University of the Pacific is among the 25 Hidden Gems from College Raptor
25 Hidden Gem Colleges Worth A Closer Look
A college’s name can open doors, shape perceptions, and set expectations with its reputation and prestige. Outside of this, those weighing where to spend four years – and likely thousands of dollars – should consider what they’ll actually get in return.
A college that can give a good return on investment is a true treasure. And a new ranking from college planning platform College Raptor is challenging students to think not about reputation, but instead about long term value. They analyzed 25 lesser-known colleges for their 2027 Hidden Gems list based on four equally weighted factors – access for lower-income and Pell-eligible students, degree completion, career and earnings outcomes, and debt burden and repayment. They also adjusted post-graduation earnings for the local cost of living. This 2027 ranking uses 2023–24 academic year data.
To qualify as a ‘Hidden Gem’, schools must receive fewer than 10,000 applications annually, have fewer than 7,000 undergraduates, offer at least five unique majors, maintain an acceptance rate of at least 20% and rank in the top half of College Raptor’s overall rankings. All in all, they’ve got to be relatively small.
COLLEGE RAPTOR’S TOP 25 HIDDEN GEM SCHOOLS
- University of Washington-Tacoma Campus – Tacoma, WA
- University of Washington-Bothell Campus – Bothell, WA
- SUNY Polytechnic Institute – Utica, NY
- Rockhurst University – Kansas City, MO
- Cal Poly Maritime Academy – Vallejo, CA
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology – Socorro, NM
- University of the Pacific – Stockton, CA
- Smith College – Northampton, MA
- University of Portland – Portland, OR
- University of St Thomas – Houston, TX
- Bryn Mawr College – Bryn Mawr, PA
- Linfield University – McMinnville, OR
- Elmhurst University – Elmhurst, IL
- SUNY Maritime College – Throggs Neck, NY
- Mount Saint Mary’s University – Los Angeles, CA
- Daemen University – Amherst, NY
- Dordt University – Sioux Center, IA
- Dominican University of California – San Rafael, CA
- Saint Martin’s University – Lacey, WA
- Lipscomb University – Nashville, TN
- SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Syracuse, NY
- Aurora University – Aurora, IL
- Citadel Military College of South Carolina – Charleston, SC
- Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – Boston, MA
- Clarkson University – Potsdam, NY
TWO WASHINGTON CAMPUSES LEAD THE LIST
At the top are two University of Washington campuses, followed by SUNY Polytechnic Institute.
The University of Washington-Tacoma Campus takes the No. 1 spot, with 4,287 undergraduates, an 83% acceptance rate, an average net price of $13,898 and a reported median starting salary of $62,979.
In second place, the University of Washington-Bothell Campus has 5,753 undergraduates and an 86.4% acceptance rate. Its average net price is even lower, at $10,777, while its median starting salary is also $62,979. For business students, Bothell stands out because Business Administration and Management is among its most popular undergraduate programs, along with computer science and nursing.
In No. 3 was SUNY Polytechnic Institute, with just 1,973 undergraduates, an 81.4% acceptance rate, a $14,782 average net price and a reported median starting salary of $58,662. College Raptor also reports that about 100% of SUNY Polytechnic students receive grant aid.
The schools further down the list show just how varied a “Hidden Gem” can be.
For example, Cal Poly Maritime Academy landed at No. 5 with just 804 undergraduates. The schools are also quite different from each other. Some are highly specialized institutions, while others are more traditional, with strong liberal arts, business and professional programs.
Others also believe in the power of the hidden gem schools, like admissions counselor Judy Rasetti with IvyWise. “In truth, some of the best college experiences happen at schools that don’t always make the headlines,” she shares.
Next Page: Study shows 75% of students will change their major.
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