2026 College Rankings

Top Hidden Gem Division 3 Colleges – New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)

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New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)

About

NCAA Division III (D3) colleges offer student-athletes the opportunity to compete at a collegiate level while pursuing a balanced academic and athletic experience. These institutions are an ideal choice for those seeking both high academic standards and continued athletic involvement. This list represents Hidden Gem colleges with a D3 athletic classification.

Methodology

Each of these rankings is based on an analysis of data about the school's selectivity, financial health, graduation rates, student success, and more. We've outlined our full methodology here.

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Rank	Institution	D3 Colleges	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Wheaton College (Massachusetts)	18	71.33	1,150 – 1,320	31638	51607	#1 Top Hidden Gem Division 3 Colleges – New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) Wheaton College (Massachusetts) Norton, MA Wheaton College got its start as the Wheaton Female Seminary in 1834. It received its current moniker in 1912 and began admitting men in 1988. To offer more courses to students, Wheaton has partnerships with Brown University and nine other local schools....Read more D3 Colleges 18.00 Acceptance Rate 71.3% SAT Score 1,150 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $31,638 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,607
2	Maine Maritime Academy	24	56.06	1,100 – 1,260	21433	93944	#2 Top Hidden Gem Division 3 Colleges – New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) Maine Maritime Academy Castine, ME Located on a peninsula on the Bagaduce River and Penobscot Bay, the Maine Maritime Academy is a non-federal maritime training school. Students aren’t required to join the military after graduation. Many study Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer. A fairly selective school, 30% of those accepted enroll. D3 Colleges 24.00 Acceptance Rate 56.1% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,260 Avg. Net Price $21,433 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $93,944
3	Simmons University	25	66	1,190 – 1,370	29575	61420	#3 Top Hidden Gem Division 3 Colleges – New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) Simmons University Boston, MA Simmons University is a private women’s institution, though the graduate school does admit men. It was founded as a college in 1899 and became a university in 2018. Simmons has an 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 82% first year retention rate. 99% of students receive institutional grant aid. D3 Colleges 25.00 Acceptance Rate 66.0% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $29,575 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $61,420