The 25 Most Desirable Small Schools

From its humble beginnings in 1889 as a single class of 14 students and six faculty members that convened in a brownstone building in Manhattan, New York, Barnard College now offers a liberal-arts education to nearly 2,500 undergraduates, placing it as the 17th most desirable urban school and the 20th most desirable small school.  
 
Though Barnard College is distinct and independent from Columbia University, the all-women college has deep ties to the Ivy across the road, sharing courses, academic resources and student organizations. Barnard, along with Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Radcliffe, Smith, Vassar and Wellesley, is also one of the "Seven Sisters" colleges.  
 
The school's curriculum offers a BA in 50 fields from the social sciences, arts, natural sciences and humanities. Students average a 31 on the ACT and 1440 on the SAT. Perhaps one of the most selective all-women's colleges in the country, Barnard accepts only 28 percent of applicants.