Small public colleges typically have enrollments fewer than 3,000 students and combine the affordability and access of public institutions with a small campus feel. These colleges emphasize personalized education, small class sizes, close faculty-student relationships, and community engagement. Examples include New College of Florida (about 800 students), Maine Maritime Academy (900), and St. Mary’s College of Maryland (1,600 students). Advantages of small public colleges are their generally lower tuition rates, especially for in-state students, greater accessibility, inclusivity, and stronger ties to local communities for internships and service learning. This makes them attractive for students who want a supportive, close-knit college experience with the benefits of public school affordability.

Some well-recognized small public colleges with undergraduate enrollments under 6,000 include:

• New College of Florida (~800 students)
• Maine Maritime Academy (~900)
• St. Mary’s College of Maryland (~1,600)
• Plymouth State University (~3,000)
• University of Maine at Farmington (~1,500)
• Winston Salem University (~4,726)
• Michigan Tech University (~5,710)
• Missouri University of Science and Technology (~5,501)
• University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (~6,600)
• University of Texas of the Permian Basin (~6,000).

These schools offer personalized education with small class sizes and community-focused experiences while being more affordable than private colleges.