Top Liberal Arts Colleges - US News & Washington Monthly

Liberal arts colleges in the United States are institutions that emphasize undergraduate education in the liberal arts, offering a broad curriculum designed to foster critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and a strong foundation in disciplines such as the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics. These institutions aim to cultivate well-rounded individuals capable of engaging thoughtfully with the world around them. The hallmark of a liberal arts education is its focus on teaching students to think analytically, communicate effectively, and approach complex problems from multiple perspectives. By offering a broad academic foundation rather than training students for specific careers, liberal arts colleges prepare students for a wide variety of fields, encouraging them to be adaptable, informed, and intellectually agile.

In the United States, a number of ranking guides attempt to evaluate and compare liberal arts colleges based on various criteria. These rankings offer valuable insights for prospective students, parents, and educators looking to assess institutions based on academic rigor, campus culture, student satisfaction, and overall quality of the education provided. Among the most widely recognized ranking organizations are U.S. News & World Report, Forbes Magazine, and The Washington Monthly. These organizations publish annual rankings that help to inform the choices of students seeking to pursue a liberal arts education.

U.S. News & World Report is one of the most influential ranking organizations, particularly when it comes to higher education in the United States. Its rankings of liberal arts colleges are widely followed, and the methodology used by U.S. News focuses on several key factors that assess an institution’s overall quality. Among the criteria considered are academic reputation, faculty resources, financial resources, graduation rates, student satisfaction, and retention rates. For the 2009 rankings, the top liberal arts colleges in the U.S. were largely drawn from an elite group of well-established institutions known for their academic rigor, faculty expertise, and strong reputations. These rankings are often relied upon by prospective students and their families when making important decisions about where to apply and, ultimately, where to attend college.

In the 2009 U.S. News & World Report liberal arts college rankings, schools like Williams College, Amherst College, and Swarthmore College were consistently ranked among the top. Williams College, located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, was ranked as the number one liberal arts college in the country. Known for its academic rigor and outstanding faculty, Williams College has long been recognized for providing a strong, personalized undergraduate education. The college emphasizes small class sizes and close interactions between students and faculty, allowing students to engage in deep intellectual inquiry. The academic experience at Williams is enhanced by its commitment to providing a well-rounded education, which includes opportunities for students to study across disciplines, pursue independent research, and engage in extracurricular activities.

Amherst College, another leading liberal arts college, was ranked second in the U.S. News rankings in 2009. Located in Amherst, Massachusetts, Amherst College is known for its rigorous academic standards and its commitment to fostering intellectual curiosity and academic freedom. As a member of the “Little Three” alongside Williams and Wesleyan University, Amherst has a long tradition of providing students with a world-class education that emphasizes critical thinking, writing, and research skills. The college's open curriculum, which allows students to explore a wide range of academic fields without being bound by a set of required courses, provides flexibility for students to pursue their individual academic interests. Like Williams, Amherst has a strong reputation for faculty excellence and student engagement, and its campus culture is marked by a commitment to inclusivity and diversity.

Swarthmore College, ranked third in the 2009 U.S. News & World Report rankings, is another top-tier liberal arts institution that stands out for its rigorous academic programs and commitment to social responsibility. Located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College emphasizes the development of strong critical thinking skills, interdisciplinary study, and community engagement. The college fosters an intellectual environment in which students are encouraged to challenge ideas, question assumptions, and develop their own perspectives on complex issues. Swarthmore also has a strong tradition of activism and social justice, and students are encouraged to engage in service and community projects that address societal challenges. This blend of academic rigor and social consciousness makes Swarthmore one of the most respected liberal arts colleges in the country.

The U.S. News & World Report rankings for 2009 also highlighted a number of other liberal arts colleges that consistently ranked among the top schools in the nation. These included Bowdoin College in Maine, Middlebury College in Vermont, and Carleton College in Minnesota. Each of these schools has its own unique strengths but shares a commitment to providing students with a top-tier liberal arts education. Bowdoin College, for example, has long been recognized for its strong academic programs in the humanities and social sciences, while Middlebury College is known for its excellent programs in environmental studies, international relations, and foreign languages. Carleton College, ranked eighth nationally in the 2009 U.S. News rankings, is another school that places a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary study and close student-faculty interactions.

While U.S. News & World Report's rankings are among the most widely used and referenced by prospective students, it is important to recognize that they are not the only source of information about the best liberal arts colleges in the United States. Other ranking organizations, such as Forbes Magazine and The Washington Monthly, offer alternative perspectives on what makes a liberal arts college stand out. Forbes Magazine, for example, focuses on post-graduation success, student satisfaction, and financial factors, such as return on investment. The rankings produced by Forbes place a strong emphasis on how well institutions prepare their graduates for careers and their ability to provide an education that is both high-quality and financially accessible. In the 2009 Forbes rankings of liberal arts colleges, schools like Pomona College, Bowdoin College, and Williams College were among the top-ranked institutions, highlighting their commitment to academic excellence and post-graduation success.

The Washington Monthly, on the other hand, takes a different approach to ranking colleges, with a focus on social mobility, community service, and research output. The Washington Monthly’s rankings consider factors such as the percentage of low-income students who graduate, the extent to which institutions contribute to social mobility, and the level of community involvement and service provided by students and faculty. The 2009 rankings from The Washington Monthly placed schools like Wesleyan University, Colorado College, and the University of Puget Sound among the top liberal arts institutions. These colleges were recognized not only for their academic quality but also for their commitment to fostering social responsibility and promoting opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.

When reviewing the rankings from U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and The Washington Monthly, it becomes evident that there is no single measure of what makes a liberal arts college the “best.” Different ranking systems prioritize various factors, such as academic reputation, financial value, social impact, and post-graduation success. As such, prospective students should carefully consider which factors are most important to them when selecting a college. For some students, attending a top-ranked institution with a prestigious reputation may be a priority. For others, the value of a liberal arts education, including the availability of financial aid, opportunities for social engagement, and career prospects, may be more important. Regardless of the ranking system, it is clear that liberal arts colleges in the United States provide a high-quality education and prepare students for a wide variety of careers and life paths.

In conclusion, U.S. News & World Report’s liberal arts college rankings for 2009 offer a comprehensive assessment of some of the best liberal arts institutions in the country. These rankings are based on factors such as academic reputation, faculty quality, graduation rates, and student satisfaction, and they provide valuable information for students looking to attend a top-tier liberal arts college. However, it is important to consider that rankings are only one factor in the decision-making process. Other sources, such as Forbes and The Washington Monthly, offer alternative perspectives on what makes a liberal arts college stand out, providing insights into factors such as financial value, social mobility, and community service. Ultimately, the best liberal arts college for a given student depends on their individual priorities, interests, and goals. The diverse range of high-ranking liberal arts colleges in the U.S. offers ample opportunities for students to receive an exceptional education and to become well-rounded, thoughtful, and engaged members of society.