106 affordable hidden gem small colleges!
- vpeterpitts
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
106 hidden gem small colleges!
Several subscribers have requested that I post a list of some good, affordable, financially secure small private colleges. There are many. Since Forbes just published its 2026 college financial grades, I think this is a good time for me to do this. This will serve as an update to the previous lists I have posted.
The following list of some good, affordable, financially secure small private colleges. While many of them might not be colleges that you are familiar with, they are hidden-gem colleges that deserve your attention.
These colleges all received between B- and A+ from Forbes in regard to their financial stability. Their overall grades from Niche are also positive (a good, solid B average). Most families (even higher-income families) pay, on average, after merit, less than $30K for tuition, housing, food, and fees.
This is not a ranking of any kind. They are listed by state and alphabetically within each each state.
[The beautiful photo attached to this post is from
Principia College, which is located about 45 minutes from St. Louis. If you love the great outdoors and “all things ecological,” you will love their 2,600 acre campus overlooking the Mississippi River. I call this campus the “hiddenest hidden gem” college in America.]
Miles College AL
Hendrix College AR
John Brown University AR
University of the Ozarks AR
Trinity Washington University DC
Goldey-Beacom College DE
Ave Maria University FL
Agnes Scott College GA
Berry College GA
Toccoa Falls College GA
Young Harris College GA
Buena Vista University IA
Northwestern College IA
Saint Ambrose University IA
University of Dubuque IA
Wartburg College IA
Augustana College IL
Blackburn College IL
Elmhurst University IL
Greenville University IL
Illinois College IL
Lewis University IL
Monmouth College IL
North Central College IL
North Park University IL
Principia College IL
St. Xavier University IL
Anderson University IN
Franklin College IN
Goshen College IN
Hanover College IN
Indiana Tech IN
Indiana Wesleyan Univ-Marion IN
Taylor University IN
McPherson College KS
Alice Lloyd College KY
Asbury University KY
Berea College KY
Centre College KY
University of the Cumberlands KY
Centenary College of Louisiana LA
Bay Path University MA
Gordon College MA
Hood College MD
McDaniel College MD
Unity Environmental University ME
Calvin University MI
Bethany Lutheran College MN
Hamline University MN
Saint Catherine University MN
Central Methodist University MO
College of the Ozarks MO
Cottey College MO
Stephens College MO
Rust College MS
Rocky Mountain College MT
Catawba College NC
Johnson C. Smith University NC
Meredith College NC
Hastings College NE
Alfred University NY
Houghton University NY
Le Moyne College NY
Mount Saint Mary College NY
New York Institute of Technology NY
Franciscan University of Steubenville OH
Otterbein University OH
University of Mount Union OH
Oklahoma Baptist University OK
Allegheny College PA
Cedar Crest College PA
Geneva College PA
Grove City College PA
Holy Family University PA
King's College - Pennsylvania PA
Lycoming College PA
Mount Aloysius College PA
Saint Vincent College PA
Washington & Jefferson College PA
Westminster College PA
Wilson College PA
York College of Pennsylvania PA
Charleston Southern University SC
Claflin University SC
Augustana University SD
Baptist Health Sciences University TN
Freed-Hardeman University TN
Johnson University TN
Maryville College TN
Milligan University TN
Trevecca Nazarene University TN
Austin College TX
Hardin-Simmons University TX
Houston Christian University TX
Lubbock Christian University TX
Schreiner University TX
St. Mary's University TX
University of St. Thomas - TX TX
Wayland Baptist University TX
Hollins University VA
Randolph College VA
Sweet Briar College VA
University of Lynchburg VA
Walla Walla University WA
Beloit College WI
Davis and Elkins College WV
West Virginia Wesleyan College WV
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