The goal of College Raptor’s Hidden Gems is to put the spotlight on amazing schools that you may not have heard of before. With that in mind, these designations are based on College Raptor’s overall national rankings as well as the number of factors unique to the Hidden Gems lists.
This year, the lists include Hidden Gem schools organized by state and by region. New 2022 lists include Hidden Gems That Don’t Require Test Scores, Hidden Gems for Healthcare Majors, Most Ethnically Diverse Hidden Gems, and Hidden Gems with More Out-of-State-Students!
To qualify as a College Raptor Hidden Gem, a school must meet the following requirements:
- Receive fewer than 5,000 applications a year.
- Have fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students enrolled.
- Have an acceptance rate higher than 10%.
- Have 5 or more unique majors.
College Raptor’s overall national rankings are based on an analysis of data about the school’s selectivity, financial health, academic rigor, and student success. We’ve outlined our full methodology here.
The best treasures are worth looking for, and may even be hidden right beneath your nose. That’s true for colleges as well. The best college for you might be one you haven’t heard about yet! College Raptor is dedicated to showing students and families a wide array of college options. That’s why we wanted to …
There are many well known, house-hold name colleges in New England. They are titans of higher education known the world over for their academics and reputation. However, there are just as many excellent colleges in the New England area that don’t receive as much attention as they deserve. That’s why we wanted to cast the spotlight …
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 …
What do you think about when you hear “the Southeast?” Many think about southern hospitality, comfort food, warm weather, and history. You should add amazing colleges to that list. While there are powerhouse colleges in the Southeast, there are also a bunch of great schools that fly a more under the radar. That’s why we …
America’s heartland is vast, fertile, and filled with a variety of industries. Additionally, it’s home to a bunch of amazing colleges. While some of those colleges are certainly household names, some aren’t quite as well known – though they should be! We wanted to feature some of the best colleges in the Plains region that …
The Great Lakes are so impressive that they get an section of the US named after them. While the area is clearly well-known for the waters, some of the attention should be on the little but mighty Great Lakes colleges within the area. To qualify as a Hidden Gem, a school must meet the following …
The Rocky Mountain Range spans over 3,000 miles from New Mexico to northern British Columbia in Canada. There are a lot of colleges in the Rocky Mountain area that are as mighty as the peaks themselves. However, some of those colleges aren’t household names yet. We wanted to highlight some amazing colleges among the Rockies. …
Desert, sprawling cities, canyons, mountains, and more make up the rugged landscape of the Southwest. Many of the colleges in the area are as excellent as the geography is dynamic. We wanted to highlight some of the lesser-known Southwest colleges that deserve attention. To qualify as a Hidden Gem, a school must meet the following …
From sunny beaches to snowy mountains to rainy coasts, there is perhaps no region in the US more diverse than the Far West. In addition to a variety of landscapes, the Far West is home to a variety of schools. With all there is to see, you don’t want to miss out on these incredible …
When searching for a college, many students seek out schools with high ethnic diversity. After all, college is a time to meet people from all walks of life and learn more about this wide world of ours. We wanted to create a list of Hidden Gem colleges that have the highest rate of ethnic diversity. …
There is an ongoing trend of more colleges dropping their ACT / SAT requirements. Though the decline started before the pandemic, the COVID-19 challenges have caused more schools to go test-optional. These colleges prefer a more holistic approach to reviewing the college applications of potential students. All that said, we wanted to highlight some colleges …
Those working in healthcare fields are true heroes in the best of times. During the pandemic, however, they are true beacons of hope, health, and compassion. We wanted to salute our brave and dedicated healthcare workers and cheer on those studying to join them. This Hidden Gem list features the best colleges for healthcare majors. …
Most of the time, a majority of a college’s student-body comes from the state where the school is located. However, that’s not always the case. In fact, sometimes there are more out-of-state students than in-state students! This list highlights Hidden Gem schools where more students come from outside the state. If 51% or higher of …
