Small Private Colleges And Universities In The U.S.
According to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), there are 1,600 private non-profit colleges in the country, serving some 3.4 million students. Small private colleges and universities in the United States offer a commitment to high quality education as well as close personal faculty-student interaction. As a result, they often attract some of the brightest students, which can make admission highly competitive. These colleges often come with some of the highest price tags on tuition, too. Students, however, shouldn’t be quick to dismiss their chances of attending these schools. Financial support from small private schools can slash printed tuition costs by as much as half, according to the NAICU. Full-time students at private four-year schools receive on average $17,630 in grant assistance toward their college costs. As much as 20 percent of the students at one small private college in the Pacific Northwest received academic or need-based grants to cover their tuition in 2013.
Best Affordable Small Private Colleges
Virginia Union University
- Richmond, VA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
After the American Civil War, the ABHMS formed two separate schools: Wayland Seminary and the Richmond Theological Institute. These two schools have merged to become Virginia Union University in Richmond. This historically Black university currently offers undergraduate degree programs, competitive college basketball teams, and spiritual education opportunities.
95%
$10,530
63%
$10,530
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,730
- Institution Type
- Private
Amberton University
- Garland, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Amberton University is located in Garland, Texas, and is relatively close to major metropolitan areas throughout the state of Texas. This private university offers incredibly high standards of learning to its students, and Amberton University continues to attract a student population from throughout the country for its varied educational offerings.
85%
$8,550
N/A
$8,550
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 1,002
- Institution Type
- Private
Amridge University
- Montgomery, AL
- 4 year
- Online
- Accredited
Amridge University was originally founded under the name The Alabama Christian School of Religion. This school was established by the Churches of Christ, a non-denominational group of Christian believers. The school, located in Montgomery, continues to offer theological degrees as well as ministry training for students.
N/A
$9,000
50%
$9,000
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 723
- Institution Type
- Private
Arkansas Baptist College
- Little Rock, AR
- 4 year
- Campus
- Accredited
Arkansas Baptist College is a relatively small private institution located in the capital city of Arkansas, Little Rock. This college is historically black. Today a variety of students at this school study a comprehensive collection of subjects in pursuit of varied degrees.
N/A
$8,760
31%
$8,760
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Students Enrolled
- 414
- Institution Type
- Private
Huston-Tillotson University
- Austin, TX
- 4 year
- Campus
- Accredited
Austin, Texas is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, so it is no surprise that Huston-Tillotson University is expanding rapidly. Located in Austin, this historically Black college expanded to a four-year university that offers an enormous variety of educational degrees and pursuits to its students. While affiliated with the UMC and the UCC, this school is advertised as multi-faith and multi-cultural.
33%
$12,569
54%
$12,569
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,001
- Institution Type
- Private
Bacone College
- Muskogee, OK
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Bacone College was originally founded as an educational institution for various Native American tribes and nations within the Midwest region of the United States. Today, Bacone College continues to serve Native American students as well as a wide variety of other cultures and religions. This college offers four-year degree programs in the liberal arts.
79%
$12,000
39%
$12,000
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Students Enrolled
- 266
- Institution Type
- Private
Bethune-Cookman University
- Daytona Beach, FL
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Bethune-Cookman University is located in Daytona Beach, Florida. Its location makes it an attractive historically black college for students looking for a warmer climate and varied social opportunities. Bethune-Cookman University operates seven different colleges, including business education, nursing, graduate studies, science and engineering, social sciences, and the arts and humanities.
100%
$13,844
51%
$13,844
- Acceptance Rate
- 85%
- Students Enrolled
- 2,727
- Institution Type
- Private
Everglades University
- Boca Raton, FL
- 2 year
- Online
- Accredited
Boca Raton, Florida, a popular residential town in the state, is the home of Everglades University. This school is less than twenty years old, but it was quickly accredited and has developed a reputation for providing undergraduate and graduate degrees of the highest quality to its student population.
48%
$20,768
75%
$20,768
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Students Enrolled
- 2,247
- Institution Type
- Private
Boricua College
- New York, NY
- 4 year
- Campus
- Accredited
Boricua College is located in New York City, but it is distinct from other New York colleges and post-secondary institutions in that it was originally founded to offer educational opportunities to Hispanic immigrants. Today, the college has four different satellite campuses. Over a thousand students attend the school today with a teaching population of just over 200 instructors.
N/A
$11,000
82%
$11,000
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 423
- Institution Type
- Private
Calumet College of Saint Joseph
- Whiting, IN
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Calumet College Of St. Joseph is a private Catholic college located in North Indiana. The school has satellite campuses in Illinois and Indiana. While the college has extensive degree options for associate, bachelor, and master-level learning, the school is also noteworthy for its comprehensive lineup of e-learning courses through online forums and off-campus software.
31%
$19,900
61%
$19,900
- Acceptance Rate
- 33%
- Students Enrolled
- 658
- Institution Type
- Private
Claflin University
- Orangeburg, SC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Claflin University has the distinction of being the very first historically Black college established in South Carolina that is still in operation today. This private university was established and is still affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Students can pursue undergraduate and graduate-level degrees, and the university also has a popular athletic program.
14%
$16,476
71%
$16,476
- Acceptance Rate
- 62%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,866
- Institution Type
- Private
Dillard University
- New Orleans, LA
- 4 year
- Campus
- Accredited
Dillard University is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, right next to the historic Gentilly Boulevard. While this historically Black college was almost completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, intensive rebuilding efforts have reopened the university. The university received an endowment from Ray Charles, and continues to offer degrees in business, the social sciences, humanities, and in nursing.
47%
$17,410
71%
$17,410
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,202
- Institution Type
- Private
Flagler College-St Augustine
- Saint Augustine, FL
- 2 year
- Campus
- Accredited
Flagler College-St. Augustine is a private institution of post-secondary learning located in St. Augustine, Florida. While the school has just celebrated its fortieth year, it has grown extensively since its inception. In fact, the school was rated one of America’s top colleges by US News & World Report because of its affordable tuition and extensive degree options.
18%
$20,540
69%
$20,540
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Students Enrolled
- 2,623
- Institution Type
- Private
Florida Memorial University
- Miami Gardens, FL
- 4 year
- Campus
- Accredited
Florida Memorial University, located in the beautiful and popular Miami Gardens region of Florida, is a member of the United Negro College Fund and a registered historically Black post-secondary institution. While Florida Memorial offers many degree options, it is especially noteworthy for graduating the second largest population of African-American teachers in the state.
42%
$12,576
51%
$12,576
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,028
- Institution Type
- Private
Rust College
- Holly Springs, MS
- 4 year
- Campus
- Accredited
Holly Springs, Mississippi is the location of Rust College, which is a liberal arts educational institution whose original population of students was African American. While this college is historically Black, the student body is actually quite varied. This is one of the oldest historically Black colleges in the nation, and it is supported by the United Methodist Church.
57%
$9,900
55%
$9,900
- Acceptance Rate
- 38%
- Students Enrolled
- 768
- Institution Type
- Private
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses
- Stockton, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Humphreys College has two distinct campuses in Stockton and Modesto, California. This school is a liberal arts college that is both independent of any religious affiliations and not-for-profit. Humphreys College was the first post-secondary educational institution in the San Joaquin Valley, and it now offers two, four, and six-year degree paths for students, with the highest degree offered being a master’s degree.
100%
$14,580
100%
$14,580
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 352
- Institution Type
- Private
Wiley College
- Marshall, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
In Marshall, Texas, Wiley College was founded as a Black college of the liberal arts by the Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop Isaac Wiley is credited for the school's origins. Today, the school operates both on-campus and off-campus degree programs, and the student population has exceeded a thousand.
14%
$12,500
34%
$12,500
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 665
- Institution Type
- Private
Morris College
- Sumter, SC
- 4 year
- Campus
- Accredited
In Sumter, South Carolina, Morris College offers four-year educational programs in twenty different educational subjects. This college is regionally accredited, and students can pursue Bachelor of Fine Arts, Science, Education, and Arts degrees. Morris College is a private, religious educational institution that maintains its affiliation with the Baptist Church.
69%
$13,890
48%
$13,890
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 410
- Institution Type
- Private
Thomas University
- Thomasville, GA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
In Thomasville, Georgia, Thomas University is a private university with all three degree options for its students: associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, and even graduate-level degrees. The arts and sciences are both featured at Thomasville, but the school is also known for high-quality criminal justice and business administration or management degree paths.
100%
$10,800
64%
$10,800
- Acceptance Rate
- 29%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,388
- Institution Type
- Private
John F. Kennedy University
- Pleasant Hill, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
John F. Kennedy University's main campus is located in Pleasant Hill, California, but the school also has two additional campuses in surrounding Californian cities. This university is affiliated with the National University System, though it still maintains its independent status. Students can pursue degrees in law, the humanities, arts and sciences, and other subjects for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees.
68%
$8,500
N/A
$8,500
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,125
- Institution Type
- Private
Johnson C Smith University
- Charlotte, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Johnson C Smith University was founded as an African-American institution of learning. The university still maintains its status as a historically Black college. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, Johnson C Smith University currently offers a variety of bachelor's degree options. It is perhaps most well-known, though, for its highly rated and well-respected social work and counselling programs.
6%
$16,174
57%
$16,174
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,166
- Institution Type
- Private
Le Moyne-Owen College
- Memphis, TN
- 4 year
- Campus
- Accredited
LeMoyne-Owen College is a private college in Memphis, Tennessee. The undergraduate program is carried out through five academic divisions offering majors in 22 areas of study leading to the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Science, or the Bachelor of Business Administration degrees. It is one of the few historically Black colleges in the United States that has been in existence for more than 150 years. It was founded during the Civil War by the United Church of Christ to teach freedmen and runaway slaves to read and write.
99%
$10,776
53%
$10,776
- Acceptance Rate
- 98%
- Students Enrolled
- 613
- Institution Type
- Private
Husson University
- Bangor, ME
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Located in Bangor, Maine, Husson University is a private post-secondary educational institution that services approximately 3,600 students. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and Husson University operates three distinct campuses throughout the state of Maine, making it the largest, in area, in the entire state.
69%
$18,890
79%
$18,890
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Students Enrolled
- 3,078
- Institution Type
- Private
Life University
- Marietta, GA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Located in the charming town of Marietta, Georgia, Life University is a health sciences institution most known for its chiropractic program, the largest in the world. Life University is regionally accredited by SACS to award four-year undergraduate and graduate degrees in health care, sciences, business, and general studies fields.
35%
$12,420
61%
$12,420
- Acceptance Rate
- 98%
- Students Enrolled
- 2,754
- Institution Type
- Private
Tougaloo College
- Tougaloo, MS
- 2 year
- Campus
- Accredited
Located in Tougaloo, Mississippi, the aptly named Tougaloo College was founded in 1869. This school is historically Black, and it was actually founded to provide educational opportunities to slaves that had been recently freed after the American Civil War. The buildings of this college have historical value, and the school still operates as a high-quality institution of post-secondary learning.
N/A
$10,258
60%
$10,258
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Students Enrolled
- 677
- Institution Type
- Private
Lourdes University
- Sylvania, OH
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Lourdes University is located in Sylvania, Ohio, and maintains its affiliation with the Catholic Church. While the institution opened as a liberal arts bachelor's program known as Lourdes Junior College, it has expanded to offer both bachelor's and graduate degrees in a wide variety of educational pursuits. Because of its religious affiliation, theology is still a popular educational path at Lourdes U.
49%
$24,400
72%
$24,400
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,387
- Institution Type
- Private
Martin Luther College
- New Ulm, MN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Martin Luther College is owned and operated exclusively by the WELS, or the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. This college is located in New Ulm, Minnesota. Male students can continue their pastoral education at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, and both men and women can also pursue educational degrees and ministry degrees at Martin Luther College.
29%
$16,910
83%
$16,910
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Students Enrolled
- 920
- Institution Type
- Private
Martin University
- Indianapolis, IN
- 4 year
- Campus
- Accredited
Martin University is located in Indianapolis, which puts it quite close to music venues, restaurants, sporting venues, theatrical centers, and urban opportunities. Students who attend Martin University are predominantly African-American, and they are able to pursue degree paths in counseling, the sciences, education, liberal arts, and religious studies or theology.
N/A
$12,840
83%
$12,840
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 231
- Institution Type
- Private
Mid-America Christian University
- Oklahoma City, OK
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Mid-America Christian University is located in Oklahoma City and is one of several private Christian universities in the state of Oklahoma. Originally founded as the Gulf Coast Bible College, Mid-America Christian University was relocated from Houston, Texas to better serve a growing population of students interested in theological studies in the "Bible Belt" region of the United States.
95%
$17,568
64%
$17,568
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 2,237
- Institution Type
- Private
Miles College
- Fairfield, AL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Miles College was founded in Fairfield, Alabama at the end of the nineteenth century by the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. This private college is one of the oldest historically Black colleges in the nation, and it continues to offer a high quality of education and varied degree paths for its student population, which continues to grow.
13%
$11,164
60%
$11,164
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 1,520
- Institution Type
- Private
Oakwood University
- Huntsville, AL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Oakwood University is located in the growing city of Huntsville, Alabama. This private institution has Christian affiliations, and students are able to choose either secular or religious degree options, securing associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, or one of several graduate degree options. This university is recognized as a historically Black college.
24%
$18,974
73%
$18,974
- Acceptance Rate
- 72%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,452
- Institution Type
- Private
Paine College
- Augusta, GA
- 4 year
- Campus
- Accredited
Paine College is located in the beautiful and historic Augusta, Georgia. This college is one of several HBCU post-secondary learning institutions in the southern region of the United States. While its student body was historically African-American, Paine College now has a wide cultural population of students and an equally wide variety of degree opportunities.
100%
$12,706
61%
$12,706
- Acceptance Rate
- 52%
- Students Enrolled
- 251
- Institution Type
- Private
Peirce College
- Philadelphia, PA
- 4 year
- Online
- Accredited
Peirce College is one of several colleges located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. What separates Peirce College from other post-secondary institutions, though, is its comprehensive lineup of both accelerated learning programs and non-traditional degree programs. Most of the students who attend Peirce College take advantage of night and weekend courses or accelerated schedules.
100%
$14,400
100%
$14,400
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 875
- Institution Type
- Private
Ranken Technical College
- Saint Louis, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Ranken Technical College is located in the historic city of St. Louis, Missouri. This technical college is specifically designed to give job training and career certification courses in the automotive, information technology, manufacturing, construction, and electrical technology industries. The school recently constructed a residence hall for students who wish to live on campus.
70%
$15,264
N/A
$15,264
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 1,826
- Institution Type
- Private
St. Augustine College
- Chicago, IL
- 4 year
- Campus
- Accredited
Saint Augustine College is located in Chicago, Illinois, and this school was established only about thirty years ago by the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. The college was created to be a bilingual education center for Spanish-speaking students. Currently, the nearly 1500 students attending Saint Augustine College are able to pursue fourteen different educational programs.
N/A
$11,720
67%
$11,720
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 737
- Institution Type
- Private
Livingstone College
- Salisbury, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Salisbury, North Carolina is the home of Livingstone College, a historically Black college founded in the late 1800s. Today, Livingstone College has a large African-American student population, but students of all ethnicities and racial backgrounds attend the institution. The school is accredited to offer bachelor's degrees in the arts, fine arts, sciences, and also in social work.
17%
$15,917
58%
$15,917
- Acceptance Rate
- 51%
- Students Enrolled
- 890
- Institution Type
- Private
Shaw University
- Raleigh, NC
- 4 year
- Campus
- Accredited
Shaw University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school was originally known as the Raleigh Institute of Learning, and it was established as an African American educational center. Shaw University has the distinction of being known as the longest-operating historically Black university in the Southern region of the country.
61%
$11,808
58%
$11,808
- Acceptance Rate
- 65%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,141
- Institution Type
- Private
Stillman College
- Tuscaloosa, AL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Stillman College is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This historically Black college was founded immediately after the end of the American Civil War as an effort to provide freed slaves with a quality education. Today, students of all races, religious backgrounds, and ethnicities are able to pursue bachelor's degrees in both the arts and sciences and in the field of education.
71%
$9,548
64%
$9,548
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Students Enrolled
- 728
- Institution Type
- Private
Lane College
- Jackson, TN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, An Historically Black Christian Community, Is Considered The Founding Group Of Lane College. Located West Of Memphis In Jackson, Tennessee, Lane College Offers Bachelor's Degrees Predominantly In The General Studies And Liberal Arts Subject Areas. This School Was Formed In The Latter-19th Century.
100%
$9,270
56%
$9,270
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 1,047
- Institution Type
- Private
Texas College
- Tyler, TX
- 4 year
- Campus
- Accredited
The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is the founding group for Texas College, located in Tyler, Texas. The United Negro College Fund continues to financially support this historically Black institution. Texas College offers bachelor's degrees and associate's degrees in a variety of subjects including the liberal arts, business, and education.
N/A
$8,208
31%
$8,208
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 731
- Institution Type
- Private
Doane University
- Crete, NE
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
The Lincoln, Nebraska campus of Doane College is a satellite campus of the larger Doane College located in Crete, Nebraska. This private college has a religious association with the United Church of Christ, which provided the college with an endowment of over $70 million. The original Doane College was established in the latter part of the 19th century.
8%
$37,080
67%
$37,080
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,867
- Institution Type
- Private
Baker College of Cadillac
- Cadillac, MI
- N/A
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
The original Baker College was established in Michigan in Flint in the early 20th century. Today, Baker College of Cadillac is one of thirteen different Baker College satellite campuses. This not-for-profit educational institution has regional accreditation, and it predominantly exists to provide career training to students.
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 0
- Institution Type
- Public
Ottawa University-Kansas City
- Overland Park, KS
- 4 year
- Online
- Accredited
The original Ottawa University still operates in Ottawa, Kansas, but the school has expanded with a satellite campus in Kansas City. Ottawa University-Kansas City has both on-campus and online learning programs. This private college emphasizes learning in the liberal arts field of study and has religious ties with the American Baptist Churches of the USA.
100%
$12,229
N/A
$12,229
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 551
- Institution Type
- Private
Gallaudet University
- Washington, DC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Thomas Gallaudet is one of the most important individuals with regard to deaf education history, so Gallaudet University, named after him, strives to offer high-quality education for deaf individuals. Gallaudet University is the only American post-secondary institution that offers degree programs, transition education, and professional services to just the deaf community.
45%
$16,512
80%
$16,512
- Acceptance Rate
- 62%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,433
- Institution Type
- Private
Trocaire College
- Buffalo, NY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Trocaire College may only be a junior college in Buffalo, New York, but it has created a reputation for providing students with an excellent learning foundation. Initially founded as a school for women, Trocaire College is now coeducational. The school offers certification programs and associate's degree programs, as well as transfer opportunities for students who want to continue their education.
89%
$18,340
100%
$18,340
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Students Enrolled
- 1,101
- Institution Type
- Private
The Benefits of Small Private Colleges
Even among the relatively low number of small private colleges in the country, there can be great diversity between degree programs. Some are known for their academic specialties, their historical place in American education, or for their faculties. Among them, these are some of the most-attractive assets: Academic Standards. One of the reasons small private colleges enjoy prestige is because they consistently establish high academic standards for the faculty and student body. Admission is highly competitive. The college may be celebrated for specific academic disciplines or for offering a well-rounded liberal arts education based on small class sizes, led by distinguished educators.
AC Online: Private Colleges with Million-Dollar Returns
What’s a college education worth? While there’s no foolproof way to gauge degree value, certain colleges must be doing something right. Just one percent of colleges across the country have a documented million-dollar return on investment (ROI): alumni whose lifetime earnings surpass those of non-degree holders by seven figures.
The following colleges and universities represent the mere 46 private institutions that make up this Top 1%. These post-secondary juggernauts continually graduate young professionals who earn top dollar over the course of their careers.
To identify the private institutions with seven-figure returns, AC Online examined tuition rates, fees, and alumni salaries for more than 7,000 U.S. colleges and universities. Primary data sources include the Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Carnegie Foundation, and PayScale.com – four of the most trusted names in college- and career-related data.
AC Online has compiled a list of affordable small private schools for you to consider. From New York to California, there are plenty of options across the country for students seeking smaller classroom sizes with a modest price tag. All the schools below are accredited, have tuition and fees totaling less than $15,000, and enroll less than 4,000 students.
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