Editor’s Note: Peter Pitts, a frequent Road2College contributor and small-college advocate, recently posted this in our Paying for College 101 Facebook group. We are republishing his insightful work here to broaden the audience.
Here’s another list of colleges from the Small College Guy to add to your search, especially now that November 1 has passed.
Yes, November 1 is a common deadline for Early Decision and Early Action college applications for many schools, but just in case you missed this deadline (or need to add additional colleges to your list — relax — there are hundreds of small private colleges that are still accepting applications AND giving excellent merit aid).
If a small college admits more than 50% of its applicants and gives a lot of merit aid in general, the odds are good that it will still welcome your application. They may state in their admissions information that they have an “early action date,” but, frankly, they are most likely trying to make sure you don’t procrastinate
The 179 colleges listed here are among my very favorites and have an average of a 76% acceptance rate. The average merit award is $21K, and the average out-of-pocket cost for tuition, room, and board (after merit) for most families is about $28K.
Eighty-five of the 179 colleges also offer some full-tuition scholarships (usually by interview and/or committee decision). The average Forbes grade for financial strength is a B. And the average Niche grade is also a B.
Most of these colleges will consider a B/B+ or higher student. About half of them will also consider some C+/B- students.
Bottom line: These are good, solid colleges to add to your list.
Many are test-optional and only require the Common App and high school transcripts, and several even require no application fee. Inclusion on this list does not guarantee that the college is still accepting applications.
Each college has its own policies regarding application deadlines and considerations. This list is merely designed to give students an idea of some inexpensive colleges that are “very likely” to continue accepting applications after November 1.
Most have a “rolling” admissions policy, meaning they make decisions on a rolling basis as applications and transcripts arrive. Many colleges with rolling admission will even admit students for the next several months, even after May 1.
And most of these colleges let students find out the amount of their merit scholarship either with their acceptance letter or shortly thereafter. Policies and procedures will vary (which is why I used the words “most” and “many” throughout this article). The list is alphabetical by state and should not be viewed as a ranking. Enjoy!
Hendrix College AR
University of the Ozarks AR
SOKA University of America CA
Trinity Washington University DC
Goldey-Beacom College DE
Bethune-Cookman University FL
Stetson University FL
Agnes Scott College GA
Berry College GA
Brenau University GA
LaGrange College GA
Oglethorpe University GA
Wesleyan College GA
Young Harris College GA
Buena Vista University IA
Cornell College IA
Drake University IA
Graceland University IA
Luther College IA
Mount Mercy University IA
Saint Ambrose University IA
Simpson College IA
University of Dubuque IA
The College of Idaho ID
Augustana College IL
Blackburn College IL
Eureka College IL
Illinois College IL
Knox College IL
Millikin University IL
Monmouth College IL
North Central College IL
St. Xavier University IL
DePauw University IN
Earlham College IN
Franklin College IN
Hanover College IN
Holy Cross College IN
Indiana Tech IN
Manchester University IN
Marian University IN
Saint Mary’s College IN
Trine University IN
University of Evansville IN
University of St. Francis IN
Valparaiso University IN
Wabash College IN
Benedictine College KS
McPherson College KS
University of Saint Mary KS
Centre College KY
Lindsey Wilson College KY
Midway University KY
Transylvania University KY
University of the Cumberlands KY
Centenary College of Louisiana LA
Loyola University New Orleans LA
Xavier University of Louisiana LA
Assumption University MA
Bay Path University MA
Stonehill College MA
McDaniel College MD
Notre Dame of Maryland University MD
Stevenson University MD
Thomas College ME
Alma College MI
Hope College MI
Kalamazoo College MI
Northwood University MI
College of St. Benedict MN
Concordia College–Moorhead MN
Gustavus Adolphus College MN
Hamline University MN
Mnpls College of Art & Design MN
Saint Catherine University MN
St. John’s University MN
St. Olaf College MN
Cottey College MO
Stephens College MO
Westminster College MO
Millsaps College MS
Tougaloo College MS
Carroll College MT
Campbell University NC
Catawba College NC
Johnson C. Smith University NC
Lees-McRae College NC
Mars Hill University NC
Meredith College NC
Methodist University NC
Queens University of Charlotte NC
Salem College NC
University of Jamestown ND
University of Mary ND
College of Saint Mary NE
Doane University NE
Hastings College NE
Nebraska Wesleyan University NE
Rivier University NH
Alfred University NY
Canisius University NY
Iona University NY
Le Moyne College NY
Mount Saint Mary College NY
St. John Fisher NY
Wagner College NY
Capital University OH
College of Wooster OH
Heidelberg University OH
Mount Saint Joseph University OH
Muskingum University OH
Ohio Northern University OH
Ohio Wesleyan University OH
Otterbein University OH
University of Mount Union OH
Ursuline College OH
Walsh University OH
Wilmington College OH
Wittenberg University OH
Oklahoma City University OK
University of Tulsa OK
Linfield University OR
Willamette University OR
Allegheny College PA
Cedar Crest College PA
Gwynedd Mercy University PA
Holy Family University PA
Juniata College PA
King’s College PA
Lebanon Valley College PA
Lycoming College PA
Mount Aloysius College PA
Saint Vincent College PA
Susquehanna University PA
Thomas Jefferson University PA
Washington & Jefferson College PA
Westminster College PA
Widener University PA
York College of Pennsylvania PA
Coker University SC
Wofford College SC
Augustana University SD
University of Sioux Falls SD
Cumberland University TN
LeMoyne-Owen College TN
Maryville College TN
Rhodes College TN
Austin College TX
McMurry University TX
Schreiner University TX
Southwestern University TX
St. Mary’s University TX
Texas Wesleyan University TX
University of St. Thomas TX
Westminster University UT
Bridgewater College VA
Emory and Henry University VA
Hampden-Sydney College VA
Hollins University VA
Randolph College VA
Randolph-Macon College VA
Roanoke College VA
Sweet Briar College VA
University of Lynchburg VA
Norwich University VT
St. Michael’s College VT
Beloit College WI
Carroll University WI
Carthage College WI
Lawrence University WI
Milwaukee School of Engineering WI
Mount Mary University WI
Ripon College WI
Saint Norbert College WI
Viterbo University WI
Davis and Elkins College WV
University of Charleston WV
West Virginia Wesleyan College WV
Wheeling University WV
_______
Use R2C Insights to help find merit aid and schools that fit the criteria most important to your student. You’ll not only save precious time, but your student will avoid the heartache of applying to schools they aren’t likely to get into or can’t afford to attend.
Looking for expert help on the road to college? See our 1-1 Coaching Services.
Other Articles You Might Like:
8 Ways Top Students Thrive at Small, Less Selective Colleges
10 Reasons to Consider Smaller Schools with Higher Acceptance Rates
Undecided about a Major? A Small College Might Be the Best Choice
JOIN ONE OF OUR FACEBOOK GROUPS & CONNECT WITH OTHER PARENTS:
