Also known as the Mid-Atlantic region, this section of the East Coast has a host of incredible colleges — both known and relatively unknown. However, these “unknown” schools can be real diamonds in the rough, ideal opportunities just waiting for you to learn about all they have to offer.
We wanted to celebrate the Hidden Gems of the Mid-East US.
To qualify as a Hidden Gem, a school must meet the following requirements:
- 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
For this list, the following states are considered part of the mid-east: Delaware, DC, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
*Note: We feature the top 3 Hidden Gems per state, however not all states had 3 schools that met all of our criteria, and so may only feature one or two.
Hidden Gems in the Mid-East US
DC
Trinity Washington University is a Catholic university that has five schools. A majority of students who attend are from Washington DC, Maryland, and North Carolina. They have a 12 to 1 student to faculty ratio. Health and Wellness is the most popular major, followed by Business Administration and Management, Social Psychology, and Registered Nursing.
Location
Washington, DC
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,707
Gallaudet University is a school dedicated to the deaf and hard of hearing. They have two official languages, English and American Sign Language. They accept just under 63% of applicants. Many students major in Sign Language Interpretation and Speech Communication. Only 2% of new students come from the DC area.
Location
Washington, DC
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,485
DELAWARE
Goldey-Beacom College was founded in 1886 and is on a 24 acre campus. They accept just over 55% of applicants. Offering 13 varsity teams, athletes are known as Lightning, wear blue and gold. They are led by their mascot known as Strike. Business Administration and Management is a popular major for students.
Location
Wilmington, DE
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,327
MARYLAND
Founded in 1840, St. Mary’s College of Maryland was originally known as St. Mary’s Female Seminary. Today, it shares its campus with Historic St. Mary’s City, which is the state’s first colony and capital. The school has a 9 to 1 student to faculty ratio and an 85% first year retention rate. A majority of students attending today are female, but the school is co-educational and has been since 1949.
Location
St. Mary’s City, MD
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
1,513
The Maryland Institute College of Art is one of the oldest art colleges in the country, having been founded in 1826. Illustration, Graphic Design, Multimedia, and Painting are commonly chosen majors. The school has a 9 to 1 student to faculty ratio and an 88% first year retention rate. 90% of applicants are accepted.
Location
Baltimore, MD
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,227
The Washington College dates back to 1723 when it began as the Kent County Free School. It would become Washington College in 1782. Today, it is the 10th oldest college in the United States and was actually the first college chartered after the American Revolution. George Washington was heavily involved in the founding.
Location
Chestertown, MD
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,288
NEW JERSEY
Drew University goes by the nickname “University of the Forest” due to the fact it is on an 186 acre wooded campus. The school’s motto is “δωρεὰν ἐλάβετε, δωρεὰν δότε”, which is Greek for "Freely ye have received, freely give” from Matthew 10:8. Blue and green are the school colors and the sports teams are known as the Rangers.
Location
Madison, NJ
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,319
The Florham Campus of the Fairleigh Dickinson University opened in spring of 2013. The school has an 80% first year retention rate. Psychology and Business Administration and Management are the two most popular majors, followed by Biology, Speech Communication, Marketing, and Cinematography.
Location
Madison, NJ
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,366
Caldwell University was originally a college for women. Today it is coeducational, but it still has more women than men. The school became a university in 2013. Their motto is “Sapientia et Scientia”, which means “Wisdom and Knowledge.” Athletes are known as the Cougars and compete in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference.
Location
Caldwell, NJ
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,206
NEW YORK
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, also known as Cooper Union, has under 1,000 students and only a 15.5% acceptance rate. Cooper Union only offers a few majors including Fine/Studio Arts, Engineering Studies, and Architecture. The school also boasts a high first year retention rate of 91% and has an 8 to 1 student to faculty ratio.
Location
New York, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
952
Yeshiva University is a research university that is affiliated with Modern Orthodox Judaism. Four schools make up the undergraduate program: Yeshiva College, Stern College for Women, Katz School of Science and Health, and Syms School of Business. The university’s motto is “תורה ומדע“ which is Hebrew for “Torah and secular knowledge.”
Location
New York City, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
5,357
Hobart William Smith Colleges accepts only 62% of students who apply. Hobart College is for men and William Smith College is for women. The two schools share a campus and are officially known as HWS. Economics is the most popular major. Hobart’s colors are royal purple and orange while William Smith’s colors are emerald green and white.
Location
Geneva, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,070
PENNSYLVANIA
Haverford College is a liberal arts school founded in 1833 by the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers. It’s part of the Tri-College Consortium which means students can attend classes at nearby schools Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore. “Non doctior, sed meliore doctrina imbutus,” or "Not more learned, but steeped in a higher learning" is the school’s motto.
Location
Haverford, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,317
Willie the Wolverine is Grove City College’s mascot. Speech Communication, Biology, Mechanical Engineering, Business, and Accounting are the top five most popular majors. Grove City College has an impressive 90% first-year retention rate and a 4-year graduation rate of 80%. Believe it or not, only 53% of the incoming students are from Pennsylvania.
Location
Grove City, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,272
A women’s liberal arts college, Bryn Mawr College is a Seven Sisters college. It was founded by the Quakers in 1885. The school receives around 3,300 applications a year and accepts only 38% of them, making it a very selective school. Bryn Mawr means “large hill” in Welsh. Notable alumni include classicist Edith Hamilton and actress Katharine Hepburn.
Location
Bryn Mawr, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,723
Interested in any of these schools? 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.
