National Liberal Arts College Rankings
National Liberal Arts College Methodology
Among the National Liberal Arts Colleges are schools like Washington and Lee University and Davidson College, which emphasize undergraduate education and award at least half of their degrees in the liberal arts fields of study.
- Tuition and fees:
- $43,190 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 2,029
- Setting:
- rural
Williamstown, MA
Williams College, a private institution in Williamstown, Mass., has three undergraduate academic branches: humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Classes at Williams are small and use an Oxford-style teaching method that relies heavily on student participation.
- Tuition and fees:
- $42,898 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 1,795
- Setting:
- rural
Amherst, MA
Amherst College, a private school in Amherst, Mass., is known for its rigorous academic climate. Because Amherst is a member of the Five Colleges consortium, students can also take courses at Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts--Amherst.
- Tuition and fees:
- $41,150 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 1,524
- Setting:
- suburban
Swarthmore, PA
About 10 miles outside of Philadelphia, Penn. is Swarthmore College, a private liberal arts institution that also offers a unique engineering degree program. Because Swarthmore is part of the Tri-College Consortium, students can also take courses at nearby Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College.
- Tuition and fees:
- $39,883 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 1,560
- Setting:
- suburban
Claremont, CA
Pomona College is located in Claremont, Calif., about 35 miles away from downtown Los Angeles. Students can take advantage of this private institution's unique location during the annual Ski Beach Day, a morning of skiing at a local resort before an afternoon on a beach in Orange County.
- Comprehensive fee:
- $53,800 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 2,532
- Setting:
- rural
Middlebury, VT
Among the academic focuses at Middlebury College are programs in environmental studies, international studies, the sciences, and literature. The private institution is located in Middlebury, Vt. in a valley between the Green Mountains and the Adirondack Mountains.
- Tuition and fees:
- $42,816 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 1,762
- Setting:
- suburban
Brunswick, ME
Submitting SAT and ACT scores is optional for admission to Bowdoin College, a private institution located in the coastal New England town of Brunswick, Maine. The college is home to many organizations including the Peucinian Society, one of the oldest literary and intellectual societies in the country.
- Tuition and fees:
- $42,942 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 2,020
- Setting:
- rural
Northfield, MN
Carleton College is a private school in the historic river town of Northfield, Minn. Carls, as its students are known, have about 35 majors to choose from and more than 170 organizations to check out.
- Tuition and fees:
- $40,660 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 2,411
- Setting:
- suburban
Wellesley, MA
Wellesley is a private liberal arts college for women about 10 miles from Boston in Wellesley, Mass. Students at Wellesley have more than 1,000 courses and more than 50 majors to choose from and can also cross-register for classes at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- Tuition and fees:
- $42,240 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 1,261
- Setting:
- suburban
Claremont, CA
Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, Calif. is a member of The Claremont Colleges, which include Scripps College, Pomona College, Harvey Mudd College, and Pitzer College. Claremont McKenna students can take classes, play sports, and attend social functions at the other member schools.
- Tuition and fees:
- $42,208 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 1,177
- Setting:
- suburban
Haverford, PA
About 10 miles outside Philadelphia is Haverford College, a private liberal arts school in Haverford, Pa. Students have more than 150 organizations and sports teams to get involved in, including the only varsity cricket team in the country.
