I’ve recently noticed that people tend to overlook liberal arts colleges when researching which college to attend. I’ve been told that the "lack of programs" is a huge turnoff for some, but for others, it’s better. At liberal arts colleges, you get to know your classmates along with your professors. Classes typically max at 30 students, and they only get smaller. So if you’re looking into a small college, here are seven liberal arts colleges to consider.
1 Williams College
Williams consistently ranks in the top three liberal arts lists. It is located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. It’s student population is around 2,000, which is the average for most liberal arts colleges. Williams shares a tradition with a few other liberal arts colleges: Mountain Day. Mountain Day is when the President picks a beautiful fall day, and classes get cancelled. How fun!
Frequently asked questions
2 Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. It has approximately 1,500 students, so it’s even smaller than Williams! Swarthmore also ranks in the top three liberal arts colleges. Swarthmore is a member of the Tri-College Consortium, so students can take other courses at Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges. This is really awesome because it allows you to leave campus and if there is a course at another college, you can register for it!
3 Ponoma College
Pomona is part of the Claremont Colleges, located in Claremont, California. Its student population is 1,500. Ponoma also allows students to study at the other four colleges in the Claremont Colleges. It gives students the resources of a bigger university while keeping the personal and unique qualities of a liberal arts school. Many faculty members work one-on-one with students on research projects, so you are bound to learn alongside your professors!
4 Bowdoin College
With an enrollment nearing 2,000, Bowdoin maintains a small population, allowing for students to get to know their professors. Bowdoin is located in Brunswick, Maine. Famous alumni include Franklin Pierce and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Bowdoin is a very open-minded college, which explains why it has one of the best political science programs in the world!
5 Colgate University
Colgate University is located in Hamilton, New York. The location allows students to experience the change of seasons, which means that Colgate, of course, has a unique Outdoor Education Program. It includes skiing, kayaking, and hiking trips. The enrollment is close to 3,000, which is a little more than the other colleges on this list.
6 Wellesley College
Wellesley is a women’s college located in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Wellesley has so many notable alumnae, including Hillary Clinton. It is about 20 minutes away from Boston, so it’s removed enough from the city. The campus is absolutely beautiful and I felt like I stepped into a fairy tale castle when I was touring the campus. Wellesley is part of the Seven Sisters Colleges, which means that the campus was designed by the same people who designed Central Park. The College has a lake and it’s the perfect spot to hang out in between classes! Wellesley has about 2,000 students. Wellesley has a cross-registration program with MIT, so Wellesley students can take engineering courses there.
7 Carleton College
Carleton College is a 2,000 student college located in Northfield, Minnesota. Because of its beautiful location, Carleton is committed to being environmentally conscious. Students are known to be really hard workers, but they have their fair share of fun: the college has outstanding a cappella groups, which, from what I’ve heard, students love.
Another thing that’s really beautiful about liberal arts colleges, aside from the campuses, is the diversity in the student body. Sure, most colleges are diverse, but you can really see it at a liberal arts school, due to the small student population. Did you attend any of these liberal arts schools? If so, what did you like about it?
