Skip to main content
What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Looking for Small Colleges

Hey everyone, I'm trying to compile a list of colleges that have the least amount of students. I thrive in more intimate learning environments, plus I'm not a big fan of large lecture classes. Does anyone have recommendations?

a year ago

Absolutely! There are several small colleges known for their intimate learning environments. Most of these have a "liberal arts" focus, which means they emphasize interdisciplinary learning across varied fields.

1. Pomona College in Claremont, California, is worth a look. With just over 1,500 students, they maintain a nearly perfect student-faculty ratio. Pomona is one of the Claremont Colleges, so although it's small, you'd have the resources of a larger university system at your disposal.

2. Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, another liberal arts college, is another great option with just around 1,600 students.

3. Amherst College in Massachusetts, which has an open curriculum, is also known for its small size and strong sense of community. This means there are no distribution requirements and students can take any courses they want.

4. Bowdoin College in Maine is similarly sized and provides a tightly-knit community and a strong focus on undergraduate education.

5. If you're open to women-only institutions, check out Wellesley College in Massachusetts. It has less than 2,500 students and is renowned for its rigorous academics and strong alumni network.

Remember, while these schools are smaller in size, they tend to have competitive admissions. If a small, intimate learning environment is important to you, make sure to look beyond just the big names and check out some lesser-known colleges. Schools like Earlham College in Indiana, Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee, and Denison University in Ohio all have smaller student bodies and still offer quality academics.

Also, don't forget to verify if the schools offer the major or programs you're interested in! Hope this helps!

a year ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.