Best Liberal Arts Schools
How are the Top Liberal Arts Programs Chosen?
Appily determines “Best Colleges” based on publicly-available information from the US Department of Education. Several factors include, but are not limited to, data about admitted students’ academic calibers, students’ expected career outcomes after graduation, and colleges’ investments toward making their institution accessible to all students.
Explore the Best Liberal Arts Programs with Appily!
Create a Appily account to start saving schools to your personal list. Wondering where you stand when applying to the best universities in the USA? You can also see your chances of acceptance and get insights into your target, reach, and likely schools.
The Southern Methodist University is a private research institution in Texas featuring a liberal arts curriculum. The Dallas campus provides more than 200 areas of study to choose from, along with the Locomotor Lab to address scientific questions on...
My experience at SMU has been very rewarding since it has open up for me many opportunities. After taking organic chemistry, I realized that I have a great passion for learning about how things happen at the atomic and molecular level. In addition, I...
” – Sarah from Richardson, TX
North Carolina State University is a public land-, sea-, and space-grant research university located in the state capital, Raleigh, home of the annual state fair and Winterfest. The largest university in the Carolinas by enrollment, NC State is home...
Great school; learn new things even in introductory classes.
The majority of my engineering professors at NCSU have been top notch. They have helped me to go beyond the formulas and math by teaching the concepts related to the subject as well as...
” – Wolfpackfan124
Founded by the Society of Jesus, Fairfield University is a 4-year Jesuit institution in coastal Connecticut. Fairfield provides a liberal arts education and offers degrees in 44 academic majors as well as 16 interdisciplinary majors. As a Catholic...
The teachers focus on broadening your view and the extensive core forces you to study fields you would have never considered, but could decide major in.
” – Kristin from Martinsville, NJ
The largest public university in New England, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst is the original campus in the UM System. UMass is a land-grant university with the “Highest Research Activity" and the U.S. News & World Report ranks the UMass...
For a great undergraduate education you don't need to spend tons of money, especially if you are planing to continue you education after undergrad. UMass Amherst has understanding professors, knowledgeable teaching assistants, award winning dining...
” – Naja from Millville, MA
Founded in 1867, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution in central Illinois and the flagship campus of the U of I system. UIUC is home to 15 colleges and schools conferring undergraduate degrees in over 150 areas of...
I've learned things so far in every course I've taken and have met really great professors and instructors. You learn a lot from the people as well. They're from all over the world.
” – Kristen from Chicago, IL
Founded by leaders of the Presbyterian Church, Centre College is a 4-year liberal arts college in central Kentucky. Centre confers bachelor’s degrees in over 50 fields of study and also allows students to create their own majors in consultation with...
Centre has fantastic professors who really know their field, and are passionate about teaching it. Classes are difficult, with a lot of work, but fun. The professors like doing different things. I've had professors take us on field trips, hold...
” – Chelsea from Chicago, IL
Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is a private research institution and one of the oldest Catholic, Jesuit universities in the United States. At SLU, students can explore nearly 100 different undergraduate programs and over 80 graduate programs...
After one semester in my classes at Saint Louis University, I can practically run circles around my old high school friends academically. The classes here are very challenging but great for anyone who truly desires a quality education. It takes...
” – Evan from Brighton, IL
Created by the merger of Lewis Institute and Armour Institute, The Illinois Institute of Technology is a scientific and technical research institution in Chicago. IIT hosts eight colleges and schools conferring undergraduate degrees in over 40 fields...
Students that attend IIT go to study and become future leaders, not to fool around or party. I am currently learning so much from the architecture program. The professors are practicing architects and although I just ended my first semester, I feel...
” – Christian from Elgin, IL
North Central College is a private comprehensive institution located just 30 miles west of Chicago in Naperville, Illinois. Founded in 1861, North Central offers nearly 100 different majors, minors and programs that serve the needs and interests of...
The classes have been small and very informative. I have had no problems scheduling classes when I want them or changing time/day if I need to. I was also allowed to apply to the teacher education program before starting my sophomore year. The...
” – Tyler from Sandwich, IL
The first school chartered after the American Revolution, Washington College is a 4-year liberal arts college on Maryland’s eastern shore. WC grants bachelor’s degrees in 34 academic fields of study and all students are required to complete four...
Attending Washington College has taught me more than I ever thought it could and not just in the classroom. First, the professors are always there to help. It is very easy to meet with them if you have a question, concern or just want to chat....
” – Sara from Myersville, MD
Lewis & Clark College is a 4-year liberal arts college in the southwest hills of Portland. Lewis & Clark confers undergraduate degrees in 29 academic majors and 27 minors and all first year students are enrolled in a 2-semester course called...
I find most of my classes interesting, and all of them challenging. I've learned things about subjects that I never thought would interest me!
” – Maelia from Ashland, OR
The University of South Carolina is a 4-year public research institution in the state capital of Columbia. South Carolina encompasses 12 colleges conferring undergraduate degrees. Additionally, U of SC is home to the first freestanding academic...
The classes at The University of South Carolina are great. The professors are always there to help you if you have any questions and they really want you to succeed in their classes. Plus, being at Carolina teaches you a lot about who you are and the...
” – Latifah from Columbia, SC
Life-changing adventure. Knowledge and skills that stand the test of time. The world’s greatest guides. At Rollins, you’ll craft a one-of-a-kind college experience and seize infinite opportunities to put your education to work in the world. You’ll...
When i started attending this college it was so surreal, everything about his school was perfect. The campus was beautiful, the professors amazing and my peers pretty awesome. The classes are small and have been more focused on the individual...
” – Justin from Winter Park, FL
Founded in 1896, Clarkson University is a 4-year private school in northern New York State. Clarkson confers undergraduate degrees in over 60 academic fields of study. Additionally, the university hosts the SPEED program providing the opportunity to...
This college is very demanding when it comes to some subjects and very laid back when it comes to others. The big 3 courses, physics, chemistry, and calculus, serve as a filter for the students. If you can't keep up and learn the material, you...
” – Dylan from Fort Edward, NY
Together, the College of Saint Benedict (CSB), for women, and Saint John’s University (SJU), for men, form a one-of-a-kind partnership of two top colleges – combining the abundant opportunities of a larger university with the small class sizes and...
Classes here are challenging, certainly, but we're not paying private school tuition to take easy classes! Of course, the level of difficulty per class depends on the prof and the type of class (101 vs. Honors 311), but overall expect to have to work...
” – Trish from Mankato
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a 4-year private university of technology, arts, and design in northwest New York State. RIT is home to 11 colleges and schools conferring undergraduate degrees. Additionally, RIT offers a co-op program that...
Part of being a Software Engineering major means spending a year with Computer Science students learning the basics of computer programming. When I first came to RIT, I knew nothing about writing code but the classes challenged and taught me well and...
” – Geoff from Avon, NY
McDaniel College is a private institution situated in Westminster, Maryland. The school operates a satellite campus in Budapest, Hungary. The school provides a liberal arts curriculum and BFA students participate in the “McDaniel Plan” which...
McDaniel presents its students with a WIDE array of classes on so many topics. I was able to take a class about the relationship between madness and creativity. There's classes on South Park's take on social commentary, in-depth studies into theatre...
” – Laura from Middle River, MD
Founded in 1884, Cottey College is a women’s liberal arts college in southwest Missouri. Cottey confers bachelor’s degrees in 12 academic majors as well as several associate degree-granting programs. In addition, Cottey pays for second year students...
The class sizes are 5-25 students, but usually end up being 15, providing a great learning environment. And what makes it even better is the teachers actually know you by name and care about your grades! They are available to help/talk to you at...
” – Jessica from Wayne, MI
Marietta College is a small, private liberal arts college that was founded in 1835. All first-year students are required to take a College Life and Leadership Laboratory course as well as a first-year seminar. Students can compete for places in the...
Professors are professors for a reason, and the ones at Marietta are by and large very good teachers as well. Knowledgeable and passionate about their subject matter, the only thing stopping an ambitious student from learning from them is laziness or...
” – Thomas from Falls Church, VA
Named after the patron saint of students, the University of St. Thomas is 4-year Catholic school in the Twin Cities and the largest private non-profit university in Minnesota. St. Thomas hosts eight colleges and schools offering bachelor’s degrees in...
The professors at this university really push you to your academic limits and help you to be the best student you can be. If you ask for help or extra tutoring, the professors are more than willing to set aside time for you.
” – Mirella from Burnsville, MN