Lens covers 256 smaller private universities, all private. They range from Rust College (467 undergraduates) to St. John's University–New York (9,477). Acceptance rates run from 4% to 99%, and 216 of the 256 admit at least half of applicants.
Smaller private universities here have fewer than 10,000 undergraduates and are not liberal arts colleges or specialized schools (IPEDS, Carnegie).
Open these 256 colleges in the College Filter → Narrow them by cost at your rate, majors, size and more.
The 256 smaller private universities
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian University | Abilene, Texas | 3,195 | 66% | $44,200 |
| Adelphi University | Garden City, New York | 5,276 | 66% | $49,110 |
| Albertus Magnus College | New Haven, Connecticut | 991 | 59% | $41,908 |
| Alfred University | Alfred, New York | 1,423 | 74% | $41,500 |
| American University | Washington, District of Columbia | 7,266 | 62% | $58,771 |
| Anderson University | Anderson, Indiana | 1,057 | 79% | $37,240 |
| Anderson University | Anderson, South Carolina | 3,183 | 55% | $34,970 |
| Anna Maria College | Paxton, Massachusetts | 906 | 50% | $44,571 |
| Arcadia University | Glenside, Pennsylvania | 1,948 | 80% | $49,610 |
| Ashland University | Ashland, Ohio | 2,199 | 76% | $31,210 |
| Assumption University | Worcester, Massachusetts | 1,669 | 83% | $51,356 |
| Augsburg University | Minneapolis, Minnesota | 2,494 | 82% | $45,452 |
| Aurora University | Aurora, Illinois | 3,974 | 81% | $29,170 |
| Avila University | Kansas City, Missouri | 1,312 | 88% | $42,000 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, California | 2,759 | 88% | $44,458 |
| Baldwin Wallace University | Berea, Ohio | 2,842 | 76% | $39,832 |
| Barry University | Miami, Florida | 2,212 | 77% | $34,350 |
| Bellarmine University | Louisville, Kentucky | 2,161 | 86% | $48,770 |
| Belmont Abbey College | Belmont, North Carolina | 1,276 | 75% | $19,500 |
| Belmont University | Nashville, Tennessee | 7,137 | 95% | $42,540 |
| Benedict College | Columbia, South Carolina | 1,536 | 96% | $17,440 |
| Berklee College of Music | Boston, Massachusetts | 7,468 | 44% | $52,040 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, California | 3,474 | 74% | $48,984 |
| Bradley University | Peoria, Illinois | 3,574 | 77% | $42,160 |
| Brandeis University | Waltham, Massachusetts | 3,618 | 40% | $68,080 |
| Brenau University | Gainesville, Georgia | 1,029 | 88% | $34,027 |
| Brown University | Providence, Rhode Island | 7,226 | 5% | $71,412 |
| Butler University | Indianapolis, Indiana | 4,317 | 85% | $47,560 |
| Caldwell University | Caldwell, New Jersey | 1,575 | 71% | $40,848 |
| California Baptist University | Riverside, California | 8,179 | 85% | $41,228 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, California | 2,296 | 76% | $52,560 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek, North Carolina | 2,680 | 87% | $41,600 |
| Campbellsville University | Campbellsville, Kentucky | 2,840 | 80% | $27,998 |
| Canisius University | Buffalo, New York | 1,685 | 72% | $34,500 |
| Capital University | Columbus, Ohio | 1,585 | 70% | $43,234 |
| Carroll University | Waukesha, Wisconsin | 2,523 | 67% | $38,890 |
| Carthage College | Kenosha, Wisconsin | 2,660 | 87% | $38,750 |
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, Ohio | 6,437 | 37% | $66,608 |
| Catawba College | Salisbury, North Carolina | 1,235 | 75% | $34,300 |
| Cedarville University | Cedarville, Ohio | 4,024 | 65% | $37,150 |
| Champlain College | Burlington, Vermont | 2,752 | 83% | $47,850 |
| Chapman University | Orange, California | 7,478 | 65% | $64,984 |
| Charleston Southern University | Charleston, South Carolina | 2,893 | 96% | $32,520 |
| Chatham University | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 1,232 | 62% | $44,626 |
| Clark Atlanta University | Atlanta, Georgia | 3,603 | 64% | $28,310 |
| Clark University | Worcester, Massachusetts | 2,214 | 40% | $58,867 |
| Clarke University | Dubuque, Iowa | 742 | 72% | $40,910 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | New York, New York | 8,973 | 4% | $71,845 |
| Concordia University–Chicago | River Forest, Illinois | 1,323 | 93% | $37,488 |
| Concordia University–Irvine | Irvine, California | 1,536 | 66% | $43,480 |
| Concordia University–Saint Paul | Saint Paul, Minnesota | 3,018 | 79% | $25,600 |
| Concordia University–Wisconsin | Mequon, Wisconsin | 2,197 | 78% | $35,470 |
| Creighton University | Omaha, Nebraska | 4,348 | 80% | $48,856 |
| Curry College | Milton, Massachusetts | 1,780 | 88% | $47,970 |
| Daemen University | Amherst, New York | 1,643 | 68% | $35,218 |
| Dallas Baptist University | Dallas, Texas | 2,403 | 89% | $40,190 |
| Dartmouth College | Hanover, New Hampshire | 4,541 | 5% | $68,268 |
| Davenport University | Grand Rapids, Michigan | 3,134 | 98% | $24,466 |
| DeSales University | Center Valley, Pennsylvania | 2,128 | 77% | $46,800 |
| Dean College | Franklin, Massachusetts | 1,089 | 74% | $46,526 |
| Dominican University | River Forest, Illinois | 2,561 | 90% | $38,978 |
| Drake University | Des Moines, Iowa | 2,543 | 64% | $52,130 |
| Drew University | Madison, New Jersey | 1,533 | 68% | $47,100 |
| Duke University | Durham, North Carolina | 6,442 | 6% | $68,758 |
| Duquesne University | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 5,350 | 84% | $48,986 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst, Illinois | 3,006 | 74% | $42,955 |
| Elon University | Elon, North Carolina | 6,452 | 66% | $46,958 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, Florida | 7,860 | 65% | $44,249 |
| Emory University | Atlanta, Georgia | 7,298 | 11% | $64,280 |
| Endicott College | Beverly, Massachusetts | 3,125 | 71% | $40,650 |
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, Connecticut | 5,373 | 33% | $58,350 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University–Florham | Madison, New Jersey | 1,990 | 95% | $38,004 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University–Metropolitan | Teaneck, New Jersey | 2,627 | 91% | $38,004 |
| Fisher College | Boston, Massachusetts | 1,167 | 71% | $35,689 |
| Flagler College | Saint Augustine, Florida | 2,391 | 81% | $29,900 |
| Florida Memorial University | Miami Gardens, Florida | 1,183 | 85% | $20,174 |
| Gannon University | Erie, Pennsylvania | 2,365 | 74% | $40,656 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs, North Carolina | 1,856 | 77% | $34,760 |
| George Fox University | Newberg, Oregon | 2,699 | 94% | $42,750 |
| Georgetown University | Washington, District of Columbia | 7,569 | 13% | $68,017 |
| Gonzaga University | Spokane, Washington | 5,198 | 82% | $55,480 |
| Goucher College | Baltimore, Maryland | 964 | 78% | $53,350 |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary | Winona Lake, Indiana | 1,464 | 82% | $31,200 |
| Greensboro College | Greensboro, North Carolina | 708 | 70% | $21,000 |
| Hamline University | Saint Paul, Minnesota | 1,776 | 88% | $50,004 |
| Hampton University | Hampton, Virginia | 3,727 | 62% | $30,592 |
| Hardin-Simmons University | Abilene, Texas | 1,283 | 90% | $32,960 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, Massachusetts | 7,601 | 4% | $61,676 |
| Hawaii Pacific University | Honolulu, Hawaii | 2,392 | 86% | $34,392 |
| High Point University | High Point, North Carolina | 5,129 | 75% | $45,312 |
| Hofstra University | Hempstead, New York | 6,488 | 68% | $57,660 |
| Hood College | Frederick, Maryland | 1,194 | 78% | $47,700 |
| Houston Christian University | Houston, Texas | 2,886 | 84% | $39,430 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology | Fort Wayne, Indiana | 1,441 | 70% | $31,361 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University–Marion | Marion, Indiana | 1,974 | 89% | $32,352 |
| Iona University | New Rochelle, New York | 2,951 | 87% | $47,260 |
| Ithaca College | Ithaca, New York | 4,242 | 69% | $53,540 |
| Jacksonville University | Jacksonville, Florida | 2,930 | 57% | $47,830 |
| John Carroll University | University Heights, Ohio | 2,274 | 81% | $50,500 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, Maryland | 5,693 | 6% | $65,230 |
| Johnson & Wales University–Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina | 1,184 | 80% | $42,419 |
| Johnson & Wales University–Providence | Providence, Rhode Island | 3,868 | 88% | $42,419 |
| King's College | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania | 1,484 | 93% | $44,100 |
| La Salle University | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 1,953 | 97% | $37,800 |
| Le Moyne College | Syracuse, New York | 2,439 | 83% | $40,330 |
| LeTourneau University | Longview, Texas | 1,468 | 38% | $37,160 |
| Lehigh University | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | 5,898 | 26% | $64,980 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory, North Carolina | 1,359 | 85% | $31,900 |
| Lewis & Clark College | Portland, Oregon | 2,120 | 78% | $64,828 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville, Illinois | 4,015 | 71% | $39,200 |
| Lindenwood University | Saint Charles, Missouri | 4,624 | 57% | $21,600 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville, Tennessee | 2,997 | 68% | $40,572 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, California | 7,094 | 45% | $62,357 |
| Loyola University Maryland | Baltimore, Maryland | 3,869 | 75% | $57,150 |
| Loyola University New Orleans | New Orleans, Louisiana | 2,812 | 93% | $49,440 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, Florida | 2,859 | 73% | $44,480 |
| Manchester University | North Manchester, Indiana | 936 | 71% | $37,135 |
| Manhattan University | Riverdale, New York | 2,744 | 79% | $53,400 |
| Manhattanville University | Purchase, New York | 1,362 | 87% | $44,604 |
| Marist University | Poughkeepsie, New York | 5,182 | 57% | $47,750 |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 7,660 | 81% | $51,170 |
| Marymount University | Arlington, Virginia | 1,810 | 93% | $40,920 |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis | Saint Louis, Missouri | 5,658 | 95% | $27,166 |
| Marywood University | Scranton, Pennsylvania | 1,784 | 61% | $41,420 |
| McDaniel College | Westminster, Maryland | 1,617 | 78% | $52,081 |
| McMurry University | Abilene, Texas | 1,176 | 57% | $32,340 |
| Mercer University | Macon, Georgia | 4,500 | 69% | $42,312 |
| Mercy University | Dobbs Ferry, New York | 5,735 | 86% | $22,880 |
| Mercyhurst University | Erie, Pennsylvania | 2,191 | 81% | $45,770 |
| Merrimack College | North Andover, Massachusetts | 3,916 | 70% | $53,962 |
| Millikin University | Decatur, Illinois | 1,382 | 67% | $26,892 |
| Misericordia University | Dallas, Pennsylvania | 1,672 | 71% | $40,370 |
| Monmouth University | West Long Branch, New Jersey | 3,684 | 89% | $46,552 |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | 1,949 | 54% | $53,500 |
| Mount Saint Mary College | Newburgh, New York | 1,148 | 89% | $43,450 |
| Mount Saint Mary's University | Los Angeles, California | 1,719 | 73% | $49,564 |
| Mount St. Mary's University | Emmitsburg, Maryland | 1,768 | 74% | $48,630 |
| National Louis University | Chicago, Illinois | 4,406 | 95% | $12,705 |
| Nazareth University | Rochester, New York | 1,873 | 75% | $42,450 |
| Neumann University | Aston, Pennsylvania | 1,533 | 81% | $39,100 |
| New England College | Henniker, New Hampshire | 1,022 | 92% | $41,938 |
| New York Institute of Technology | Old Westbury, New York | 3,440 | 81% | $46,560 |
| Newberry College | Newberry, South Carolina | 1,479 | 90% | $31,100 |
| Niagara University | Niagara University, New York | 2,653 | 87% | $39,345 |
| North Central College | Naperville, Illinois | 2,428 | 77% | $45,726 |
| North Park University | Chicago, Illinois | 1,818 | 69% | $36,710 |
| Northwest Nazarene University | Nampa, Idaho | 1,024 | 65% | $40,794 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, Illinois | 9,201 | 8% | $68,322 |
| Norwich University | Northfield, Vermont | 2,428 | 74% | $49,740 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | 7,240 | 73% | $38,700 |
| Ohio Northern University | Ada, Ohio | 2,489 | 74% | $39,800 |
| Oklahoma Baptist University | Shawnee, Oklahoma | 1,308 | 49% | $35,570 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Illinois | 2,603 | 56% | $38,900 |
| Oral Roberts University | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 3,487 | 99% | $35,470 |
| Otterbein University | Westerville, Ohio | 2,157 | 85% | $35,548 |
| Pace University | New York, New York | 7,665 | 76% | $53,290 |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | West Palm Beach, Florida | 2,603 | 82% | $40,650 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, California | 3,553 | 63% | $69,918 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, California | 3,188 | 84% | $46,250 |
| Point Park University | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 2,331 | 97% | $39,570 |
| Presbyterian College | Clinton, South Carolina | 852 | 68% | $44,910 |
| Princeton University | Princeton, New Jersey | 5,709 | 5% | $62,688 |
| Providence College | Providence, Rhode Island | 4,229 | 51% | $63,550 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina | 1,211 | 62% | $45,846 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden, Connecticut | 6,531 | 72% | $55,480 |
| Regent University | Virginia Beach, Virginia | 4,729 | 38% | $21,650 |
| Regis University | Denver, Colorado | 2,627 | 86% | $46,340 |
| Rice University | Houston, Texas | 4,776 | 8% | $64,144 |
| Rider University | Lawrenceville, New Jersey | 3,106 | 79% | $41,120 |
| Robert Morris University | Moon Township, Pennsylvania | 2,896 | 90% | $35,970 |
| Roger Williams University | Bristol, Rhode Island | 3,946 | 88% | $44,418 |
| Rollins College | Winter Park, Florida | 2,631 | 48% | $60,580 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago, Illinois | 2,849 | 97% | $21,315 |
| Rust College | Holly Springs, Mississippi | 467 | 49% | $13,265 |
| Sacred Heart University | Fairfield, Connecticut | 7,087 | 65% | $50,404 |
| Saint Edward's University | Austin, Texas | 2,493 | 81% | $51,384 |
| Saint Joseph's University – Philadelphia | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 4,948 | 89% | $53,260 |
| Saint Leo University | Saint Leo, Florida | 6,721 | 78% | $30,000 |
| Saint Louis University | Saint Louis, Missouri | 7,267 | 75% | $55,760 |
| Saint Mary's College of California | Moraga, California | 1,947 | 87% | $57,803 |
| Saint Peter's University | Jersey City, New Jersey | 2,135 | 90% | $42,552 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago, Illinois | 3,096 | 84% | $37,940 |
| Salve Regina University | Newport, Rhode Island | 2,121 | 68% | $50,100 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, Alabama | 4,206 | 82% | $40,150 |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, California | 6,552 | 48% | $61,293 |
| Seattle University | Seattle, Washington | 4,062 | 77% | $56,721 |
| Seton Hall University | South Orange, New Jersey | 6,036 | 73% | $53,170 |
| Shenandoah University | Winchester, Virginia | 2,116 | 77% | $36,950 |
| Simmons University | Boston, Massachusetts | 1,670 | 70% | $46,874 |
| Southeastern University | Lakeland, Florida | 4,813 | 53% | $32,950 |
| Southern Methodist University | Dallas, Texas | 7,277 | 63% | $67,040 |
| Springfield College | Springfield, Massachusetts | 1,751 | 72% | $45,174 |
| St Bonaventure University | Saint Bonaventure, New York | 2,012 | 82% | $41,735 |
| St. John Fisher University | Rochester, New York | 2,565 | 66% | $41,190 |
| St. John's University–New York | Queens, New York | 9,477 | 83% | $53,020 |
| St. Joseph's University–New York | Brooklyn, New York | 3,144 | 72% | $36,550 |
| St. Mary's University | San Antonio, Texas | 1,951 | 98% | $37,434 |
| St. Thomas University | Miami Gardens, Florida | 2,214 | 98% | $34,770 |
| Stanford University | Stanford, California | 7,554 | 4% | $65,910 |
| Stetson University | DeLand, Florida | 2,297 | 72% | $57,410 |
| Stevenson University | Owings Mills, Maryland | 3,102 | 79% | $40,560 |
| Suffolk University | Boston, Massachusetts | 4,268 | 82% | $47,550 |
| Texas Wesleyan University | Fort Worth, Texas | 1,741 | 69% | $39,582 |
| The Catholic University of America | Washington, District of Columbia | 3,154 | 83% | $58,378 |
| The University of Findlay | Findlay, Ohio | 2,223 | 83% | $41,164 |
| Thomas More University | Crestview Hills, Kentucky | 1,293 | 90% | $39,800 |
| Tiffin University | Tiffin, Ohio | 2,051 | 80% | $34,790 |
| Tufts University | Medford, Massachusetts | 7,061 | 11% | $70,704 |
| Tulane University of Louisiana | New Orleans, Louisiana | 7,767 | 14% | $68,678 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, Alabama | 2,630 | 49% | $25,386 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, Connecticut | 1,534 | 83% | $35,760 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | 7,569 | 4% | $70,662 |
| University of Dallas | Irving, Texas | 1,403 | 53% | $53,930 |
| University of Dayton | Dayton, Ohio | 7,682 | 65% | $49,140 |
| University of Denver | Denver, Colorado | 6,025 | 78% | $61,398 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, Michigan | 2,438 | 75% | $32,946 |
| University of Evansville | Evansville, Indiana | 1,539 | 78% | $44,172 |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, Connecticut | 4,146 | 96% | $49,075 |
| University of Indianapolis | Indianapolis, Indiana | 3,005 | 66% | $37,200 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, California | 3,050 | 71% | $49,470 |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg, Virginia | 1,577 | 43% | $36,750 |
| University of Mary Hardin–Baylor | Belton, Texas | 2,759 | 96% | $32,020 |
| University of Mount Saint Vincent | Bronx, New York | 2,692 | 85% | $44,540 |
| University of Mount Union | Alliance, Ohio | 1,995 | 78% | $36,600 |
| University of New England | Biddeford, Maine | 2,135 | 92% | $44,210 |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, Connecticut | 4,841 | 60% | $47,332 |
| University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, Indiana | 8,818 | 11% | $65,025 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, California | 2,049 | 83% | $60,878 |
| University of Richmond | University of Richmond, Virginia | 2,980 | 22% | $65,230 |
| University of Rochester | Rochester, New York | 6,331 | 40% | $67,080 |
| University of San Diego | San Diego, California | 5,671 | 52% | $59,486 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, California | 5,287 | 62% | $60,492 |
| University of Scranton | Scranton, Pennsylvania | 3,554 | 81% | $53,983 |
| University of St Thomas | Saint Paul, Minnesota | 6,245 | 85% | $54,398 |
| University of Tulsa | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 2,813 | 62% | $50,061 |
| University of the Incarnate Word | San Antonio, Texas | 4,440 | 98% | $37,090 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, California | 3,204 | 71% | $57,080 |
| Utica University | Utica, New York | 2,278 | 92% | $26,930 |
| Valparaiso University | Valparaiso, Indiana | 2,083 | 89% | $48,450 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Tennessee | 7,208 | 6% | $67,498 |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | Costa Mesa, California | 1,933 | 62% | $41,700 |
| Villanova University | Villanova, Pennsylvania | 6,938 | 27% | $67,776 |
| Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | 5,485 | 22% | $67,642 |
| Washington University in St Louis | Saint Louis, Missouri | 7,857 | 12% | $65,790 |
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington, Virginia | 1,881 | 14% | $68,045 |
| Webster University | Saint Louis, Missouri | 2,304 | 86% | $31,750 |
| Western New England University | Springfield, Massachusetts | 2,603 | 83% | $47,820 |
| Widener University | Chester, Pennsylvania | 2,951 | 71% | $55,730 |
| Wilberforce University | Wilberforce, Ohio | 822 | 40% | $16,448 |
| Wilkes University | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania | 1,985 | 91% | $43,496 |
| Willamette University | Salem, Oregon | 1,592 | 77% | $51,156 |
| Wingate University | Wingate, North Carolina | 2,668 | 91% | $41,636 |
| Xavier University | Cincinnati, Ohio | 4,207 | 86% | $50,640 |
| Xavier University of Louisiana | New Orleans, Louisiana | 2,628 | 69% | $28,733 |
| Yale University | New Haven, Connecticut | 6,758 | 4% | $67,250 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York, Pennsylvania | 3,265 | 74% | $25,588 |
Sources: IPEDS (fall 2024 enrollment and admissions); College Scorecard (published tuition and fees before aid, about 2023–24). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Related lists
- Smaller Private Universities in the Northeast
- Smaller Private Universities in the Southeast
- Smaller Private Universities in the Midwest
- Smaller Private Universities in the South and Southwest
- Smaller Private Universities on the West Coast
FAQ
Which smaller private universities admit at least half of applicants? 216 of the 256: Abilene Christian University, Adelphi University, Albertus Magnus College, Alfred University, American University, Anderson University, Anderson University, Anna Maria College, Arcadia University, Ashland University, Assumption University, Augsburg University and 204 more (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest smaller private universities? St. John's University–New York is the largest, with 9,477 undergraduates, and Rust College is the smallest, with 467 (fall 2024).
Where these numbers come from
Lens covers the 850 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges that receive the most applications, so some smaller colleges are not listed. Enrollment, acceptance rates and degrees come from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education, fall 2024); published prices from the College Scorecard. Each college's page lists its own sources. See the data behind Lens.