Not too small and not too big, mid-sized colleges bring a good medium for students who want to experience the best of both worlds.
The list of the top 25 best mid-sized colleges below contains schools that have between 2,000 and 10,000 total enrolled undergraduate and undergraduate students.
Check out the best mid-sized colleges right here!
Top 25 Best Mid-Sized Colleges
A private Ivy League research university, Princeton University was founded in 1746 and originally known as the College of New Jersey. This makes it the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the country. The school receives around 37,600 applications annually and has an acceptance rate of only 4.5%, making it highly competitive.
Location
Princeton, NJ
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
8,478
Also known as Caltech, the California Institute of Technology’s motto is, “the truth shall make you free.” Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering are top majors among students, and there have been over 75 Nobel laureates that have been associated with Caltech (including 40 alumni and faculty members).
Location
Pasadena, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,397
Although it was originally founded as a men’s college in 1793, the school is composed of 48% and 52% women. It was created out of the funds of Ephraim Williams, who died in the French and Indian War. The college gets just under 12,500 applications each year and accepts 9% of students.
Location
Williamstown, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,224
A private Ivy League research university, Dartmouth was founded before the Declaration of Independence was signed. Three famous alumni were Daniel Webster, Robert Frost, and Thaddeus Stevens. The school also graduated several members of the Senate and House of Representatives in the United States, Nobel Prize laureates, and more.
Location
Hanover, NH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
6,761
A public undergraduate school, the United States Naval Academy’s motto, in Latin, is “Ex Scientia Tridens,” or “From Knowledge, Seapower.” It was established in 1845 and saw disruption and riots during the Civil War that almost caused the government to move the school. Today, it has an 8:1 student to faculty ratio.
Location
Annapolis, MD
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
4,528
A selective school, fewer than 10% of applicants are accepted into Rice. The school has 11 residential colleges and eight schools of academic study. Rice University was established in 1912 and named after William Marsh Rice. He had requested a free-tuition educational institute be opened after his death.
Location
Houston, TX
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
8,285
Originally known as the Augusta Academy and established in 1749, it would later be named after George Washington and Robert E. Lee, the latter of which was the president of the school for five years. With blue and white colors, students and athletes go by the nickname The Generals. The university has a 96% first year retention rate and an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Location
Lexington, VA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,238
The United States Military Academy is also known as West Point or the Academy. Only 11.1% of applicants will receive acceptance letters, but 81% of these students will go on to attend. Their motto is Duty • Honor • Country. The entire site of the school is a national landmark and includes historic sites, a museum, and more.
Location
West Point, NY
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
4,594
Wellesley College is a private women’s liberal arts college going back to 1870. It is the largest out of all women’s colleges and has seen famous alumni including Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, and Katharine Lee Bates. Economics is the most commonly chosen major, but other popular choices include Biology, Computer and Information Sciences, and Research and Experimental Psychology.
Location
Wellesley, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,461
Barnard College is a private women’s liberal arts college located on the banks of the Hudson River. The school was actually founded in response to Columbia University not admitting women. Today, it’s part of the Seven Sisters, an association of women’s liberal arts colleges in the country. Their motto, which is Greek, is “hepomene toi logismoi” or “following the way of reason.”
Location
New York City, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,043
The second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, King William III and Queen Mary II founded the aptly named College of William & Mary in 1693. A public research university, alumni have included Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, John Tyler, James Comey, and Jon Stewart. The mascot is the Griffin.
Location
Williamsburg, VA
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
9,517
With 57 areas of study, a majority of Hamilton students opt for Economics as their major, but Mathematics, Research and Experimental Psychology, and Political Science and Government are also popular choices. Their motto is in Ancient Greek: Γνῶθι Σεαυτόν, which translates to “know thyself.” The school has been coeducational since 1978 after merging with its sister school, Kirkland College.
Location
Clinton, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,055
The first operating college or university in Vermont was Middlebury College, founded in 1800. It was also the first American institution of higher education that gave a bachelor’s degree to an African-American in 1823. Although it was originally all-male, the school would begin to admit women in 1883. It has an acceptance rate of 13.3%.
Location
Middlebury, CT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,937
Vassar offers 50 majors with the most popular being Biology and Biological Sciences, Economics, and Political Science. The school has an acceptance rate of 20.1%. A few people who have graduated or attended Vassar include Anne Hathaway, Jane Fonda, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Anthony Bourdain.
Location
Poughkeepsie, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,516
A smaller school, Colby College is very selective with only a 9% acceptance rate, boasts a strong student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1, and has a 95% first year retention rate. 81% of students will go on to graduate within 4 years, and 87% within six. Political Science and Government and Econometrics and Quantitative Economics are the two most popular majors.
Location
Waterville, ME
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,262
Part of the Midwest Conference, the most popular sports at Carleton College include football, basketball, baseball, and cross country/track, soccer, and swimming and diving. They’re known as the Knights and wear blue and maize for school colors. Biology is a top major, with Computer Science, International Relations and Affairs, and Research and Mathematics also being popular choices.
Location
Northfield, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,044
Wesleyan University’s top majors include Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Psychology, English, and Political Science and Government. The school was founded as a men’s college and became fully co-educational in 1970. The campus is located on the bends of the Connecticut River. Cardinal and black are the official school colors of Wesleyan’s sports teams.
Location
Middletown, CT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,581
An all-female school, Smith College is the largest of the Seven Sisters colleges. The school has an open curriculum, which means it doesn’t have scheduled finals or course requirements. Smith College accepts almost 30% of students who apply. Margaret Mitchell, Nancy Reagan, Sylvia Plath, and Barbara Bush all attended the college.
Location
Northampton, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,924
Babson College began as an all-male school in 1919, originally known as Babson Institute. It would become coeducational in 1969. The school has an astounding 94% first year retention rate and 90% four year graduation rate. The only major available is Business Administration and Management. Athletes compete in the NCAA Division III and are known as the Beavers.
Location
Wellesley, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,684
Colgate University is known as a “Hidden Ivy” and a “Little Ivy.” The school regularly makes lists naming the most beautiful campuses in the United States. 99.6% of the students at Colgate study at the undergraduate level. However, the school offers up to the master’s degree level of Education. Maroon and white are the official school colors.
Location
Hamilton, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,176
“Verbum Vitae et Lumen Scientiae” or “Word of Life and the Light of Knowledge” is the motto of the University of Richmond. About 29% of applying students are accepted. 81.4% of the student body are undergraduates, the remaining 18.6% are graduate students. The school has an interesting mascot - WebstUR the Spider.
Location
Richmond, VA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,890
Lehigh University’s motto in Latin is “homo minister et interpres naturae,” which means “man, the servant and interpreter of nature.” Known as the Mountain Hawks, the athletes at Lehigh University compete in track, football, lacrosse, soccer, and other sports. Clutch the Mountain Hawk is their mascot.
Location
West Bethlehem, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
7,263
The College of the Holy Cross has a 43.1% acceptance rate, 96% first year retention rate, and an impressive 90% four year graduation rate. It is the oldest Catholic college in New England. Today, it’s a part of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Athletes are known as the Crusaders (who are also their mascot) and they wear Royal purple and white.
Location
Worcester, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,029
“Scientia et disciplina'' is the Latin motto of Colorado College which means “knowledge and skill.” Today, the school has over 80 majors and sits on a 90 acre campus. The college is highly selective – only 14.4% of applicants will receive acceptance letters. The master’s degree is the highest level of education offered by Colorado College.
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,266
Exclusively for undergraduates, Macalester College has an acceptance rate of 31.5%. They have a relatively low student-to-faculty ratio (10:1) and a 96% first year retention rate. Although the school is located in Minnesota, many students also come from California, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Macalester’s campus is located near the Mississippi River.
Location
St. Paul, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,244
Is a Mid-Sized College Right for You?
Mid-sized colleges offer the best of both worlds to students. Students can take advantage of the support larger universities and colleges tend to offer while also getting the experience of a personalized education. Mid-sized schools are likely to have more extracurriculars and majors than smaller schools, and smaller class sizes than large schools. They also have amazing networking opportunities – something that could be lacking at small colleges and overwhelming at large ones.
If a happy medium in class sizes, opportunities, and education experiences sounds right for you, it may be time to apply to a mid-sized college. Try out College Raptor’s free match tool to make your own personalized “best colleges” list!
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.
