Best Liberal Arts Colleges

Liberal arts colleges are almost always limited to undergraduate programs. Students should expect to graduate with a well-rounded education, introduced to the history of modern thought and how ideas have developed over time.  This doesn't mean that students leave school unprepared for the real world however - our top ranked liberal arts schools provide excellent value and earning potential. 

Liberal arts colleges offer limited or no graduate-level programs and are classified as having a strong focus on the arts and sciences by the Carnegie Classification system.

 

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#1 in Liberal Arts

Claremont McKenna College

Claremont, California

Economic score 0.97

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $19,489

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $104,736

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 92%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#2 in Liberal Arts

Harvey Mudd College

Claremont, California

Economic score 1.08

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $39,671

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $138,687

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 93%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#3 in Liberal Arts

Colby College

Waterville, Maine

Economic score 1.37

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,507

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $80,490

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 90%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#4 in Liberal Arts

Pomona College

Claremont, California

Economic score 1.41

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,084

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $77,779

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 94%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#5 in Liberal Arts
Economic score 1.43

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $29,479

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $94,810

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 93%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#6 in Liberal Arts

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Economic score 1.50

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $21,595

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $80,257

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 97%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#7 in Liberal Arts

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, Maine

Economic score 1.52

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,533

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $82,735

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 94%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#8 in Liberal Arts

Williams College

Williamstown, Massachusetts

Economic score 1.59

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $26,775

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $88,665

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 96%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#9 in Liberal Arts

Colgate University

Hamilton, New York

Economic score 1.60

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $24,052

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $85,139

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 91%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#10 in Liberal Arts

Wellesley College

Wellesley, Massachusetts

Economic score 1.61

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $23,052

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $84,803

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 94%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#11 in Liberal Arts

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois

Economic score 1.83

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $11,780

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $62,971

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 76%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#12 in Liberal Arts

Amherst College

Amherst, Massachusetts

Economic score 1.86

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $25,035

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $77,644

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 96%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#13 in Liberal Arts

Washington College

Chestertown, Maryland

Economic score 1.88

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,606

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $65,518

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#14 in Liberal Arts

Hamilton College

Clinton, New York

Economic score 2.11

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $24,837

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $78,411

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 90%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#15 in Liberal Arts

Barnard College

New York, New York

Economic score 2.13

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $27,999

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $80,516

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 90%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#16 in Liberal Arts

Virginia Military Institute

Lexington, Virginia

Economic score 2.16

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $21,215

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $77,369

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 84%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#17 in Liberal Arts

Middlebury College

Middlebury, Vermont

Economic score 2.17

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $25,185

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $76,310

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 94%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#18 in Liberal Arts

Berea College

Berea, Kentucky

Economic score 2.18

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $2,601

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $43,150

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 66%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#19 in Liberal Arts

Wesleyan University

Middletown, Connecticut

Economic score 2.36

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $28,340

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $73,897

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 92%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#20 in Liberal Arts

Lafayette College

Easton, Pennsylvania

Economic score 2.39

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $36,995

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $91,410

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 89%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

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