2023 Liberal Arts Colleges Ranking

Since 2005, the Washington Monthly has ranked colleges based on what they do for the country. It’s our answer to U.S News & World Report, which relies on crude and easily manipulated measures of wealth, exclusivity, and prestige. We rank liberal arts colleges—four-year institutions that award almost exclusively bachelor’s degrees and that focus on arts and sciences rather than professional programs—based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research, and promoting public service.

Click here for detailed methodology, here for the rest of our rankings, and here to download the full data set.

Rank	Name	8-year graduation rate	Number of Pell graduates	Pell performance rank	Earnings performance rank	Net price of attendance for families below $75,000 income	Social mobility rank	Research rank	Service rank
1	Harvey Mudd College (CA)	94%	27	35	1	17716	3	2	148
2	Berea College (KY)	67%	279	1	42	4498	1	120	22
3	Wesleyan University (CT)	91%	132	108	56	7779	12	4	47
4	Swarthmore College (PA)	95%	56	34	106	8954	19	1	52
5	Haverford College (PA)	92%	48	75	97	9140	26	8	14
6	Williams College (MA)	96%	96	37	129	3264	8	7	88
7	Amherst College (MA)	95%	95	25	70	5624	6	10	96
8	Washington and Lee University (VA)	94%	46	84	7	3421	2	93	61
9	Pomona College (CA)	94%	68	18	183	6727	27	13	23
10	Bryn Mawr College (PA)	86%	51	123	38	15334	44	3	45
11	Bowdoin College (ME)	95%	60	118	166	8533	41	21	9
12	Claremont McKenna College (CA)	92%	38	76	3	9686	5	32	126
13	Colby College (ME)	91%	49	86	51	3782	9	42	85
14	Smith College (MA)	89%	148	17	179	13275	48	14	26
15	Hamilton College (NY)	93%	69	96	48	10517	18	52	25
16	Mount Holyoke College (MA)	85%	117	30	147	13832	38	15	41
17	Wellesley College (MA)	92%	105	42	159	8626	35	6	141
18	New College of Florida (FL)*	64%	50	39	72	6993	37	18	44
19	Middlebury College (VT)	93%	78	73	152	9618	53	29	6
20	Colgate University (NY)	91%	75	174	11	12036	22	38	50
21	Dickinson College (PA)	84%	65	140	23	10535	23	75	17
22	Macalester College (MN)	90%	79	29	169	14169	65	20	10
23	Davidson College (NC)	91%	56	165	40	7840	14	36	104
24	Salem College (NC)	57%	100	26	8	14098	7	143	58
25	Franklin and Marshall College (PA)	85%	87	153	5	15677	17	25	103
26	Grinnell College (IA)	87%	92	31	176	14660	76	11	40
27	Vassar College (NY)	92%	140	43	177	12884	57	16	32
28	Lafayette College (PA)	89%	64	177	2	16238	15	65	66
29	St. Olaf College (MN)	87%	95	33	107	12982	43	34	43
30	University of MN–Morris (MN)*	60%	98	59	59	4634	21	88	51
31	Gustavus Adolphus College (MN)	78%	145	10	62	15677	31	96	21
32	Hobart & William Smith Colls. (NY)	79%	82	135	27	19455	54	109	5
33	Tougaloo College (MS)	43%	95	11	53	12099	11	48	166
34	College of the Holy Cross (MA)	91%	112	141	4	15751	13	100	97
35	University of Richmond (VA)	85%	147	88	26	11534	16	55	114
36	Carleton College (MN)	93%	63	47	160	13627	86	5	89
37	Bethune-Cookman University (FL)	37%	356	7	19	14969	4	167	156
38	Juniata College (PA)	80%	78	93	85	18586	40	57	42
39	Bates College (ME)	91%	51	152	170	8222	61	49	30
40	Trinity College (CT)	83%	60	103	35	11621	20	72	99
41	Occidental College (CA)	86%	103	60	154	15393	67	37	39
42	Connecticut College (CT)	83%	72	87	34	17318	39	68	56
43	Saint Mary's College (IN)	79%	79	144	15	15416	33	148	29
44	College of Saint Benedict (MN)	80%	110	80	30	18600	62	127	8
45	Knox College (IL)	74%	99	51	120	17411	88	84	2
46	Allegheny College (PA)	74%	121	32	55	18369	74	73	13
47	Bennett College (NC)	40%	78	12	31	21859	28	101	77
48	Muhlenberg College (PA)	83%	68	149	16	18191	36	117	60
49	Skidmore College (NY)	88%	83	189	90	12796	32	51	132
50	Agnes Scott College (GA)	71%	85	24	71	15756	45	60	74
51	Pitzer College (CA)	85%	37	151	188	10169	84	91	7
52	St. John's College (MD)	70%	22	13	41	19485	68	46	59
53	Soka University of America (CA)	92%	30	97	47	10241	25	140	76
54	Linfield College (OR)	73%	104	134	9	23201	70	110	16
55	Univ. of NC–Asheville (NC)*	63%	265	44	172	10135	42	64	98
56	Kalamazoo College (MI)	84%	72	61	138	18596	72	40	68
57	Rust College (MS)	37%	147	38	127	9359	24	161	94
58	Hampshire College (MA)	67%	61	85	186	18506	156	12	12
59	Bucknell University (PA)	90%	94	179	6	23736	50	24	151
60	Denison University (OH)	85%	99	168	155	16898	107	78	4
61	Barnard College (NY)	93%	111	127	100	16067	69	19	149
62	St. John's College (NM)	58%	26	3	21	24017	90	23	64
63	Beloit College (WI)	81%	65	66	139	13312	52	47	123
64	Whittier College (CA)	69%	149	20	143	18960	63	147	27
65	Lewis & Clark College (OR)	77%	104	50	178	23173	162	27	1
66	Saint John's University (MN)	75%	74	99	36	16661	82	56	53
67	DePauw University (IN)	84%	103	148	17	17160	34	71	167
68	Colorado College (CO)	87%	48	109	192	12090	94	33	55
69	Wheaton College (IL)	88%	127	22	161	17643	59	54	128
70	Goucher College (MD)	67%	75	27	124	17829	93	113	11
71	Centre College (KY)	83%	52	74	134	14922	89	74	33
72	Gettysburg College (PA)	82%	75	102	54	15451	64	94	79
73	Drew University (NJ)	64%	93	53	52	15538	75	116	48
74	University of Puget Sound (WA)	77%	93	58	57	22769	112	67	15
75	Whitman College (WA)	89%	37	81	140	21432	106	22	69
76	Univ. of NH–Manchester (NH)*	58%	48	48	13	11368	10	192	196
77	Lawrence University (WI)	79%	69	14	187	15407	109	59	31
78	University of Mary Washington (VA)*	68%	166	162	83	16285	80	115	65
79	Lake Forest College (IL)	74%	139	49	29	18441	29	114	184
80	Virginia Military Institute (VA)*	78%	50	196	63	10204	66	150	78
81	Bard College (NY)	74%	87	100	173	18812	101	69	37
82	Albion College (MI)	65%	68	129	22	13490	79	70	105
83	St. Mary's College of MD (MD)*	77%	74	124	103	10582	60	63	168
84	Westminster College (PA)	68%	105	128	110	16335	100	107	24
85	Union College (NY)	86%	89	178	74	16472	56	66	170
86	Willamette University (OR)	73%	95	77	67	26384	114	26	72
87	Furman University (SC)	80%	77	91	130	19973	122	53	35
88	Bennington College (VT)	74%	30	89	84	22894	104	95	38
89	Spelman College (GA)	77%	213	121	24	36895	131	35	62
90	Coe College (IA)	66%	82	78	104	15536	95	119	54
91	Claflin University (SC)	52%	255	46	115	19356	73	130	118
92	Kenyon College (OH)	93%	35	154	119	15274	124	30	92
93	Albright College (PA)	59%	178	28	18	16151	58	174	137
94	Cornell College (IA)	73%	92	65	175	19541	134	97	20
95	CUNY Medgar Evers College (NY)*	24%	302	36	99	5869	46	172	165
96	Ripon College (WI)	68%	61	68	88	15374	96	76	107
97	Wofford College (SC)	82%	76	193	45	20686	78	133	121
98	Sewanee–Univ. of the South (TN)	80%	72	139	128	19512	113	108	46
99	St. Lawrence University (NY)	84%	95	161	68	15757	87	137	93
100	Lycoming College (PA)	67%	95	41	44	14665	47	142	182
101	Wabash College (IN)	75%	54	114	43	14586	85	62	171
102	Dillard University (LA)	46%	144	15	75	17508	128	61	67
103	Sacred Heart Major Seminary (MI)	74%	17	166	12	20871	30	175	196
104	MA College of Liberal Arts (MA)*	60%	135	64	39	13649	71	180	129
105	Rhodes College (TN)	83%	68	122	87	17784	99	81	102
106	Cheyney University of PA (PA)*^^	28%	88	23	93	10542	83	158	116
107	SUNY Purchase College (NY)*	67%	313	82	150	16174	49	176	176
108	Washington & Jefferson College (PA)	72%	62	92	10	20540	81	87	172
109	Washington College (MD)	70%	47	57	32	15039	51	126	191
110	Wartburg College (IA)	65%	84	170	112	18319	168	144	3
111	Oberlin College (OH)	87%	61	183	197	15676	147	17	119
112	Reed College (OR)	81%	58	63	199	16693	165	9	163
113	Scripps College (CA)	88%	24	111	149	17754	115	58	108
114	College of Wooster (OH)	76%	98	119	171	16465	137	45	100
115	Trinity University (TX)	79%	75	137	180	12609	150	43	70
116	Thomas Aquinas College (CA)	81%	31	40	61	19358	55	134	196
117	Transylvania University (KY)	72%	58	55	126	20106	126	86	87
118	Univ. of Virginia's Coll.–Wise (VA)*	49%	134	158	91	9138	92	160	134
119	Saint Michael's College (VT)	80%	79	90	82	21840	110	104	106
120	Hartwick College (NY)	60%	109	113	65	21050	123	125	81
121	Wittenberg University (OH)	64%	93	125	33	18187	133	79	95
122	Hendrix College (AR)	70%	53	54	191	11602	160	39	91
123	Hope College (MI)	79%	157	156	142	18984	135	50	145
124	Saint Norbert College (WI)	72%	100	120	167	21463	143	153	34
125	Randolph College (VA)	58%	38	116	37	19542	132	122	83
126	Wheaton College (MA)	78%	76	94	77	21494	97	131	152
127	Morehouse College (GA)	55%	173	19	131	27764	170	28	86
128	Stonehill College (MA)	81%	84	180	25	24143	120	112	111
129	Paine College (GA)	20%	44	21	58	12345	77	151	189
130	Holy Cross College (IN)	50%	34	67	156	16793	102	194	101
131	Millsaps College (MS)	67%	32	185	123	20033	154	44	133
132	Covenant College (GA)	69%	68	83	121	21103	98	145	161
133	Franklin College (IN)	63%	68	126	64	16608	108	173	117
134	Susquehanna University (PA)	71%	107	107	60	21028	118	157	109
135	Saint Vincent College (PA)	73%	88	192	86	17338	127	118	136
136	Saint Anselm College (NH)	78%	74	176	73	23442	136	163	80
137	Virginia Wesleyan University (VA)	52%	120	52	117	20637	138	182	63
138	Augustana College (IL)	72%	128	169	79	18714	121	141	130
139	Monmouth College (IL)	60%	105	138	136	14564	145	139	73
140	Luther College (IA)	78%	95	146	144	20084	144	85	115
141	Virginia Union University (VA)	32%	126	62	92	19360	105	185	142
142	Illinois College (IL)	65%	75	147	69	13331	125	166	120
143	Hanover College (IN)	68%	79	98	101	15925	111	99	183
144	Earlham College (IN)	66%	50	101	163	16770	171	31	143
145	Ursinus College (PA)	79%	70	104	66	24635	116	82	185
146	Sarah Lawrence College (NY)	78%	55	143	114	25038	142	90	144
147	Johnson C. Smith University (NC)	39%	129	79	98	18269	130	135	150
148	Univ. of Science & Arts of Okla. (OK)*	40%	44	187	49	7058	119	184	127
149	Central College (IA)	69%	73	186	174	18199	176	155	18
150	Austin College (TX)	70%	77	95	189	18302	167	80	90
151	Presbyterian College (SC)	67%	54	190	141	18307	157	149	75
152	Concordia College–Moorhead (MN)	72%	128	173	151	19015	166	123	71
153	University of Maine–Machias (ME)*	37%	46	133	125	7259	91	193	187
154	Meredith College (NC)	63%	106	145	164	18737	169	159	57
155	Georgetown College (KY)	53%	59	130	113	13769	174	164	36
156	Wells College (NY)	56%	54	71	89	17386	129	129	173
157	Maryville College (TN)	57%	98	72	146	16899	173	162	49
158	Ohio Wesleyan University (OH)	67%	91	106	122	21175	163	106	110
159	Warren Wilson College (NC)	52%	64	16	198	21943	189	111	19
160	Univ. of Pittsburgh–Greensburg (PA)*	37%	86	110	14	13749	103	171	186
161	Lane College (TN)	28%	164	2	135	13959	117	187	164
162	Bridgewater College (VA)	63%	98	159	111	16526	141	169	139
163	Southwestern University (TX)	72%	88	157	158	20987	164	92	140
164	Aquinas College (MI)	61%	103	188	157	14671	140	165	154
165	Roanoke College (VA)	69%	106	155	94	20837	146	136	160
166	Hollins University (VA)	61%	53	56	116	18307	151	138	157
167	Bethany College (WV)	41%	40	175	81	11805	181	103	82
168	Bryn Athyn College (PA)	53%	18	105	133	18148	139	179	159
169	Westmont College (CA)	77%	65	131	118	25361	148	121	179
170	Guilford College (NC)	49%	185	163	181	20021	172	105	135
171	Martin University (IN)	10%	24	8	20	15050	149	183	155
172	Fisk University (TN)	34%	50	6	78	22415	185	41	158
173	Bethany Lutheran College (MN)	53%	41	164	165	12346	153	189	147
174	Houghton College (NY)	73%	91	45	153	23070	183	83	125
175	Oakwood University (AL)	50%	111	132	132	23812	179	98	122
176	Sweet Briar College (VA)	45%	27	136	46	19455	155	156	175
177	Gordon College (MA)	72%	90	167	184	20622	180	128	113
178	Westminster College (MO)	57%	54	69	108	20150	182	89	162
179	Allen University (SC)	21%	46	9	182	13582	158	191	181
180	Emmanuel College (MA)	67%	100	160	137	25225	177	170	138
181	Randolph-Macon College (VA)	67%	72	194	109	21298	161	168	188
182	Centenary College of Louisiana (LA)	56%	41	150	162	22204	190	77	153
183	Lyon College (AR)	52%	54	142	196	14584	187	132	146
184	Randall University (OK)	35%	13	117	28	14874	152	194	193
185	Oglethorpe University (GA)	49%	64	70	95	17212	175	152	180
186	Pillar College (NJ)	33%	41	112	145	19348	159	194	195
187	Eckerd College (FL)	66%	106	184	193	29247	194	124	84
188	Hampden-Sydney College (VA)	66%	43	197	80	23268	184	146	174
189	Simpson University (CA)	66%	143	115	76	20694	188	181	131
190	Ave Maria University (FL)	67%	71	182	194	14692	178	178	177
191	Ouachita Baptist University (AR)	63%	71	181	168	17632	192	154	112
192	Southern Virginia University (VA)	39%	59	5	102	18343	186	188	169
193	Marymount Manhattan College (NY)	50%	84	195	50	30980	193	177	124
194	Birmingham-Southern College (AL)	68%	39	191	185	18569	195	102	178
195	Young Harris College (GA)	40%	74	199	148	17704	197	186	28
196	Hebrew Theological College (IL)	9%	12	198	96	9815	191	194	194
197	East-West University (IL)	14%	35	4	190	17992	196	194	190
198	Beulah Heights University (GA)	28%	39	172	195	10138	198	194	196
199	King's College (NY)	52%	34	171	105	31974	199	190	192

Definitions:

Pell/non-Pell graduation gap: graduation rate for Pell students minus the graduation rate for non-Pell students; a positive number indicates that students who receive Pell grants graduate at a higher rate than those who don’t, and vice versa.

2023 Liberal Arts Colleges Ranking

Definitions:

Pell/non-Pell graduation gap: graduation rate for Pell students minus the graduation rate for non-Pell students; a positive number indicates that students who receive Pell grants graduate at a higher rate than those who don’t, and vice versa.

* = public
° = for-profit

^^ Under heightened financial monitoring by the U.S. Department of Education

Definitions:

Pell/non-Pell graduation gap: graduation rate for Pell students minus the graduation rate for non-Pell students; a positive number indicates that students who receive Pell grants graduate at a higher rate than those who don’t, and vice versa.

* = public ° = for-profit

^^ Under heightened financial monitoring by the U.S. Department of Education

* = public
° = for-profit