A liberal arts education can best be described as “well-rounded.” Liberal arts colleges focus on the study of humanities, sciences, and social sciences – and there are plenty of amazing liberal arts colleges in the United States.
Top 25 Best Liberal Arts Colleges
Originally known as the Augusta Academy and established in 1749, it would later be named after George Washington and Robert E. Lee, the latter of which was the president of the school for five years. With blue and white colors, students and athletes go by the nickname The Generals. The university boasts a first year retention rate of 98% and a student to faculty ratio of 7 to 1.
Location
Lexington, VA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,243
Although it was originally founded as a men’s college in 1793, the school is now composed of 48% men and 52% women. It was created out of the funds of Ephraim Williams, who died in the French and Indian War. The college receives about 11,000 applications each year and accepts 10% of students.
Location
Williamstown, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,222
Bowdoin College is a very selective school with an acceptance rate of 8%. 82% of students will graduate within four years, and 96% within six. The college also has first year retention rate of 96%. Bowdoin College offers 34 different majors and participates in joint Engineering programs with Columbia, Dartmouth, Caltech, and the University of Maine.
Location
Brunswick, ME
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,915
Swarthmore College was one of the first coeducational colleges in the country. It is associated with the University of Pennsylvania through the Quaker Consortium, which means students can take classes at the four schools within the arrangement. 53% of students receive institutional grant aid to attend, $59,421 on average.
Location
Swarthmore, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,625
Pomona College receives around 12,100 applications annually and accepts 7% of them. Commonly chosen majors are Computer Science, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Mathematics, and Political Science and Government. The school was created when the founders wanted to recreate a “college of the New England type.” Their mascot is Cecil the Sagehen.
Location
Claremont, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,716
Claremont McKenna College, which accepts 11% of applicants, was founded as a men’s college in 1946. It became co-educational in 1976. The most commonly chosen major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. With a strong 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, 96% of students will stay after their freshman year.
Location
Claremont, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,389
Wellesley College is a private women’s liberal arts college going back to 1870. It is the largest of all-women colleges and has seen famous alumni including Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, and Katharine Lee Bates. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics is the most commonly chosen major, but other popular choices include Computer and Information Sciences, Neuroscience, and Political Science and Government.
Location
Wellesley, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,447
Harvey Mudd College offers programs only related to Science and Engineering. It has a low 13% acceptance rate, 97% first year retention rate, and 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Part of the Claremont Colleges, their colors are black and gold. The men’s teams are known as the Stags and the women are known as the Athenas.
Location
Claremont, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
922
With an acceptance rate of 10%, Amherst College is a extremely selective school. A majority of their first-year students come from New York. The third oldest institution of higher education in the state, it was originally a men’s college. It became coeducational in 1975. Amherst College’s motto is “terras Irradient,” which means “let them enlighten the lands.”
Location
Amherst, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,898
Barnard College is a private women’s liberal arts college located on the banks of the Hudson River. The school was actually founded in response to Columbia University not admitting women. Today, it’s part of the Seven Sisters, an association of women’s liberal arts colleges in the country. Their motto, which is Greek, is “hepomene toi logismoi” or “following the way of reason.”
Location
New York City, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,442
Davidson College was founded in 1837 and already started trying to reduce the cost of college for students by the 1850’s. Today, the school meets the financial needs of students through grants, student employment, and other aid. In fact, 65% of students receive institutional grant aid. 15% of applicants are accepted to Davidson and 94% decide to stay on after the first year.
Location
Davidson, NC
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,927
With 57 areas of study, the most popular major for Hamilton students is Economics, but Biology/Biological Sciences, Political Science and Government, and Research and Experimental Psychology are also popular choices. Their motto is in Ancient Greek: Γνῶθι Σεαυτόν, which translates to “know thyself.” The school has been coeducational since 1978 after merging with its sister school, Kirkland College.
Location
Clinton, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,072
A smaller school, Colby College is very selective with only a 7% acceptance rate, boasts a strong student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 and 93% first year retention rate. 82% of students will go on to graduate within 4 years, and 90% within six. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics and Political Science and Government are the two most popular majors.
Location
Waterville, ME
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,299
Wesleyan University’s top majors include Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Psychology, and Political Science and Government. The school was founded as a men’s college and became fully co-educational in 1970. The campus is located on the bends of the Connecticut River. Cardinal and black are the official school colors of Wesleyan’s sports teams.
Location
Middletown, CT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,253
Haverford College is a liberal arts school founded in 1833 by the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers. It’s part of the Tri-College Consortium which means students can attend classes at nearby schools Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore. “Non doctior, sed meliore doctrina imbutus,” or "not more learned, but steeped in a higher learning," is the school’s motto.
Location
Haveford, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,421
Part of the Midwest Conference, the most popular sports at Carleton College include Track and Field and Cross Country, Football, and Swimming and Diving. They’re known as the Knights and wear blue and maize for school colors. Biology/Biological Sciences is the top major, but International Relations and Affairs, Computer Science, and Research and Experimental Psychology are also popular choices.
Location
Northfield, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,059
Colgate University is known as a “Hidden Ivy” and a “Little Ivy.” The school regularly makes lists naming the most beautiful campuses in the United States. 3,100 students at Colgate study at the undergraduate level. However, the school offers up to the master’s degree level of Education. Maroon and white are the official school colors.
Location
Hamilton, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,141
Vassar offers 50 majors with the most popular being Research and Experimental Psychology, Economics, and Political Science and Government. The school has an acceptance rate of 18%. A few notable Vassar graduates or attendees include Anne Hathaway, Jane Fonda, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Anthony Bourdain.
Location
Poughkeepsie, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,459
The first operating college or university in Vermont, Middlebury College was founded in 1800. It was also the first American institution of higher education that gave a bachelor’s degree to an African-American in 1823. Although it was originally all-male, the school would begin to admit women in 1883. It has an acceptance rate of 10%.
Location
Middlebury, CT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,843
“Verbum Vitae et Lumen Scientiae” or “Word of Life and the Light of Knowledge” is the motto of the University of Richmond. About 23% of applying students are accepted and 3,150 attending students are undergraduates. The school has an interesting mascot – WebstUR the Spider.
Location
Richmond, VA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,876
Bates College was founded in 1855 and was the first coeducational college in New England. It also began admitting minority students before the Emancipation Proclamation. Bates College only accepts 13% of applicants. The school has a 93% first year retention rate, 85% four year graduation rate, and a 10 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Location
Lewiston, ME
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,790
The College of the Holy Cross accepts 21% of applicants, boasting a strong 95% first year retention rate and 88% four year graduation rate. It is the oldest Catholic college in New England. Today, it’s a part of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Athletes are known as the Crusaders (who are also their mascot) and they wear Royal purple and white.
Location
Worcester, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,083
Located west of the Connecticut River, Smith College is among the largest women’s colleges in the US committed to the education and empowerment of women. Undergraduates can apply to the college for $0. Students enjoy a cozy 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 91% first year retention rate. Notable alumni include Julia Child, Gloria Steinman, and Sylvia Plath.
Location
Northampton, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,873
The two most popular majors at Grinnell College are Biochemistry and Computer Science. Part of the Midwest Conference and NCAA Division III, the Pioneers, wearing scarlet and black, have a wide variety of sports to choose from including Football, Swimming and Diving (combined), and Basketball. They currently have 423 athletes and their unofficial mascot is a squirrel.
Location
Grinnell, IA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,759
Exclusively for undergraduates, Macalester College has an acceptance rate of 28%. They have a relatively low student-to-faculty ratio (10 to 1) and a high 91% first year retention rate. Although the school is located in Minnesota, many students also come from California, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Macalester’s campus is located near the Mississippi River.
Location
St. Paul, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,175
What is a Liberal Arts College?
A liberal arts college is an institution that focuses on the study of the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, natural sciences, and similar topics. This covers a wide range of majors from English to Psychology, History to Biology, and beyond.
These schools’ programs provide knowledge in both general areas and the student’s specific major. However, unlike business and engineering schools, they do not always have professional education courses that provide training for future careers.
The schools on this year’s best liberal arts colleges demonstrate top academic quality. Check them out now.
Is a Liberal Arts College Right for You?
If your career and educational goals align with the aspects a liberal arts college stands for, it may be the perfect fit for you. They take a soft approach to education and emphasize a broad education. Students will learn to write proficiently, critically think, lead, communicate, and more while attending.
These schools may also align with other factors you’re looking for in a college. For example:
- Liberal arts colleges tend to be smaller, which is great for students who don’t want a sprawling campus and prefer smaller student to faculty rations.
- They’re more likely to have a larger undergraduate student body or even only award Bachelor’s degrees.
- Liberal arts colleges often offer generous aid packages, such as scholarships and grants, that don’t need to be paid back. This helps with affordability.
- Liberal arts schools cover a wide range of majors, minors, and programs, and they may also offer degrees that don’t fall under the liberal arts umbrella.
Interested in any of these top colleges? Check out College Raptor’s free match tool to see if they’re a good fit for you!
Methodology
Colleges are ranked based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, endowment per student, and other data as reported via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the most recently available enrollment year. Some colleges may have been excluded from rankings based on certain criteria, including specialization and classification. Learn about our full methodology.
