Top Ranked Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities - U.S. News University Directory
Liberal arts colleges, ranked by U.S. News & World Report as National Liberal Arts Colleges, confer only undergraduate degrees. At least half of the degrees awarded at these institutions are in a liberal arts field. Search below to find the top-ranked liberal arts colleges and universities in the nation. To locate bachelor degree programs or online master's degrees in liberal arts be sure to search our listings of accredited degree programs.
Get Matched With Top Liberal Arts Colleges and Programs Are you ready to begin a liberal arts degree or certificate program now? U.S News University Directory can match you with liberal arts programs that meet your criteria in a few simple steps. Learn more now.
#75
Berea, KY
Located in Berea, Kentucky, Berea College is a private liberal arts institution. The school was founded in 1855 as is located on 140 acres of land near the center of town. Unlike most colleges, Berea does not charge tuition; it instead relies on contributions, endowment income and financial aid to cover the cost of teaching students. All students are required to work 10 hours per week at a campus-approved job.
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#75
Galesburg, IL
Knox College, located in Galesburg, Illinois, is a private institution founded in 1837. Students develop competencies in writing, oral presentation, quantitative literacy, information literacy and a second language. The school provides unusual support for students’ independent scholarly and creative work, a senior Honors research program, scores of off-campus study opportunities and internships.
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#75
Portland, OR
Located in Portland, Oregon, Reed College is a private liberal arts institution. The school was founded in 1911 and eschews some traditional college staples like course grades, Greek organizations and varsity sports. Though professors do assign a letter grade for coursework, Reed College students are ultimately evaluated on a pass/no-pass scale.
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#75
Collegeville, MN
St. John's University, located in Collegeville, Minn., is a private institution founded in 1857. Saint John’s and the College of Saint Benedict are leading liberal arts colleges whose unique partnership offers students the educational choices of a large university and the individual attention of a premier small college. Students attend classes and activities together on both campuses.
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#75
Lexington, KY
Transylvania University, located in Lexington, Kentucky, is a private institution founded in 1780. Transylvania offers a high quality liberal arts education through a personal approach to learning characterized by small classes, a caring faculty, and a supportive campus community. Its location in Lexington creates numerous student internship opportunities.
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#75
Collegeville, PA
Ursinus College, founded in 1869, is a private institution about 20 miles from Philadelphia. Students who study at Ursinus have outstanding records of placement into graduate, law and medical schools, and the college is one of 50 nationwide whose seniors can compete for Watson fellowships.
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#82
Meadville, PA
Allegheny College is a private liberal arts institution that was founded in 1815. It is located in Meadville, Pennsylvania on 565 acres of suburban land about 90 miles north of Pittsburgh. There are more than 30 majors available at Allegheny College, and a creative, independent senior project is part of every student’s curriculum.
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#82
Richmond, IN
Diversity is key at Earlham, a private Quaker college in tree-lined Richmond, IN. Earlham recruits students from around the world and is known for programs that focus on the study of Japanese culture and language. Famous alumni include actor Michael C. Hall, star of the television show Dexter.
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#82
Santa Paula, CA
Thomas Aquinas College, located in Santa Paula, Calif., is a private institution founded in 1971. At Thomas Aquinas, there are no majors, no minors, no electives and no specializations. The four-year interdisciplinary course of study makes use of the original writings of the West’s great philosophers, historians, mathematicians, poets, scientists and theologians.
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#85
St. Peter, MN
Gustavus Adolphus College, located in St. Peter, Minn., is a private Lutheran institution founded in 1862. Students receive personal attention in small-sized classes and engage in collaborative research with their professors. The college is fully accredited and known for its academic excellence and strong music, science, writing, athletics, study-abroad, and service-learning programs.
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#85
Tacoma, WA
Located in beautiful Tacoma, WA, the University of Puget Sound offers a small-college residential experience with an emphasis on student-faculty interaction, civics, research and practical experience. Popular majors include Business Administration, Literature and Psychology.
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#87
Sarasota, FL
A public liberal arts institution founded in 2001, New College of Florida is located in Sarasota, Florida. It is situated on 119 suburban acres just a few miles from the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. New College of Florida is one of 11 members of the State University System and is widely considered a national leader in the arts and sciences.
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#87
Notre Dame, IN
St. Mary's College, located in Notre Dame, Indiana, is a private institution founded in 1844. This Catholic college for women is located across the street from Notre Dame University, and many of Notre Dame’s resources and events are open to Saint Mary’s students. Graduates of women’s colleges tend to be remarkable achievers, so alumni excel in all fields – from politics to art to business.
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#87
St. Mary's City, MD
St. Mary's College of Maryland, located in St. Mary’s City, Maryland, is a public institution founded in 1840. As Maryland’s public honors college, St. Mary’s College of Maryland offers an undergraduate, liberal arts education and small-college experience like those found at exceptional private colleges. It features a spectacular waterfront setting in the heart of the Chesapeake Bay region.
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#90
Bar Harbor, ME
Founded in 1969, College of the Atlantic is a private institution in rural Bar Harbor, ME. The college focuses on one undergraduate and one graduate degree, both in Human Ecology. Instead of following established curriculum, students work with faculty to build highly individualized coursework based on personal interests and career goals.
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#90
Mount Vernon, IA
Cornell College, located in Mount Vernon, IA, has a rich history that dates back to 1837. Along with renowned academics, Cornell offers a wide variety of campus clubs; intramural and NCAA Division III sports; and distinct classroom, internships and international learning experiences. Nearly two-thirds of Cornell graduates pursue advanced degrees.
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#90
Jackson, MS
Millsaps College, located in Jackson, Miss., is a private institution founded in 1890. Millsaps is one of the few liberal arts schools in the U.S. to hold both a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and accreditation at both undergraduate and graduate level by AASCB International. Many opportunities exist for professional research, internships, study abroad, and community service.
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#90
Colchester, VT
St. Michael's College, located in Colchester, Vermont, is a private institution founded in 1904. Situated three minutes from Burlington, St. Michael’s provides education with a social conscience, producing graduates with the intellectual tools to lead successful, purposeful lives that contribute to peace and justice in the world. Recreation includes hiking and skiing in the nearby Green Mountains.
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#90
Washington, PA
Washington and Jefferson College, located in Washington, PA, offers a top-notch liberal arts education with small class sizes and high student-to-faculty interaction. The school has a reputation for producing a high number of attorneys, physicians and medical researchers, as well as placing seniors with employment upon graduation.
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#90
Santa Barbara, CA
Located in Santa Barbara, California, Westmont College is a private liberal arts institution. The school was founded in 1937 and resides on 130 suburban acres just south of beautiful Gould Park. Westmont College is a Christian institution that seeks to create thoughtful scholars, grateful servants and faithful leaders.
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#96
Rock Island, IL
Augustana College is a private liberal arts institution that was founded in 1860. It is located in Rock Island, Illinois on 115 acres of urban land just across the Mississippi River from Iowa. Augustana College offers more than 40 undergraduate majors, and the school’s sports teams – known as the Vikings – compete in the NCAA Division III College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
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#96
St. Joseph, MN
College of St. Benedict is a private women's institution in St. Joseph, MN, that is committed to academics, leadership and art. Through a partnership with Saint John's University, St. Benedict students have access to both campuses' resources and facilities, totaling 3,300 acres of woods and lakes.
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#96
Hillsdale, MI
Founded in 1844, Hillsdale College is a private institution located in Hillsdale, Michigan. Its campus has a rural setting stretching across 220 acres. The most popular majors at the college are Business, Management, Marketing, Social Sciences, History, English Language and Biological and Biomedical Sciences. The school has a high freshman retention rate which is an indicator of student satisfaction.
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#96
Chestertown, MD
Washington College was founded in 1782 under the patronage of George Washington. The school's Chestertown, MD, campus is located in Chesapeake Bay, just 90 minutes from Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., providing students with optimal opportunities to study history, archeology, biology and environmental studies.
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#100
Bennington, VT
Bennington College is a private liberal arts institution that was founded in 1925. It is located in Bennington, Vermont on 470 rural acres near the beautiful Green Mountain National Forest. Bennington College adheres to a master-apprentice model of education, and students are heavily involved in directing their own course of study.
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