Liberal Arts Colleges

215 liberal arts colleges. The list is Carnegie baccalaureate colleges with an arts and sciences focus (code 21). It is not a hand-picked honors group.

College

Students

Admission

Type

Oakwood UniversityHuntsville, Alabama1,15345%Private Hendrix CollegeConway, Arkansas1,10056%Private Lyon CollegeBatesville, Arkansas64863%Private Ouachita Baptist UniversityArkadelphia, Arkansas1,60268%Private American Jewish UniversityLos Angeles, California60—Private Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont, California1,38810%Private Harvey Mudd CollegeClaremont, California92113%Private Occidental CollegeLos Angeles, California1,87744%Private Pitzer CollegeClaremont, California1,22725%Private Pomona CollegeClaremont, California1,6667%Private Providence Christian CollegePasadena, California168100%Private Scripps CollegeClaremont, California1,11338%Private Simpson UniversityRedding, California80986%Private Soka University of AmericaAliso Viejo, California48443%Private Thomas Aquinas CollegeSanta Paula, California56683%Private University of the WestRosemead, California32100%Private Westmont CollegeSanta Barbara, California1,30277%Private Whittier CollegeWhittier, California76481%Private Colorado CollegeColorado Springs, Colorado2,01418%Private Charter Oak State CollegeNew Britain, Connecticut1,821—Public Connecticut CollegeNew London, Connecticut1,93737%Private Trinity CollegeHartford, Connecticut2,14629%Private Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, Connecticut3,06716%Private Ave Maria UniversityAve Maria, Florida1,29841%Private Bethune-Cookman UniversityDaytona Beach, Florida2,73288%Private Eckerd CollegeSaint Petersburg, Florida1,88876%Private New College of FloridaSarasota, Florida84373%Public Agnes Scott CollegeDecatur, Georgia83662%Private Beulah Heights UniversityAtlanta, Georgia138—Private Covenant CollegeLookout Mountain, Georgia93987%Private Morehouse CollegeAtlanta, Georgia2,84444%Private Oglethorpe UniversityAtlanta, Georgia1,35288%Private Paine CollegeAugusta, Georgia38895%Private Spelman CollegeAtlanta, Georgia3,41425%Private Young Harris CollegeYoung Harris, Georgia75563%Private Pacific Islands UniversityMangilao, Guam61100%Private Central CollegePella, Iowa1,07086%Private Coe CollegeCedar Rapids, Iowa1,16464%Private Cornell CollegeMount Vernon, Iowa1,08680%Private Divine Word CollegeEpworth, Iowa64—Private Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, Iowa1,72915%Private Luther CollegeDecorah, Iowa1,37972%Private Wartburg CollegeWaverly, Iowa1,45276%Private New Saint Andrews CollegeMoscow, Idaho30584%Private Augustana CollegeRock Island, Illinois2,49063%Private East-West UniversityChicago, Illinois468—Private Hebrew Theological CollegeSkokie, Illinois9057%Private Illinois CollegeJacksonville, Illinois93078%Private Knox CollegeGalesburg, Illinois1,12771%Private Lake Forest CollegeLake Forest, Illinois1,81357%Private Monmouth CollegeMonmouth, Illinois70291%Private Principia CollegeElsah, Illinois339—Private Wheaton CollegeWheaton, Illinois2,12187%Private DePauw UniversityGreencastle, Indiana1,90557%Private Earlham CollegeRichmond, Indiana67073%Private Franklin CollegeFranklin, Indiana90070%Private Hanover CollegeHanover, Indiana1,03184%Private Holy Cross CollegeNotre Dame, Indiana63975%Private Saint Mary's CollegeNotre Dame, Indiana1,45876%Private Wabash CollegeCrawfordsville, Indiana86663%Private Berea CollegeBerea, Kentucky1,51319%Private Centre CollegeDanville, Kentucky1,40054%Private Georgetown CollegeGeorgetown, Kentucky1,09791%Private Kentucky Mountain Bible CollegeJackson, Kentucky69100%Private Simmons College of KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky481100%Private Transylvania UniversityLexington, Kentucky1,00587%Private Centenary College of LouisianaShreveport, Louisiana68556%Private Dillard UniversityNew Orleans, Louisiana1,06342%Private Amherst CollegeAmherst, Massachusetts1,9119%Private College of the Holy CrossWorcester, Massachusetts3,10618%Private Emmanuel CollegeBoston, Massachusetts1,85476%Private Gordon CollegeWenham, Massachusetts1,27869%Private Hampshire CollegeAmherst, Massachusetts83975%Private Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of TheologyBrookline, Massachusetts6480%Private Massachusetts College of Liberal ArtsNorth Adams, Massachusetts71390%Public Mount Holyoke CollegeSouth Hadley, Massachusetts2,16936%Private Smith CollegeNorthampton, Massachusetts2,54421%Private Stonehill CollegeEaston, Massachusetts2,52866%Private Wellesley CollegeWellesley, Massachusetts2,30014%Private Wheaton College (Massachusetts)Norton, Massachusetts1,77368%Private Williams CollegeWilliamstown, Massachusetts2,0768%Private Goucher CollegeBaltimore, Maryland96478%Private St. John's CollegeAnnapolis, Maryland47155%Private St. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Mary's City, Maryland1,60369%Public United States Naval AcademyAnnapolis, Maryland4,4749%Public Washington CollegeChestertown, Maryland89157%Private Bates CollegeLewiston, Maine1,76013%Private Bowdoin CollegeBrunswick, Maine1,8737%Private Colby CollegeWaterville, Maine2,4077%Private College of the AtlanticBar Harbor, Maine35370%Private Albion CollegeAlbion, Michigan1,30081%Private Aquinas CollegeGrand Rapids, Michigan1,08390%Private Hillsdale CollegeHillsdale, Michigan1,57321%Private Hope CollegeHolland, Michigan3,28879%Private Kalamazoo CollegeKalamazoo, Michigan1,14975%Private Sacred Heart Major SeminaryDetroit, Michigan178100%Private Bethany Lutheran CollegeMankato, Minnesota66939%Private Carleton CollegeNorthfield, Minnesota2,08620%Private College of Saint BenedictSaint Joseph, Minnesota1,37092%Private Concordia College at MoorheadMoorhead, Minnesota1,82963%Private Gustavus Adolphus CollegeSaint Peter, Minnesota1,87861%Private Macalester CollegeSaint Paul, Minnesota2,13129%Private Saint Johns UniversityCollegeville, Minnesota1,39591%Private St Olaf CollegeNorthfield, Minnesota3,09348%Private University of Minnesota-MorrisMorris, Minnesota93675%Public Westminster CollegeFulton, Missouri63879%Private Millsaps CollegeJackson, Mississippi54943%Private Rust CollegeHolly Springs, Mississippi46749%Private Tougaloo CollegeTougaloo, Mississippi63960%Private Bennett CollegeGreensboro, North Carolina17851%Private Davidson CollegeDavidson, North Carolina1,86713%Private Guilford CollegeGreensboro, North Carolina1,00180%Private Johnson C Smith UniversityCharlotte, North Carolina1,24445%Private Meredith CollegeRaleigh, North Carolina1,18874%Private Salem CollegeWinston-Salem, North Carolina42377%Private University of North Carolina AshevilleAsheville, North Carolina2,91092%Public Warren Wilson CollegeSwannanoa, North Carolina70771%Private Saint Anselm CollegeManchester, New Hampshire2,08778%Private Thomas More College of Liberal ArtsMerrimack, New Hampshire97—Private University of New Hampshire at ManchesterManchester, New Hampshire44381%Public Bloomfield College of Montclair State UniversityBloomfield, New Jersey78170%Public Drew UniversityMadison, New Jersey1,53368%Private Pillar CollegeNewark, New Jersey498—Private St. John's CollegeSanta Fe, New Mexico36853%Private Bard CollegeAnnandale-On-Hudson, New York2,41452%Private Barnard CollegeNew York, New York3,2649%Private Colgate UniversityHamilton, New York3,18014%Private CUNY Medgar Evers CollegeBrooklyn, New York3,23386%Public Hamilton CollegeClinton, New York2,03014%Private Hartwick CollegeOneonta, New York1,08770%Private Hobart William Smith CollegesGeneva, New York1,78664%Private Houghton UniversityHoughton, New York75389%Private Marymount Manhattan CollegeNew York, New York1,57783%Private Sarah Lawrence CollegeBronxville, New York1,53062%Private Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, New York2,69421%Private St Lawrence UniversityCanton, New York1,91854%Private SUNY at Purchase CollegePurchase, New York3,19774%Public Union CollegeSchenectady, New York2,04644%Private United States Military AcademyWest Point, New York4,40812%Public Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, New York2,44419%Private Antioch CollegeYellow Springs, Ohio12189%Private Denison UniversityGranville, Ohio2,38017%Private Kenyon CollegeGambier, Ohio1,73231%Private Oberlin CollegeOberlin, Ohio2,88734%Private Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelaware, Ohio1,51656%Private Pontifical College JosephinumColumbus, Ohio6096%Private The College of WoosterWooster, Ohio1,73060%Private Wittenberg UniversitySpringfield, Ohio1,21572%Private Randall UniversityMoore, Oklahoma26758%Private University of Science and Arts of OklahomaChickasha, Oklahoma94166%Public Lewis & Clark CollegePortland, Oregon2,12078%Private Linfield UniversityMcMinnville, Oregon1,62185%Private Reed CollegePortland, Oregon1,32025%Private Willamette UniversitySalem, Oregon1,59277%Private Albright CollegeReading, Pennsylvania1,21776%Private Allegheny CollegeMeadville, Pennsylvania1,15655%Private Bryn Athyn College of the New ChurchBryn Athyn, Pennsylvania24483%Private Bryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr, Pennsylvania1,35929%Private Bucknell UniversityLewisburg, Pennsylvania3,87629%Private Cheyney University of PennsylvaniaCheyney, Pennsylvania617—Public Dickinson CollegeCarlisle, Pennsylvania2,27342%Private Franklin and Marshall CollegeLancaster, Pennsylvania1,79928%Private Gettysburg CollegeGettysburg, Pennsylvania2,09939%Private Haverford CollegeHaverford, Pennsylvania1,43012%Private Juniata CollegeHuntingdon, Pennsylvania1,19179%Private Lafayette CollegeEaston, Pennsylvania2,75731%Private Lycoming CollegeWilliamsport, Pennsylvania99674%Private Muhlenberg CollegeAllentown, Pennsylvania1,72772%Private Saint Vincent CollegeLatrobe, Pennsylvania1,25962%Private Susquehanna UniversitySelinsgrove, Pennsylvania2,16381%Private Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore, Pennsylvania1,6137%Private University of Pittsburgh-GreensburgGreensburg, Pennsylvania1,30595%Public Ursinus CollegeCollegeville, Pennsylvania1,49192%Private Washington & Jefferson CollegeWashington, Pennsylvania1,29581%Private Westminster CollegeNew Wilmington, Pennsylvania1,04193%Private University of Puerto Rico at CayeyCayey, Puerto Rico2,06953%Public Allen UniversityColumbia, South Carolina57673%Private Claflin UniversityOrangeburg, South Carolina1,70665%Private Furman UniversityGreenville, South Carolina2,37943%Private Presbyterian CollegeClinton, South Carolina85268%Private Wofford CollegeSpartanburg, South Carolina1,81652%Private Fisk UniversityNashville, Tennessee1,03537%Private Lane CollegeJackson, Tennessee736—Private Maryville CollegeMaryville, Tennessee1,00561%Private Rhodes CollegeMemphis, Tennessee1,83650%Private The University of the SouthSewanee, Tennessee1,60757%Private Austin CollegeSherman, Texas1,16548%Private Southwestern UniversityGeorgetown, Texas1,44043%Private Trinity UniversitySan Antonio, Texas2,50526%Private Bridgewater CollegeBridgewater, Virginia1,40092%Private Hampden-Sydney CollegeHampden-Sydney, Virginia94641%Private Hollins UniversityRoanoke, Virginia66568%Private Patrick Henry CollegePurcellville, Virginia39577%Private Randolph CollegeLynchburg, Virginia65894%Private Randolph-Macon CollegeAshland, Virginia1,63987%Private Roanoke CollegeSalem, Virginia1,76783%Private Southern Virginia UniversityBuena Vista, Virginia93696%Private Sweet Briar CollegeSweet Briar, Virginia44376%Private University of Mary WashingtonFredericksburg, Virginia3,56680%Public University of RichmondUniversity of Richmond, Virginia2,98022%Private University of Virginia's College at WiseWise, Virginia1,10129%Public Virginia Military InstituteLexington, Virginia1,52771%Public Virginia Union UniversityRichmond, Virginia1,20398%Private Virginia Wesleyan UniversityVirginia Beach, Virginia1,25673%Private Washington and Lee UniversityLexington, Virginia1,88114%Private Bennington CollegeBennington, Vermont78045%Private Middlebury CollegeMiddlebury, Vermont2,73811%Private Saint Michael's CollegeColchester, Vermont1,09285%Private University of Puget SoundTacoma, Washington1,59472%Private Whitman CollegeWalla Walla, Washington1,53138%Private Beloit CollegeBeloit, Wisconsin92663%Private Lawrence UniversityAppleton, Wisconsin1,39664%Private Ripon CollegeRipon, Wisconsin68880%Private Saint Norbert CollegeDe Pere, Wisconsin1,66286%Private Bethany CollegeBethany, West Virginia61459%Private

Membership is Carnegie Basic classification code 21, baccalaureate colleges with an arts and sciences focus. Enrollment and admission rates come from the College Scorecard.

Guide

How this liberal arts list is defined

Liberal arts on this page means Carnegie code 21, baccalaureate colleges in arts and sciences. Williams College is in that class, and so are many of the colleges readers expect. A research university is not in the class, even when it has an excellent undergraduate college inside it.

The code also includes campuses people do not picture as a New England liberal arts college. West Point and the Naval Academy are code 21, so they are on this list. The Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy have a different code and are not. The table sorts by state.

Schools: 215
States: 39
Median admit rate: 64%; 205 report a rate
Median earnings: $58,391; 10 years after entry

Code 21, not a magazine list

The page does not follow a magazine's liberal arts ranking, and it does not follow the Annapolis Group or any other membership club. The Carnegie code is public and checkable. If the code is 21, the campus is listed.

Williams is a clean example of the class readers mean. The service academies are the example that shows the code is wider than that picture. Both belong, because the page promised the code rather than the picture.

Research universities stay in their own class

Cornell University is a research university, code 15, so it is not on this page. Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, is code 21, so it is on this page. The shared name is why both pages have to be careful.

A university that describes its curriculum as the liberal arts stays off when its Carnegie code is doctoral or a different baccalaureate code. The sentence in the viewbook is not the field.

Size is usually small, and not always

Most of these colleges have smaller undergraduate bodies than a state research university. The enrollment section names the largest ones so you can see the top of the range. A larger count does not push a college out of code 21.

Many of these colleges play Division III. Some do not. Athletics division is not the rule. Use the Division III page when that is the question, and expect a large overlap rather than a perfect match.

What the label does not promise

Code 21 does not promise a particular seminar size, a particular core curriculum, or a residential campus. Those are real features of many of these colleges. They are not in the classification field, so this page does not pretend to filter on them.

Use R1 or R2 when you want research universities. Use this page when you want the baccalaureate arts and sciences class. A student choosing between the two is choosing between classifications, not between two ranks of the same list.

Where the schools are

These schools sit in 39 states. The largest groups are Pennsylvania (21), New York (16), Virginia (16), California (14), and Massachusetts (13). The rest of the roll is spread across the other states in the table.

Who runs them

By reported control, 196 are private nonprofit and 19 are public. A blank control stays out of that split.

Predominant degree is the credential the campus awards most often. On this list it is a bachelor's degree at 211 schools, an associate degree at 2 schools, and a certificate at 2 schools. A campus can still award other credentials.

How large they are

The largest undergraduate enrollments on this list are United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, with 4,474 undergraduates, United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, with 4,408 undergraduates, Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, with 3,876 undergraduates, University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with 3,566 undergraduates, and Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, with 3,414 undergraduates. Enrollment is the undergraduate figure. It is not a ranking, and it leaves out graduate students.

1 school is reported as online-only. The others are not marked that way in this file.

Admission

205 of 215 schools report an admission rate. The median of those rates is 64%. Schools with no reported rate stay out of the median. A missing rate is not an open door, and it is not a closed one.

The lowest reported admission rates on this list are Pomona College in Claremont, California, at 7%, Colby College in Waterville, Maine, at 7%, and Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, at 7%. A lower rate is harder entry. It is not a score for the school.

The highest reported admission rates on this list are Providence Christian College in Pasadena, California, at 100%, University of the West in Rosemead, California, at 100%, and Pacific Islands University in Mangilao, Guam, at 100%.

What they charge

Among 17 public colleges that report an in-state sticker price, the median is $11,780. 2 other public colleges on the list do not report one. Among 195 private colleges that report a sticker price, the median is $50,850. 1 other private colleges on the list do not report one.

Sticker price is not net price. Grants, waivers, and a service commitment can move the bill by a wide margin. Open a school for the net-price figures.

Earnings and graduation

Among 204 schools that report earnings, the median of those school-level medians is $58,391. The clock starts at entry, not at graduation. The highest reported medians on this list are Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California, at $138,687, Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California, at $104,736, and Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, at $94,810.

Among 215 schools that report a graduation rate, the median rate is 69%. A blank rate is left out. It is not treated as zero.

Athletics in this file

12 report NCAA Division I athletics and 11 play FCS football. A blank athletics field means this file has no division for that campus. It does not prove the campus has no team.

Also on other lists

Some of these schools also meet the rule for another list on this site. The overlap is a second flag or a second classification. It is not a second ranking.

17 are also on HBCU colleges. 13 are also on Hispanic-serving institutions. 15 are also on women's colleges. 5 are also on men's colleges.

How these figures work

Admission rate, enrollment, sticker price, earnings, and graduation rate all come from the College Scorecard. Earnings are the median 10 years after a student entered the school. Tuition for a public college is the in-state sticker price. Tuition for a private college is the published sticker price. None of these is net price after aid.

A blank field stays blank. This page does not turn a blank admission rate into an open door, a blank fee into a free application, or a blank earnings figure into zero. The table above is membership under the rule in this guide. Sort order is not a quality ranking.

How this liberal arts list is defined

Code 21, not a magazine list

Research universities stay in their own class

Size is usually small, and not always

What the label does not promise

Where the schools are

Who runs them

How large they are

Admission

What they charge

Earnings and graduation

Athletics in this file

Also on other lists

How these figures work

Related lists