Explore the top 40 liberal arts schools.
With an emphasis on undergraduate programs and at least half of their degrees awarded in the arts and sciences, National Liberal Arts Colleges can be a perfect fit for students looking for a more intimate, intellectual college experience. Check out the liberal arts colleges that topped the 2021 Best Colleges rankings and see key details about each, including costs using the latest data available to U.S. News. Due to ties in the rankings, more than 40 schools are included.
40 (tie). Lafayette College (PA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,662
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $57,052
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about Lafayette College.
40 (tie). Occidental College (CA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,081
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $56,576
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 10
More about Occidental College.
40 (tie). Thomas Aquinas College (CA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 439
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $26,000
Regular decision application deadline: rolling
More about Thomas Aquinas College.
36 (tie). College of the Holy Cross (MA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,174
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $56,520
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about College of the Holy Cross.
36 (tie). Oberlin College (OH)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,846
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $58,504
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about Oberlin College.
36 (tie). Pitzer College (CA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,119
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $55,878
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Pitzer College.
36 (tie). Skidmore College (NY)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,662
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $58,128
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about Skidmore College.
34 (tie). Bucknell University (PA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,627
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $58,202
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about Bucknell University.
34 (tie). Mount Holyoke College (MA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,190
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $54,618
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about Mount Holyoke College.
33. Berea College (KY)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,688
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $692
Regular decision application deadline: March 31
More about Berea College.
28 (tie). Bryn Mawr College (PA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,384
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $56,610
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about Bryn Mawr College.
28 (tie). Kenyon College (OH)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,747
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $61,100
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about Kenyon College.
28 (tie). Scripps College (CA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,089
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $59,410
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 3
More about Scripps College.
28 (tie). Soka University of America (CA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 406
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $33,962
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about Soka University of America.
28 (tie). United States Air Force Academy (CO)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,304
2020-2021 tuition and fees: N/A
Regular decision application deadline: Dec. 31
More about the United States Air Force Academy.
27. Macalester College (MN)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,098
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $58,478
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about Macalester College.
25 (tie). Colorado College
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,099
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $60,864
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about Colorado College.
25 (tie). Harvey Mudd College (CA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 895
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $58,660
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 5
More about Harvey Mudd College.
22 (tie). Barnard College (NY)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,631
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $57,668
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Barnard College.
22 (tie). Bates College (ME)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,820
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $57,353
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Bates College.
22 (tie). University of Richmond (VA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,161
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $56,860
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about the University of Richmond.
20 (tie). Colgate University (NY)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,980
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $60,015
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about Colgate University.
20 (tie). Wesleyan University (CT)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,018
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $59,386
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Wesleyan University.
15 (tie). Colby College (ME)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,003
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $59,430
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Colby College.
15 (tie). Davidson College (NC)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,837
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $55,060
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 7
More about Davidson College.
15 (tie). Haverford College (PA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,317
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $58,900
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about Haverford College.
15 (tie). Smith College (MA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,531
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $56,114
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about Smith College.
15 (tie). United States Military Academy (NY)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,457
2020-2021 tuition and fees: N/A
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 31
More about the United States Military Academy.
13 (tie). Grinnell College (IA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,733
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $56,680
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about Grinnell College.
13 (tie). Vassar College (NY)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,441
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $60,930
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Vassar College.
9 (tie). Carleton College (MN)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,119
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $59,352
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 15
More about Carleton College.
9 (tie). Hamilton College (NY)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,924
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $58,510
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Hamilton College.
9 (tie). Middlebury College (VT)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,580
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $58,316
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Middlebury College.
9 (tie). Washington and Lee University (VA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,860
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $57,285
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Washington and Lee University.
6 (tie). Bowdoin College (ME)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,835
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $56,350
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Bowdoin College.
6 (tie). Claremont McKenna College (CA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,343
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $56,475
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 5
More about Claremont McKenna College.
6 (tie). United States Naval Academy (MD)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,524
2020-2021 tuition and fees: N/A
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 31
More about the United States Naval Academy.
4 (tie). Pomona College (CA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,717
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $54,774
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 8
More about Pomona College.
4 (tie). Wellesley College (MA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,519
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $58,448
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 8
More about Wellesley College.
3. Swarthmore College (PA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,594
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $54,656
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Swarthmore College.
2. Amherst College (MA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,839
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $60,890
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 4
More about Amherst College.
1. Williams College (MA)
Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,078
2020-2021 tuition and fees: $50,760
Regular decision application deadline: Jan. 1
More about Williams College.
Explore more of the Best Colleges rankings.
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These are the top 40 National Liberal Arts Colleges.
1. Williams College2. Amherst College
3. Swarthmore College
4 (tie). Pomona College
4 (tie). Wellesley College
6 (tie). Bowdoin College
6 (tie). Claremont McKenna College
6 (tie). United States Naval Academy
9 (tie). Carleton College
9 (tie). Hamilton College
9 (tie). Middlebury College
9 (tie). Washington and Lee University
13 (tie). Grinnell College
13 (tie). Vassar College
15 (tie). Colby College
15 (tie). Davidson College
15 (tie). Haverford College
15 (tie). Smith College
15 (tie). United States Military Academy
20 (tie). Colgate University
20 (tie). Wesleyan University
22 (tie). Barnard College
22 (tie). Bates College
22 (tie). University of Richmond
25 (tie). Colorado College
25 (tie). Harvey Mudd College
27. Macalester College
28 (tie). Bryn Mawr College
28 (tie). Kenyon College
28 (tie). Scripps College
28 (tie). Soka University of America
28 (tie). United States Air Force Academy
33. Berea College
34 (tie). Bucknell University
34 (tie). Mount Holyoke College
36 (tie). College of the Holy Cross
36 (tie). Oberlin College
36 (tie). Pitzer College
36 (tie). Skidmore College
40 (tie). Lafayette College
40 (tie). Occidental College
40 (tie). Thomas Aquinas College
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See the 2021 Best Liberal Arts Colleges originally appeared on usnews.com
