Top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges in the US in 2024

Top liberal arts colleges are also generous with financial aid to students.

On September 17, US News announced its 2024 rankings of liberal arts colleges in the United States. Unlike research-oriented colleges that train students in a specific field, liberal arts colleges tend to focus on developing foundational knowledge and transferable skills.

Williams College is the top liberal arts college this year, followed by Amherst College—the same as last year. The 2024 rankings saw the US military academies make strides, with the US Naval Academy jumping three spots to enter the top three. The US Military Academy at West Point rose one spot to No. 8, while the US Air Force Academy ranked No. 7 after failing to make the top 10 last year.

Except for the above academies, tuition fees of all schools range from 62,000-66,000 USD (1.5-1.6 billion VND).

The specific rankings are as follows:

1. Williams College

Williams College is located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. It has three main academic divisions - arts and humanities, social sciences , and science-mathematics.

It also has the most comprehensive financial aid program for students. Nearly two-thirds of international students receive need-based financial aid. The average grant is $66,200 per person, which covers tuition, textbooks, supplies, and a round-trip airfare home each year.

Of the more than 15,000 applications for this fall semester, nearly 9 percent were accepted, or about 1,300 students. Tuition at the school is $64,500 a year.

2. Amherst College

In second place is Amherst College, also located in Massachusetts. The most popular majors at Amherst include Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, General Mathematics, and Political Science.

Amherst is also generous with financial aid, with need-based scholarships and grants. Nearly 60% of students receive financial aid, with an average of more than $66,000. About 74% of students graduated last year debt-free.

The school's acceptance rate is 7%. The school's tuition for the 2023-2024 school year is $66,700.

3. US Naval Academy

The United States Naval Academy is a public university located in Annapolis, Maryland. The most popular majors here are STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), military science, and operational arts.

Both domestic and international students are fully sponsored by the US Navy for tuition and a monthly stipend. In return, they must serve in the US Navy or Marine Corps for at least five years after graduation.

The academy has an acceptance rate of 11%. Each year, a maximum of 15 international students are accepted.

4. Pomona College

Pomona College is located in Claremont, California. The school is famous for its Social Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, and Computer Science.

Pomona offers need-based scholarships and grants. 67% of Pomona students receive financial aid. The school has an acceptance rate of 7%. This school year, students will pay about $31,000 per semester in tuition.

4. Swarthmore College

Tied for fourth place is Swarthmore College, located in the city of the same name, Pennsylvania. Similar to Pomona College, the school also has strengths in training in Social Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, and Computer Science.

Swarthmore also provides financial aid to students in the form of need-based scholarships. Last year, 51% of the school's students received Swarthmore Scholarship aid, with a total budget of nearly $48 million.

Only 7% of applicants are accepted. Tuition this year is $62,000.

4. Wellesley College

Also ranked fourth is Wellesley College, located in the city of the same name in Massachusetts. The school is strong in science education, especially social sciences, biomedicine and information sciences.

Students in financial need at Wellesley receive need-based aid. Currently, 60% of the school’s students receive aid, averaging $62,500 per person.

The acceptance rate is 14%. Students will have to pay 64,000 USD (nearly 1.6 billion VND) for tuition this year.

7. US Air Force Academy

The United States Air Force Academy, located in Colorado, is a public school that trains pilots, engineers, and operational command officers. Along with academic programs such as education and business, students must participate in aviation and aircraft training.

All cadets are sponsored by the US Air Force. After graduation, officers must serve in the US Air Force for at least eight years.

The acceptance rate is 13%. International students cannot apply directly but must go through their government, usually the Ministry of Defense.

US Air Force Academy cadets at an event in September. Photo: US Air Force Academy fanpage — US Air Force Academy cadets at an event in September. Photo: *US Air Force Academy fanpage*

8. United States Military Academy - West Point

The United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, is a public university located in New York State. The two most popular majors here are Engineering and Social Sciences.

West Point covers 100% of tuition for all students. Upon graduation, they will be commissioned as Second Lieutenants and must serve a minimum of 8 years in the US Army.

The school's acceptance rate is 12%. No more than 15 foreign students are admitted to the school each semester.

9. Bowdoin College

Bowdoin College is located in Brunswick, Maine. The school's majors include Political Science, Econometrics, and Quantitative Economics.

Bowdoin meets the financial needs of students through need-based scholarships, with each award averaging $69,000. In addition to cash grants, each Bowdoin student receives a MacBook Pro, iPad, and Apple Pencil, which they keep after graduation.

Bowdoin accepts only 9% of applicants. Tuition for the 2023-2024 school year is $64,300.

9. Carleton University

Tied for ninth place is Carleton University, located in Northfield, Minnesota. Its top majors are Biology, Computer Science, and International Relations.

Students in need of financial aid will be awarded need-based and merit-based scholarships and grants.

Carleton has an acceptance rate of 17%. Students pay $65,000 in tuition this academic year.

Khanh Linh

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