Not sure we see a focus on small colleges - certainly these names. This is from Smart Asset and it’s based on what they deem as the best value. I don’t believe I’ve seen it posted but it’s about three weeks old. It’s a mix of public (Christopher Newport, Mary Washington, Ramapo, SUNY Geneseo and religious (Detroit Mercy, Indiana Wesleyan) and a couple private, non religious.
Perhaps it will be helpful for someone looking for some “different” small names than we normally discuss.
America’s Best Value Small Colleges and Universities — 2026 Study - SmartReads by SmartAsset
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Nice variety there. But I think the costs listed for the public universities are for instate students. This is something folks would need to research.
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In general, I think it is great to spread the news that small doesn’t have to mean expensive.
I also suspect it is correct that is the in-state cost of attendance for some of those publics, but consistent with the above I don’t think it is inherently bad for these schools to be included, for the benefit of those who would be in-state (or possibly qualify for an exchange in some cases).
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Lots of privates - and some of the publics on there are aggressive merit wise - so it might not be much more.
But I suspect small publics attract a local population.
Still, we hear Rutgers, Rutgers, Rutgers.
I happen to have worked with many from Ramapo - mostly solid people and many in leadership. And someone I call on in Virginia Beach kid is going to CNU instead of UVA.
So some are choosing - but in all these guys, all those folks were local to the school.
I don’t understand their criteria at all. If it’s based on sticker price, there are in-state state schools far less expensive than some of those listed here. If it’s based on the average amount paid, that’s not an accurate reflection of available financial aid since many of the most generous schools can only afford to be so because they have many families with greater means and therefore lower financial aid packages.
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