:1 | $25,496 |
| 12 | Claremont McKenna College | CA | 91.4% | 1,388 | 8:1 | $28,849 |
| 13 | Middlebury College | VT | 91.4% | 2,738 | 8:1 | $31,483 |
| 14 | Davidson College | NC | 91.1% | 1,867 | 8:1 | $17,379 |
| 15 | Vassar College | NY | 91.1% | 2,444 | 7:1 | $39,343 |
| 16 | Hamilton College | NY | 90.6% | 2,030 | 9:1 | $28,985 |
| 17 | Bates College | ME | 89.7% | 1,760 | 9:1 | $29,351 |
| 18 | Hillsdale College | MI | 89.7% | 1,573 | 8:1 | — |
| 19 | Carleton College | MN | 89.6% | 2,086 | 8:1 | $25,407 |
| 20 | Haverford College | PA | 89.6% | 1,430 | 8:1 | $25,314 |
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 136 qualifying colleges, 22 are public and 114 are private nonprofit. Within the table, California appears 4 times, Massachusetts appears 4 times, Maine appears 2 times. The median undergrads among the 20 listed colleges that report it is 1,870, against 7,078 for the whole dataset. The median students per faculty among the 20 listed colleges that report it is 8:1, against 14:1 for the whole dataset. 19 of the 20 listed colleges report an SAT range, and the midpoints of those ranges have a median near 1500.
Small colleges can mean small classes and close faculty contact. This list filters for under 3,000 undergraduates and ranks by six-year graduation rate.
Each column in the table means the following.
The 3,000-student cutoff is our own filter.
To see how your own score compares, read what a 1500 SAT or a 34 ACT means for a college list, then check college costs by state for price context.
Bowdoin College is first on this list, with graduation rate of 95.3%. It leads 136 qualifying colleges in the dataset, so check what the number measures before treating it as a recommendation.
136 of the 354 colleges in our dataset qualify, and the table shows the top 20. 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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