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Smallest Colleges in the U.S.

Want a more one-on-one learning experience? Studying at a small college may be for you. Determine which of the smallest colleges will best suit your needs.

List of the Smallest Colleges in the U.S.

There are many reasons to study at a small college. Not only do you get the personalized one-on-one experience with your professors, you’ll also have a better chance at actually working with them on educational projects if you’re into that. Smaller colleges promote a sense of community and belonging, and often provide the best networking opportunities!

Rank School Name City State Net Cost School Level Retention Rate # of Students
1

Emil Fries Piano Hospital and Training Center

Vancouver

WA

N/A

2 year

100%

3

2

Mitchells Hairstyling Academy-Goldsboro

Goldsboro

NC

N/A

Vocational

0%

4

3

Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics

Richmond

VA

N/A

Vocational

N/A

4

4

Nunation School of Cosmetology

Birmingham

AL

N/A

Vocational

14.29%

5

5

South Branch Career and Technical Center

Petersburg

WV

N/A

Vocational

N/A

5

6

St John's Hospital School of Clinical Lab Science

Springfield

IL

N/A

Vocational

N/A

6

7

Ann Marie's World of Beauty School

Binghamton

NY

N/A

Vocational

N/A

6

8

Belle Academy of Cosmetology

Waterbury

CT

N/A

Vocational

50%

7

9

Fayette Beauty Academy-Ritz Beauty Academy

Morrow

GA

N/A

Vocational

85.71%

7

10

Blessing Hospital School of Medical Laboratory Technology

Quincy

IL

N/A

Vocational

N/A

8

11

Lester E Cox Medical Center-School of Medical Technology

Springfield

MO

N/A

4 year

N/A

8

12

Paul Mitchell the School-Ardmore

Ardmore

OK

N/A

Vocational

60%

8

13

Anton Aesthetics Academy

West Palm Beach

FL

N/A

Vocational

N/A

9

14

Yale-New Haven Hospital Dietetic Internship

New Haven

CT

N/A

4 year

N/A

10

15

Creative Touch Cosmetology School

Waterloo

IL

N/A

Vocational

N/A

10

16

Cannon Institute of Higher Learning

Dallas

TX

N/A

Vocational

N/A

11

17

First Coast Barber Academy

Jacksonville

FL

N/A

Vocational

40%

12

18

Regional West Medical Center School of Radiologic Technology

Scottsbluff

NE

N/A

2 year

N/A

12

19

Dance Theatre of Harlem Inc

New York

NY

N/A

Vocational

100%

12

20

Augusta Area Dietetic Internship-University Hospital

Augusta

GA

N/A

4 year

N/A

12

21

Gemini School of Visual Arts & Communication

Cedar Park

TX

N/A

2 year

N/A

13

22

Platt Technical High School

Milford

CT

$2,315

Vocational

100%

13

23

Monteclaro Escuela de Hoteleria y Artes Culinarias

Rio Grande

PR

N/A

Vocational

100%

13

24

StenoTech Career Institute-Fairfield

Piscataway

NJ

N/A

2 year

N/A

13

25

John D Rockefeller IV Career Center

New Cumberland

WV

$9,495

Vocational

100%

13

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Studying at a Small College

Thinking about going with a smaller college? Here are some useful things worth considering before finalizing your choice.

  • Class Size: Smaller colleges have less students than bigger colleges, which means that each class is bound to have significantly less people in it. This allows for interaction with peers as well as a more one-on-one learning experience with professors and faculty. Teachers are a lot more likely to remember their students by name and build a working relationship with them.
  • Social Life: If you thrive in meeting people in smaller groups, you’ll make yourself right at home in a small university. While small colleges usually have fewer social events, you may find that people are friendlier and more community-oriented at these schools because everyone gets to know each other relatively quickly.
  • Activities: Smaller universities tend to have fewer activities to choose from, but there’s always room for growth. Student voices are a lot more likely to be heard at a smaller college than a bigger one, so if you are the type to implement change and utilize your leadership skills to start up sub-communities at your school, then this may be a very viable option!
  • Courses: The variety of courses is more limited in smaller colleges than bigger ones. However, this is not to say that the quality of education is inferior. Students have the advantage of getting individual attention and guidance in whatever they choose to study, and can even work with academic advisors on developing a field of study perfect for you and your goals.

Which College is Best for You?

The best way to determine which college size is the best fit for you is to set aside some time to visit campuses and speak with people at each institution to really get an idea of what the culture and environment is like. Some questions to ponder when trying to decide whether a college is a good fit are:

  • Can I see myself at this campus?
  • What degree programs are available? Are my top degree/major choices available at this school?
  • What kind of extracurricular activities could I see myself participating in?
  • Is it easy to get around outside of campus if needed (i.e. grocery stores, restaurants, etc.)?
  • Is there convenient and safe public transportation?
  • Are there any academic societies I can become a part of?
  • Is the college located in a safe area?
  • What resources are available to me to ensure a top-notch education?
  • How does this college compare to others I’ve seen? What are its pros and cons?