The epitome of the term “well-rounded” is a liberal arts education. 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.
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.
Using data such as graduation rates and first year retention rates, we’ve put together a list of the top 25 best liberal arts colleges in the country for 2024.
Top 25 Best Liberal Arts Colleges | 2024
Pomona College receives around 11,600 applications and accepts 7% of them. The four commonly chosen majors are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Computer Science, 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
1,764
Although it was originally founded as a men’s college in 1793, the school is composed of 48% and 52% women. It was created out of the funds of Ephraim Williams, who died in the French and Indian War. The college gets just under 12,500 applications each year and accepts 9% of students.
Location
Williamstown, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,224
With an acceptance rate of 9%, Amherst College is a fairly selective school. A majority of their first-year students come from Massachusetts, New York, and California. 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
1,971
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. 54% of students receive institutional grant aid to attend, $51,790 on average.
Location
Swarthmore, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,651
Bowdoin College is a very selective school with an acceptance rate of 9%. 89% of students will graduate within four years, and 94% within six. With a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, the college also has a 97% first year retention rate. Bowdoin College offers 34 different majors, including joint Engineering programs with Columbia, Dartmouth, Caltech, and the University of Maine.
Location
Brunswick, ME
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,951
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 has a 96% first year retention rate and an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Location
Lexington, VA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,238
Claremont McKenna College, which has a 13.3% acceptance rate and 81% four-year graduation rate today, 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 an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, 98% of students will stay after their freshman year.
Location
Claremont, CA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,422
Harvey Mudd College offers programs only related to Science and Engineering. It has an 10% acceptance rate, 98% first year retention rate, and a 9:1 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
905
Wellesley College is a private women’s liberal arts college going back to 1870. It is the largest out of all women’s colleges and has seen famous alumni including Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, and Katharine Lee Bates. Economics is the most commonly chosen major, but other popular choices include Biology, Computer and Information Sciences, and Research and Experimental Psychology.
Location
Wellesley, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,461
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
3,043
With 57 areas of study, a majority of Hamilton students opt for Economics as their major, but Mathematics, Research and Experimental Psychology, and Political Science and Government 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
2,055
The first operating college or university in Vermont was Middlebury College, 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 13.3%.
Location
Middlebury, CT
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,937
Vassar offers 50 majors with the most popular being Biology and Biological Sciences, Economics, and Political Science. The school has an acceptance rate of 20.1%. A few people who have graduated or attended Vassar include Anne Hathaway, Jane Fonda, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Anthony Bourdain.
Location
Poughkeepsie, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,516
A smaller school, Colby College is very selective with only a 9% acceptance rate, boasts a strong student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1, and has a 95% first year retention rate. 81% of students will go on to graduate within 4 years, and 87% within six. Political Science and Government and Econometrics and Quantitative Economics are the two most popular majors.
Location
Waterville, ME
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,262
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 more, and 64% of students receive institutional grant aid. 18% of applicants are accepted to Davidson which has a 95% first year retention rate.
Location
Davidson, NC
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,973
Part of the Midwest Conference, the most popular sports at Carleton College include football, basketball, baseball, and cross country/track, soccer, and swimming and diving. They’re known as the Knights and wear blue and maize for school colors. Biology is a top major, with Computer Science, International Relations and Affairs, and Research and Mathematics also being popular choices.
Location
Northfield, MN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,044
The two most popular majors at Grinnell College are Computer Science and Biology/Biological Sciences. 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, diving, golf, and soccer. They currently have exactly 400 athletes and their unofficial mascot is a squirrel.
Location
Grinnell, IA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,748
Wesleyan University’s top majors include Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Psychology, English, 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
3,581
Located just 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 no cost. Students enjoy a cozy 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 95% first year retention rate. Notable alumni include Julia Child, Gloria Steinman, and Sylvia Plath.
Location
Northampton, MA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,924
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. 99.6% of the 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
3,176
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
1,420
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. Highly selective, Bates College only accepts 17.5% of applicants. The school has a 92% first year retention rate, 88% four year graduation rate, and a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Location
Lewiston, ME
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,821
“Verbum Vitae et Lumen Scientiae” or “Word of Life and the Light of Knowledge” is the motto of the University of Richmond. About 29% of applying students are accepted. 81.4% of the student body are undergraduates, the remaining 18.6% are graduate students. The school has an interesting mascot - WebstUR the Spider.
Location
Richmond, VA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,890
The College of the Holy Cross has a 43.1% acceptance rate, 96% first year retention rate, and an impressive 90% 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
3,029
“Scientia et disciplina'' is the Latin motto of Colorado College which means “knowledge and skill.” Today, the school has over 80 majors and sits on a 90 acre campus. The college is highly selective – only 14.4% of applicants will receive acceptance letters. The master’s degree is the highest level of education offered by Colorado College.
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,266
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, more intimate classes. They’re also more likely to have a larger undergraduate student body or even only award Bachelor’s degrees. When it comes to affording your education, liberal arts colleges are likely to offer generous aid packages, such as scholarships and grants, that don’t need to be paid back.
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 best liberal arts 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.
