Many of the most well-known colleges in the United States are located in New England, including half of the Ivy league schools! The region, however, is saturated with a number of exceptional institutions you may not have heard about if you don’t live in the area. College Raptor’s Hidden Gem Colleges in New England highlights a number of these colleges and universities that all offer outstanding programs and experiences to their students. You may just find your dream school on this list.
What Is a “Hidden Gem?”
To be included as a New England “hidden gem” college, each school on this rankings list meets the following criteria:
- Receive fewer than 5,000 applications per year
- Have fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students
- Offer 5 or more unique majors
- Have a 10% acceptance rate or higher
- Is in one of the following New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
2025 Hidden Gem Colleges in New England
CONNECTICUT
A largely female school, the University of Saint Joseph was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1932 and only started accepting men in 2018. The campus is well known for its Georgian brick architecture and the entire school is on an 84 acre campus. 80% of students who apply are accepted; about 12% of these decide to attend the following fall.
Location
West Hartford, CT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,992
Albertus Magnus College is a Catholic college and derives its name from Albert the Great. The school has a 65% acceptance rate, $0 application fee, and 97% of attending students will receive institutional aid. Top majors among students include Business Administration, Psychology, and Criminal Justice/Safety Studies.
Location
New Haven, CT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,275
Founded in 1938 and located on a waterfront campus in New London, Mitchell College has a 73% acceptance rate and it’s free to apply. At the college, an NCAA Division III school, about 32% of the student population are also athletes. Students enjoy a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies is the most sought-after major followed by Sport and Fitness Administration, and Communications and Media Studies.
Location
New London, CT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
539
MAINE
Located on a peninsula in the Bagaduce River and Penobscot Bay, the Maine Maritime Academy is a non-federal maritime training school, however students are not required to join the military after graduation. The most popular major is Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. The school admits just over 61% of applicants, has a 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and a first-year retention rate of 86%.
Location
Castine, ME
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
897
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is located on the shore of Sebago Lake in Standish, Maine. The most popular major studied here is Registered Nursing, followed by Radiologic Technology/Science and Biology/Biological Sciences. The athletes at are known as the Monks, and some of the more popular sports include soccer, lacrosse, and basketball.
Location
Standish, ME
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,478
Husson University dates back to 1898 when it was originally called the Shaw School of Business. Today, Business Administration and Management is still the most popular major at the university followed by Registered Nursing and Kinesiology. A member of the NCAA Division III, students are known as the Eagles.
Location
Bangor, ME
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,065
MASSACHUSETTS
Founded as a female seminary in 1834, Wheaton College only started accepting men in 1988. Today, women still outnumber men making up 63% of the student body. The school accepts 71% of students who apply, has an 81% first year retention rate, and has a 11:1 student to faculty ratio. About 96% of students who attend receive institutional grant aid.
Location
Norton, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,667
Simmons University is a women’s school with an impressive 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio 81% first year retention rate. With more than 60 majors programs, the most popular major by far is Registered Nursing followed by Family Practice Nursing. This year Simmons earned the Carnegie designation for "Leadership for Public Purpose."
Location
Boston, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
5,710
Springfield College was founded in 1885 and its philosophy, which can be seen on its logo, is spirit, mind, and body. The school has a 70% acceptance rate, $0 application fee, and 96% of students who attend will receive institutional aid. The top majors for students are Sport and Fitness Administration and Health Services/Allied Health.
Location
Springfield, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,921
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Saint Anselm College is the third oldest Catholic college in New England, having been founded in 1889. The school has been the site of presidential policy speeches from John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon as well as several national presidential debates. 100% of students receive institutional aid from the school ($29,355 on average).
Location
Manchester, NH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,977
The University of New Hampshire at Manchester, also known as UNH Manchester, is part of the state’s public university system. The school has a focus on programs related to urban issues; popular majors include Business/Commerce, Biotechnology, and Biology/Biological Sciences. UNH Manchester boasts a 92% placement rate for graduates.
Location
Manchester, NH
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
534
“Enter to learn, go forth and serve,” is the motto of Keene State College. Keene State offers several different scholarships for incoming students. The majority of the students who attend come from the New England area and 99% of students receive grant aid. Occupational Safety and Health Technology, Business Administration and Management, and Psychology are the most popular majors.
Location
Keene, NH
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
2,872
RHODE ISLAND
The second oldest college in the state, Rhode Island College is on an 180 acre campus. Registered Nursing and Psychology are the two most common majors among students at the school. It offers up to the doctor’s degree level of education, though 81% study at the undergraduate level. RIC is a first-choice institution for Hispanic/Latinx students.
Location
Providence, RI
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
5,787
VERMONT
Bennington College, sitting on 440 acres, was originally a women’s college when it was founded in 1932 and became coeducational in 1969. Today, the school is still predominantly female (67% of undergraduates are women). Visual and Performing Arts is the most popular major on campus, followed by Drama and Dramatics, Music, and General Literature.
Location
Bennington, VT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
880
Saint Michael’s College has over 30 majors available to students, the most popular of which is Business Administration and Management. The college accepts 92% of applicants; anyone who decides to attend will receive institutional aid. The campus is actually split with the North Campus being one mile away from the Main Campus.
Location
Colchester, VT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,399
Castleton University, now a part of Vermont State University, has an 80% acceptance rate. Athletes at the Castleton campus are known as the Spartans and compete in NCAA Division III in a number of sports including skiing, ice hockey and lacrosse. Top majors for students include Registered Nursing, Business Administration, and Sport and Fitness Administration.
Location
Castleton, VT
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
2,363
Why Should You Consider Going to a Hidden Gem?
New England is home to 15 of the Top 50 schools in the country! That can be a lot to compete with. Luckily, as mentioned before, New England is not only rich in history, it’s also right in amazing schools (well known, and lesser known).
Considering a Hidden Gem schools could be beneficial for a number of reasons:
- They tend to be less expensive. Smaller schools, on average, are less expensive compared to larger colleges. Since they’re lesser known, they can’t command those high prices, either.
- They’re perfect for students who want a smaller school. All of the Hidden Gems on our list have fewer than 7,000 students. If you want smaller, more intimate classes, these fit the bill.
- They can be easier to get into. As an example, Harvard University receives almost 40,000 applications each year with only a 3% acceptance rate. Wheaton College (a Massachusetts Hidden Gem from 2024), on the other hand, receives about 4,100 applications annually and has a 71% acceptance rate.
- They have a selection of programs. All of the Hidden Gems on our list have at least five or more majors. Many of them have dozens or even over a hundred available.
- There’s at least one in each state. Some states have many more colleges compared to other states, but we’ve included at least one Hidden Gem from each state.
Why is New England a Great Place to Go to School?
From Portland to Boston to Hartford, the states that make up New England have a lot to offer students! For history lovers, New England offers endless lessons and places that are must-visits. For those who love the outdoors, you can hike part of the Appalachian Trail starting in Maine and revel in the amazing sights and colors that the area provides come fall. And for those who love culture, the cities of New England and the small towns bring so much life to a visitor’s day-to-day that you’ll never run out of things to do!
Interested in any of these New England hidden gem colleges? Check out College Raptor’s free match tool to see if they’re a good fit for you!
Methodology
Colleges are ranked based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, endowment per student, and other data as reported via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the most recently available enrollment year. Some colleges may have been excluded from rankings based on certain criteria, including specialization and classification. Learn about our full methodology.
College Raptor is a leading provider of net price calculators to colleges across the U.S. As such we are uniquely qualified to estimate college affordability. Check out College Raptor’s free match tool to see if your favorite college is affordable for you.
