Best small colleges in New York
Colleges with fewer than 2,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best small colleges in New York55 schools
55 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in New York.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Fewer than 2,000 undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Webb Institute
Glen Cove, NY · Private nonprofitExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 105 undergraduates
- 88% graduate
- 2
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 901 undergraduates
- 81% graduate
- 3
The Juilliard School
New York, NY · Private nonprofitTop 3% for graduation
- 619 undergraduates
- 93% graduate
- 4
Boricua College
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 2% for low debt
- 401 undergraduates
- 81% graduate
- 5
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- 947 undergraduates
- 82% graduate
- 6
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
New York, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 1,502 undergraduates
- 72% graduate
- 7
Hobart William Smith Colleges
Geneva, NY · Private nonprofitTop 12% for graduation
- 1,618 undergraduates
- 77% graduate
- 8
Manhattan School of Music
New York, NY · Private nonprofitTop 12% for graduation
- 543 undergraduates
- 78% graduate
- 9
Mesivta of Eastern Parkway-Yeshiva Zichron Meilech
Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 41 undergraduates
- 67% graduate
- 10
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Albany, NY · Private nonprofitTop 1% for earnings
- 547 undergraduates
- 68% graduate
- 11
Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, NY · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 1,521 undergraduates
- 71% graduate
- 12
Yeshivas Novominsk
Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitTop 8% for low net price
- 163 undergraduates
- 81% graduate
- 13
Plaza College
Forest Hills, NY · Private for-profitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 846 undergraduates
- 68% graduate
- 14
Nazareth University
Rochester, NY · Private nonprofitTop 17% for graduation
- 1,900 undergraduates
- 73% graduate
- 15
New York School of Interior Design
New York, NY · Private nonprofitTop 22% for graduation
- 440 undergraduates
- 69% graduate
- 16
Elim Bible Institute and College
Lima, NY · Private nonprofitTop 8% for low debt
- 98 undergraduates
- 67% graduate
- 17
- 18Tie
Houghton University
Houghton, NY · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 975 undergraduates
- 65% graduate
- 18Tie
Roberts Wesleyan University
Rochester, NY · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 1,092 undergraduates
- 67% graduate
- 20
Wagner College
Staten Island, NY · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- 1,592 undergraduates
- 65% graduate
- 21
Associated Beth Rivkah Schools
Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofitTop 12% for graduation
- 289 undergraduates
- 77% graduate
- 22
St. Bonaventure University
Saint Bonaventure, NY · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 1,914 undergraduates
- 67% graduate
- 23
Elmira College
Elmira, NY · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 613 undergraduates
- 65% graduate
- 24
Alfred University
Alfred, NY · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 1,422 undergraduates
- 57% graduate
- 25
Russell Sage College
Troy, NY · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 1,080 undergraduates
- 56% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webb Institute | About $73,000 | — | — | 88% |
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | About $13,000 | $15,000 | $83,847 | 81% |
| The Juilliard School | About $44,000 | $25,500 | $37,827 | 93% |
| Boricua College | About $15,000 | $6,733 | $35,348 | 81% |
| United States Merchant Marine Academy | About $6,000 | $8,833 | $90,610 | 82% |
| American Musical and Dramatic Academy | About $41,000 | $15,250 | $26,975 | 72% |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges | About $32,000 | $27,000 | $68,831 | 77% |
| Manhattan School of Music | About $52,000 | $26,994 | $26,878 | 78% |
| Mesivta of Eastern Parkway-Yeshiva Zichron Meilech | About $10,000 | — | — | 67% |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | About $30,000 | $25,500 | $131,426 | 68% |
| Sarah Lawrence College | About $41,000 | $27,000 | $53,603 | 71% |
| Yeshivas Novominsk | About $7,000 | — | — | 81% |
| Plaza College | About $20,000 | $20,751 | $31,519 | 68% |
| Nazareth University | About $29,000 | $26,038 | $56,458 | 73% |
| New York School of Interior Design | About $45,000 | — | $48,041 | 69% |
| Elim Bible Institute and College | About $9,000 | $10,247 | — | 67% |
| SUNY Maritime College | About $22,000 | $23,250 | $95,951 | 64% |
| Houghton University | About $21,000 | $25,250 | $46,721 | 65% |
| Roberts Wesleyan University | About $23,000 | $23,750 | $55,031 | 67% |
| Wagner College | About $28,000 | $25,000 | $74,360 | 65% |
| Associated Beth Rivkah Schools | About $23,000 | — | $17,686 | 77% |
| St. Bonaventure University | About $27,000 | $26,000 | $57,214 | 67% |
| Elmira College | About $22,000 | $27,000 | $57,550 | 65% |
| Alfred University | About $26,000 | $26,000 | $54,897 | 57% |
| Russell Sage College | About $23,000 | $22,000 | $58,316 | 56% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 10
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 13
- California 63
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 10
- Florida 27
- Georgia 24
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 25
- Indiana 20
- Iowa 23
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 18
- Louisiana 8
- Maine 11
- Maryland 13
- Massachusetts 31
- Michigan 23
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 31
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 12
- New Hampshire 7
- New Jersey 18
- New Mexico 7
- North Carolina 34
- North Dakota 4
- Ohio 58
- Oklahoma 11
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 69
- Puerto Rico 31
- South Carolina 19
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 24
- Texas 31
- Utah 7
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 30
- Washington 12
- West Virginia 12
- Wisconsin 15