National Liberal Arts College Rankings
National Liberal Arts College Methodology
Among the National Liberal Arts Colleges are schools like Amherst College and Middlebury College, which emphasize undergraduate education and award at least half of their degrees in the liberal arts fields of study.
To see full rankings, SAT/ACT scores, scholarship and grant information, graduation rates, and more, sign up for the U.S. News College Compass!
- Tuition and fees:
- $28,146 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 438
- Setting:
- suburban
Aliso Viejo, CA
Soka University of America was established in 1987 as a private institution. Soka University of America follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $35,000 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,309
- Setting:
- city
Danville, KY
A private institution, Centre College was founded in 1819. Centre College offers a Greek system, where 37.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 39.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- Tuition and fees:
- $38,092 (2012-13)
- Setting:
- urban
Memphis, TN
Founded in 1848, Rhodes College is a private institution. Rhodes College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $38,750 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,352
- Setting:
- rural
Greencastle, IN
DePauw University is a private institution that was founded in 1837. The school has 63.1 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at DePauw University is 10:1.
- Tuition and fees:
- $39,560 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 3,179
- Setting:
- rural
Northfield, MN
St. Olaf College was established in 1874 as a private institution. St. Olaf College follows a 4-1-4-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $40,023 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,496
- Setting:
- city
Appleton, WI
Lawrence University is comprised of both a liberal arts college and a conservatory of music, which about one fourth of all students attend. All students must live in university housing.
- Tuition and fees:
- $44,400 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,361
- Setting:
- rural
Canton, NY
St. Lawrence University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,361, with a gender distribution of 46.2 percent male students and 53.8 percent female students. At this school, 97.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 3.0 percent of students live off campus.
- Tuition and fees:
- $33,950 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 910
- Setting:
- city
Crawfordsville, IN
Founded in 1832, Wabash College is a private institution. Wabash College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $30,120 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,433
- Setting:
- suburban
Wheaton, IL
Wheaton College is a private institution that was founded in 1860. The school has 58.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Wheaton College is 12:1.
- Tuition and fees:
- $44,438 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,234
- Setting:
- city
Geneva, NY
Hobart and William Smith Colleges was established in 1822 as a private institution. Hobart and William Smith Colleges follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $34,410 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,347
- Setting:
- city
Georgetown, TX
A private institution, Southwestern University was founded in 1840. Southwestern University offers a Greek system, where 28.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 39.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- Tuition and fees:
- $43,712 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,622
- Setting:
- suburban
Norton, MA
Wheaton College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,622, with a gender distribution of 36.4 percent male students and 63.6 percent female students. At this school, 95.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 5.0 percent of students live off campus.
- Tuition and fees:
- $32,825 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,329
- Setting:
- city
Sherman, TX
A small, private school in Sherman, Texas, Austin College pairs each new student with a faculty mentor. Austin College students enroll in just one class during the month of January and study it in depth on or off campus.
- Tuition and fees:
- $38,474 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,385
- Setting:
- city
Beloit, WI
Beloit College is a private institution that was founded in 1846. The school has 70.1 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Beloit College is 12:1.
- Tuition and fees:
- $39,810 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,033
- Setting:
- suburban
Wooster, OH
College of Wooster was established in 1866 as a private institution. College of Wooster follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $40,774 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,099
- Setting:
- city
Salem, OR
A private institution, Willamette University was founded in 1842. Willamette University offers a Greek system, where 16.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 15.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- Tuition and fees:
- $34,555 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,536
- Setting:
- city
Spartanburg, SC
Wofford College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,536, with a gender distribution of 51.2 percent male students and 48.8 percent female students. At this school, 93.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 7.0 percent of students live off campus.
- Tuition and fees:
- $37,810 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,403
- Setting:
- city
Kalamazoo, MI
Kalamazoo College is a private liberal arts school in southwest Michigan. Students at Kalamazoo can join more than 80 campus clubs and drive about 35 miles to the beaches of Lake Michigan.
- Tuition and fees:
- $23,794 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,170
- Setting:
- urban
Atlanta, GA
Spelman College is a private institution that was founded in 1881. The school has 63.8 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Spelman College is 11:1.
- Tuition and fees:
- $35,900 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,415
- Setting:
- suburban
Conway, AR
Hendrix College is a small liberal arts school in Conway, Ark. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
- Tuition and fees:
- $37,954 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,090
- Setting:
- suburban
Bloomington, IL
A private institution, Illinois Wesleyan University was founded in 1850. Illinois Wesleyan University offers a Greek system, where 32.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 35.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- Tuition and fees:
- $40,330 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,141
- Setting:
- urban
Portland, OR
Lewis & Clark College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,141, with a gender distribution of 42.0 percent male students and 58.0 percent female students. At this school, 62.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 38.0 percent of students live off campus.
- Tuition and fees:
- $41,510 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,483
- Setting:
- suburban
Allentown, PA
Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg College is a private institution. Muhlenberg College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $13,901 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $33,811 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,605
- Setting:
- city
Lexington, VA
Virginia Military Institute is a public institution that was founded in 1839. The school has 66.7 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Virginia Military Institute is 12:1.
- Tuition and fees:
- $33,461 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 871
- Setting:
- urban
Decatur, GA
Agnes Scott College was established in 1889 as a private institution. Agnes Scott College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $980 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,661
- Setting:
- rural
- Tuition and fees:
- $36,492 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,420
- Setting:
- city
Galesburg, IL
Knox College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,420, with a gender distribution of 42.5 percent male students and 57.5 percent female students. At this school, 85.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 15.0 percent of students live off campus.
- Tuition and fees:
- $42,800 (2011-12)
- Setting:
- city
Portland, OR
Founded in 1911, Reed College is a private institution. Reed College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $35,486 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,890
- Setting:
- rural
Collegeville, MN
St. John's University is a private institution that was founded in 1857. The school has 55.3 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at St. John's University is 11:1.
- Tuition and fees:
- $29,865 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,029
- Setting:
- city
Lexington, KY
Transylvania University was established in 1780 as a private institution. Transylvania University follows a other-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $43,270 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,776
- Setting:
- suburban
Collegeville, PA
Ursinus College (UC) is a private, selective school located in the Philadelphia suburb of Collegeville, Pa. Famous author J.D. Salinger attended UC for about a semester before eventually writing The Catcher in the Rye, and scientist Gerald Edelman graduated to later win a Nobel Prize for his studies of the immune system.
- Tuition and fees:
- $37,610 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,123
- Setting:
- suburban
Meadville, PA
At Allegheny College in northwest Pennsylvania, students can choose from more than 30 majors and must complete and present a capstone project their senior year. William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, attended Allegheny College in the 1800s, but legend has it that he was expelled for shoving a cow into the school’s bell tower.
- Tuition and fees:
- $40,020 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,063
- Setting:
- city
Richmond, IN
A Quaker school in Richmond, Ind., Earlam College offers unique academic opportunities in environmental studies and Japanese culture. Notable Earlham alumni include actor Michael C. Hall, who stars in the television show Dexter.
- Tuition and fees:
- $23,600 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 358
- Setting:
- rural
Santa Paula, CA
Thomas Aquinas College is a private institution that was founded in 1971. The school has 100.0 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Thomas Aquinas College is 11:1.
- Tuition and fees:
- $37,606 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,471
- Setting:
- rural
St. Peter, MN
Gustavus Adolphus College was established in 1862 as a private institution. Gustavus Adolphus College follows a 4-1-4-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $40,250 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,651
- Setting:
- suburban
Tacoma, WA
A private institution, University of Puget Sound was founded in 1888. University of Puget Sound offers a Greek system, where 26.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 22.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $6,763 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $29,792 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 845
- Setting:
- suburban
Sarasota, FL
New College of Florida has a total undergraduate enrollment of 845, with a gender distribution of 38.6 percent male students and 61.4 percent female students. At this school, 78.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 22.0 percent of students live off campus.
- Tuition and fees:
- $33,280 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,510
- Setting:
- suburban
Notre Dame, IN
Founded in 1844, St. Mary's College is a private institution. St. Mary's College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $15,013 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $27,573 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,962
- Setting:
- rural
St. Mary's City, MD
St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public institution that was founded in 1840. The school has 65.8 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at St. Mary's College of Maryland is 12:1.
- Tuition and fees:
- $37,701 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 354
- Setting:
- rural
Bar Harbor, ME
College of the Atlantic was established in 1969 as a private institution. College of the Atlantic follows a trimester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $34,705 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,197
- Setting:
- rural
Mount Vernon, IA
A small school in Iowa, Cornell College utilizes a block schedule. Students attend one course for several hours each weekday for a block of about three weeks.
- Tuition and fees:
- $30,974 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 910
- Setting:
- city
Jackson, MS
Millsaps College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 910, with a gender distribution of 50.8 percent male students and 49.2 percent female students. At this school, 86.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 14.0 percent of students live off campus.
- Tuition and fees:
- $37,510 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,996
- Setting:
- suburban
Colchester, VT
Founded in 1904, St. Michael's College is a private institution. St. Michael's College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $38,310 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,457
- Setting:
- suburban
Washington, PA
Washington and Jefferson College is a private institution that was founded in 1781. The school has 70.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Washington and Jefferson College is 11:1.
- Tuition and fees:
- $37,020 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,337
- Setting:
- suburban
Santa Barbara, CA
Westmont College was established in 1937 as a private institution. Westmont College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $34,614 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,518
- Setting:
- city
Rock Island, IL
Located at the border of Iowa on the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private school in Rock Island, Ill. Students at Augustana can explore several groups and events, including River Readings, which brings literary artists to campus.
- Tuition and fees:
- $36,218 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 2,086
- Setting:
- suburban
St. Joseph, MN
College of St. Benedict has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,086, with 100.0 percent female students. At this school, 80.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 20.0 percent of students live off campus.
- Tuition and fees:
- $21,930 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,457
- Setting:
- rural
Hillsdale, MI
Founded in 1844, Hillsdale College is a private institution. Hillsdale College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
- Tuition and fees:
- $39,944 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,515
- Setting:
- rural
Chestertown, MD
Washington College, located in Chestertown, Md., was the first college chartered after American independence from the British. Students today can get involved in more than 80 clubs on campus or travel to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., which are each about 90 minutes away.
- Tuition and fees:
- $44,220 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 686
- Setting:
- rural
Bennington, VT
Bennington College was established in 1925 as a private institution. Bennington College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered more selective.
