The Degree Finder

Search now in 3 easy steps

Smallest Online Colleges

Have a specific major in mind and looking for the perfect online college to pursue it? Find the best smallest online college to suit your desired field of study.

Which are the Smallest Online Colleges?

Online learning is an option for any academic program, but if you already have one you’re committed to, choosing a smaller online college may allow for a personalized one-on-one experience with other students, professors, and faculty members. See our list of the top smallest online universities in the United States!

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

A & W Healthcare Educators

New Orleans

LA

N/A

Vocational

N/A

57

2

A T Still University of Health Sciences

Kirksville

MO

N/A

4 year

N/A

3,838

3

Aaniiih Nakoda College

Harlem

MT

$8,982

2 year

41.67%

278

4

Aaron's Academy of Beauty

Waldorf

MD

N/A

Vocational

87.5%

54

5

ABC Beauty Academy

Garland

TX

N/A

Vocational

37.5%

42

6

ABC Beauty College Inc

Arkadelphia

AR

N/A

Vocational

50%

54

7

Abcott Institute

Southfield

MI

N/A

Vocational

78.33%

210

8

Abdill Career College Inc

Medford

OR

N/A

Vocational

N/A

148

9

Abilene Christian University

Abilene

TX

N/A

4 year

75.15%

4,853

10

Abington Memorial Hospital Dixon School of Nursing

Willow Grove

PA

N/A

2 year

N/A

268

11

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Tifton

GA

$6,654

4 year

59.46%

4,005

12

Academia Serrant Inc

Ponce

PR

N/A

Vocational

78.89%

558

13

Academy College

Minneapolis

MN

N/A

4 year

N/A

170

14

Academy Di Capelli-School of Cosmetology

Wallingford

CT

N/A

Vocational

85.71%

85

15

Academy di Firenze

Jerome

ID

N/A

2 year

87.5%

27

16

Academy for Careers and Technology

Mullins

SC

$7,350

Vocational

62.5%

50

17

Academy for Five Element Acupuncture

Gainesville

FL

N/A

4 year

N/A

85

18

Academy for Jewish Religion-California

Los Angeles

CA

N/A

4 year

N/A

64

19

Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations

West Palm Beach

FL

N/A

2 year

86.36%

985

20

Academy for Salon Professionals

Canoga Park

CA

N/A

Vocational

90.91%

146

1 - 7492 of 7492
  1. «
  2. ‹
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. ›
  9. »

Advantages of Smallest Online Colleges

So you’ve made up your mind: you want to study online. Still trying to decide between going with a big or small college? Here are some advantages associated with the smallest online colleges.

  • Attending a small college is great for a student who already knows what they want to study during college, and do after they graduate. Coursework may be limited, but ample enough for someone who is already committed to a major. For example, if you are certain you want to study biology, you can focus your time on finding the perfect small college that offers strong curriculum on that subject and go from there!
  • Smaller colleges generally have more leeway. Have a major in mind that isn’t exactly on the “list of majors” at your favorite college? It may be worth consulting an academic advisor to see if it’s possible to develop a program designed for you!
  • Teachers and faculty actually care about you, your thoughts, and your contributions! Have a great idea? Want your voice heard? At a small college, all are possibilities!
  • Smaller universities come with a smaller student body, which means you’ll most likely get to know the students pretty well, or at least recognize their names. This is true even online, because if you take several courses online from the same college, you’ll probably run into the same people in another class. This will make connecting and networking with students a lot easier, in the virtual classroom and in person.

What Colleges Offer Online Education?

  • Community College
    • This route is ideal for those who are looking to take a class or two for personal enrichment or to work toward a 2-year Associate degree.
    • Classes are generally more affordable and not as difficult as equivalent classes offered at a 4-year university.
  • Public 4-Year University
    • This route is ideal for students who are looking to pursue and earn a 4-year Bachelor degree, or even a professional/Doctorate degree.
    • Basic classes are available for new college students, in addition to the more specialized and “upper-division” courses for students at every learning stage.
    • Classes are more costly than the ones offered at community colleges, but often offer more substance and challenge to students.
  • Private 4-Year University
    • This route is ideal for students looking for personal attention in the classroom and a more one-on-one learning experience with professors.
    • Lesson plans often revolve around faith or focus, especially in colleges with religious affiliations.
    • World-class curriculum at the basic and professional levels are available for students online at prestigious universities such as Harvard and MIT, to name a couple.
    • Specialized classes are available for those who are looking to further their education in a specific field.