2027 College Rankings

Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA)

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College Raptor’s Hidden Gem rankings highlight under-the-radar colleges that may not be household names, but they're bringing serious academic heat. Hidden Gems are based on College Raptor’s overall national rankings and must meet the following criteria:

Receive fewer than 10,000 applications per year.
Have fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students.
Offer 5 or more unique majors
Have a 20% acceptance rate or higher.
Rank within the top half of College Raptor’s overall rankings.

For more information on methodology behind our college rankings, check out our ranking methodology breakdown.

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Rank	Institution	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Macalester College	28.13	1,350 – 1,490	40225	46244	#1 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Macalester College Saint Paul, MN Macalester College is a private liberal arts college that sits near the Mississippi River in the heart of the Twin Cities. Students can earn up to a bachelor’s degree and a commonly selected major is Research and Experimental Psychology, Other....Read more Acceptance Rate 28.1% SAT Score 1,350 – 1,490 Avg. Net Price $40,225 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,244
2	Rhodes College	51.51	1,320 – 1,460	31037	48898	#2 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Rhodes College Memphis, TN Getting its start in the mid-1830’s with the Montgomery Academy, Rhodes College is primarily composed of undergraduates. “Truth, Loyalty, Service” is the motto of Rhodes. Red and black are the colors for the Lynx sports teams, who compete in events such as Football, Basketball, and Lacrosse....Read more Acceptance Rate 51.5% SAT Score 1,320 – 1,460 Avg. Net Price $31,037 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,898
3	University of Tulsa	61.5	1,220 – 1,510	13095	54779	#3 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) University of Tulsa Tulsa, OK Royal blue, old gold, and crimson are the official colors of the University of Tulsa. The Golden Hurricanes compete in Football, Basketball, and Soccer, among others. Alumni include inventors, businessmen, actors, scientists, and politicians. UT’s student-to-faculty ratio is 10 to 1. Acceptance Rate 61.5% SAT Score 1,220 – 1,510 Avg. Net Price $13,095 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,779
4	Hanover College	82.15	1,100 – 1,270	23683	42876	#4 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Hanover College Hanover, IN Hanover College is a private not-for-profit institution that offers up to Doctor's degrees. Students follow a four-one-four plan, which is two four-month semesters with a one-month term between. It’s the oldest private college in the state, having been founded in 1827. Hanover became coeducational in 1880. Acceptance Rate 82.2% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $23,683 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,876
5	Austin College	47.68	1,120 – 1,340	23462	45242	#5 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Austin College Sherman, TX Austin College’s Fighting Kangaroos, competing in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, wear crimson and gold. Many alumni have gone on to have impressive careers as musicians, politicians, educators, athletes, and authors. The most popular undergraduate major is Psychology, General. Acceptance Rate 47.7% SAT Score 1,120 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $23,462 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,242
6	Agnes Scott College	63.53	1,120 – 1,320	27499	41382	#6 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Agnes Scott College Decatur, GA One of the Seven Sisters, Agnes Scott College is a women’s undergraduate school but offers co-educational graduate programs as well. The school underwent many name changes since it was founded in 1889, starting with the Decatur Female Seminary....Read more Acceptance Rate 63.5% SAT Score 1,120 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $27,499 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,382
7	Carroll University	66.84	1,070 – 1,280	27031	54456	#7 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Carroll University Waukesha, WI Located in Waukesha, Carroll University’s acceptance rate is 67%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 94% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more Acceptance Rate 66.8% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $27,031 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,456
8	Eckerd College	75.8	1,170 – 1,340	43884	37505	#8 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Eckerd College Saint Petersburg, FL A private liberal arts school located not far from the beach, Eckerd College is home to several sustainability initiatives, bikesharing systems, and the Galbraith Marine Science Laboratory. In fact, Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography is a commonly chosen program....Read more Acceptance Rate 75.8% SAT Score 1,170 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $43,884 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,505
9	Alma College	65.69	930 – 1,150	22094	45720	#9 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Alma College Alma, MI A fairly selective school, 3,200 applicants received acceptance letters to Alma College during the last admissions cycle. 10% decide to enroll. Classes are smaller, with a student-to-faculty ratio 14 to 1, and 79% of freshman stay at the school after they complete their first year....Read more Acceptance Rate 65.7% SAT Score 930 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $22,094 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,720
10	Illinois College	74.94	930 – 1,190	17375	40110	#10 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Illinois College Jacksonville, IL Founded in 1829, Illinois College is the second oldest college in the state. 100% of enrolled students receive grant aid to help offset the cost of attendance, with each package averaging $31,609....Read more Acceptance Rate 74.9% SAT Score 930 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $17,375 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,110
11	Coe College	63.36	1,110 – 1,320	20864	47136	#11 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA Located in Cedar Rapids, Coe College accepts 63% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 76%....Read more Acceptance Rate 63.4% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $20,864 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,136
12	Monmouth College	90.85	1,010 – 1,230	17768	43158	#12 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Monmouth College Monmouth, IL Found in Monmouth, Monmouth College accepts 91% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 99% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate is 74% and around 55% of students will graduate within four years. Business......Read more Acceptance Rate 90.9% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $17,768 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,158
13	Queens University of Charlotte	80.5	1,150 – 1,340	31839	48170	#13 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte, NC Queens University of Charlotte opened its doors in 1857 as the Charlotte Female Institute. Co-educational today, women still make up a majority of the study body. It’s affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and as of 2026, controlled by Elon University. Acceptance Rate 80.5% SAT Score 1,150 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $31,839 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,170
14	Westminster College	91.67	1,080 – 1,210	20394	43938	#14 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Westminster College New Wilmington, PA 100% of students attending Westminster College receive grant aid, averaging $32,553 each. Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, the school has an 72% first year retention rate, 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, and 59% six year graduation rate. 580 athletes, known as the Titans, wear navy blue and white. Acceptance Rate 91.7% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $20,394 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,938
15	Waynesburg University	89.81	950 – 1,240	18667	48994	#15 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Waynesburg University Waynesburg, PA 100% of Waynesburg University’s students receive grant aid, averaging $24,971 each. Many undergraduates major in Business Administration and Management, General. The campus is home to four parks, totalling 15 acres. Statue Park is dedicated to Civil War casualties. Waynesburg is non selective. Acceptance Rate 89.8% SAT Score 950 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $18,667 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,994
16	Presbyterian College	65.15	1,060 – 1,240	20840	44387	#16 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Presbyterian College Clinton, SC Located in Clinton, Presbyterian College accepted 65% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of students attending Presbyterian College currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more Acceptance Rate 65.2% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $20,840 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,387
17	Buena Vista University	64.97	970 – 1,180	19704	43572	#17 Top Hidden Gem Colleges – Presbyterian Church (USA) Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IA Buena Vista University has a 13 to 1 student to faculty ratio, 76% first year retention rate, and 50% 4-year graduation rate. Every year BVU students volunteer at Buenafication Day, the school's annual day of community service. Popular majors among students include Elementary Education and Teaching, and Accounting. Acceptance Rate 65.0% SAT Score 970 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $19,704 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,572