What Are The Top 3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in the U.S.?

*based on U.S. News Rankings for National Liberal Arts Colleges 2021

A liberal arts college is an institution of higher learning that caters toward undergraduates, often with an emphasis on the humanities. Unlike research universities, lib arts colleges do not often offer graduate programs. So, at one of the best lib arts colleges, you can expect more attention from professors and smaller classes. You may also find more research opportunities as an undergraduate.

Liberal arts colleges tend to be smaller than research universities. Many lib arts colleges are also located in less urban settings. Specifically, some of the best lib arts colleges include Williams, Swarthmore, and Amherst. All of these schools offer a small-town feel and an undergraduate focus.

The philosophy of lib arts colleges is to prepare students for life, not just a career—teaching them how to think, learn, communicate, and make connections between different fields. Interest in a liberal arts education has increased in the last decade as students and employers recognize that liberal arts studies provide students with skills that are in demand and pave the way for a sustained, well-paying career. Below is a ranked list of the most well-regarded liberal arts colleges in the U.S. 


#1. Williams College

? National Liberal Arts Colleges: #1

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? Best Value Schools: #1

? Best Undergraduate Teaching: #2

Highlights: 

  • Williams College – located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, at the foot of Mount Greylock in the Berkshires – is one of the oldest colleges in the country. 
  • Williams College admissions are most selective, with an acceptance rate of 13%. Half the applicants admitted to Williams College have an SAT score between 1410 and 1550 or an ACT score of 32 and 35.
  • The most popular majors at Williams College include Econometrics and Quantitative Economics; English Language and Literature, General; Political Science and Government, General; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; and History, General. 
  • The student-faculty ratio at Williams College is 7:1, and the school has 75.1% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. 
  • At Williams College, 52% of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid, and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $56,788.

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#2. Amherst College

? National Liberal Arts Colleges: #2

? Best Value Schools: #3

? Best Undergraduate Teaching: #4

Highlights: 

  • Amherst College, located in Amherst, Massachusetts, is known for its rigorous academic climate. Amherst is a member of the Five Colleges consortium, which also includes Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
  • Amherst College admissions are most selective with an acceptance rate of 11%. Half the applicants admitted to Amherst College have an SAT score between 1410 and 1550 or an ACT score of 31 and 34. 
  • The most popular majors at Amherst College include Mathematics, General; Econometrics and Quantitative Economics; Research and Experimental Psychology, Other; Computer Science; and English Language and Literature, General.
  • At Amherst College, 57% of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid, and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $57,760.

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#3. Swarthmore College

? National Liberal Arts Colleges: #3

? Best Value Schools: #4

? Best Undergraduate Teaching: #6

Highlights: 

  • Swarthmore College is located 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia – far enough away to have a 425-acre campus that is designated as an arboretum.
  • Swarthmore College admissions are most selective with an acceptance rate of 9%. Half the applicants admitted to Swarthmore College have an SAT score between 1380 and 1540 or an ACT score of 31 and 35.
  • The most popular majors at Swarthmore College include Social Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Mathematics and Statistics; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; and Psychology. 
  • At Swarthmore College, 54% of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid, and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $54,217.

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