77 Cost-Saving Small Private Liberal Arts Colleges. Listed by Region.

A list like no other!

Regardless of what you read in the press and on social media, a quality private college or university does not have to cost more than $35K. In fact, in the list below, the average family (even a high-income family) can typically pay $25K-$34K or less, due to generous merit scholarship programs. These are averages, so, of course, there are some exceptions.

If you are actively seeking small private colleges, I highly recommend that you read Colleges That Change Lives (Loren Pope), Dream School (Jeffrey Selingo), and the Forbes “America’s Top Colleges” list. These will help you find some gems.

But there are some hidden gems that receive very little national attention, which is why I am posting this list. You will not find any of these in CTCL, Dream School, or Forbes. I intentionally excluded them. They are already getting a lot of well-deserved publicity. The spotlight is bright for these colleges.

The 77 listed below are colleges and universities that are financially & academically solid, and deserving of a brighter spotlight. I have them divided by the four major regions of the United States.

You will note that there are geographic differences in terms of cost. East and West Coast colleges are a bit pricier than those in the South and Midwest.

In the lists below, the average out-of-pocket cost (after merit) in the Midwest and in the South is about $27-28K. The average is about $31 in the Northeast and $32K on the West Coast.

These are all good colleges!

In my book Small College Magic, I listed my criteria for being considered a “good college:”

Financially stable

Reasonably priced (after merit) at all income levels

Flexible admissions (a good solid B student has a chance)

Good internship and research opportunities

High placement rates upon graduation

Few absolute deadlines in the admission process (most have rolling admissions)

Small classes and supportive faculty/staff

Test-optional (some even for their largest scholarships)

Excellent financial aid programs, including generous merit scholarships for students from higher-income families

Accessible activities/clubs/organizations, including competitive athletic/music/theatre opportunities. At many small colleges, there are even Greek life opportunities and marching bands.

The 77 colleges listed here check most of these boxes. Some check all.

Enjoy!

MIDWEST:

Buena Vista University IA

Drake University IA

Luther College IA

Saint Ambrose University IA

University of Dubuque IA

Elmhurst University IL

Monmouth College IL

Principia College IL

Franklin College IN

Goshen College IN

Indiana Wesleyan Univ-Marion IN

Taylor University IN

McPherson College KS

Calvin University MI

Northwood University MI

Concordia College--Moorhead MN

Hamline University MN

Saint Catherine University MN

Central Methodist University MO

Cottey College MO

John Carroll University OH

Otterbein University OH

Edgewood University WI

NORTHEAST

Bay Path University MA

Gordon College MA

Lesley University MA

Stonehill College MA

Iona University NY

Le Moyne College NY

St. John Fisher NY

Lycoming College PA

Mount Aloysius College PA

Saint Vincent College PA

Susquehanna University PA

Thomas Jefferson University PA

Washington & Jefferson College PA

Wilson College PA

Norwich University VT

SOUTH

John Brown University AR

Trinity Washington University DC

Goldey-Beacom College DE

Stetson University FL

Covenant College GA

Alice Lloyd College KY

Transylvania University KY

University of the Cumberlands KY

Hood College MD

Catawba College NC

University of Tulsa OK

Freed-Hardeman University TN

Johnson University TN

Abilene Christian University TX

Hardin-Simmons University TX

Howard Payne University TX

St. Mary's University TX

Hampden-Sydney College VA

Hollins University VA

Randolph College VA

Randolph-Macon College VA

Roanoke College VA

WEST

Biola University CA

Jessup University CA

La Sierra University CA

Mount Saint Mary's University CA

University of Redlands CA

Northwest Nazarene University ID

Rocky Mountain College MT

University of Providence MT

St. John's College NM

Bushnell University OR

George Fox University OR

Linfield University OR

Willamette University OR

Pacific Lutheran University WA

Saint Martin's University WA

Seattle Pacific University WA

Walla Walla University WA