Austin College

Students seeking a supportive, diverse, and collaborative college experience should consider Austin College, located in Sherman, Texas. All freshmen in #RooNation must enroll in a first-year seminar, a class capped at 20 students and taught by a faculty mentor. Austin College places a premium on student learning outcomes and makes experiential learning a graduation requirement. The college is so confident in its programs, they boast a “Finish in Four” guarantee.

Admit Rate: 51%.   

Cost of Attendance: $57, 992

Beloit College

A northeastern style college nestled between Milwaukee and Madison, Beloit College has a rich history of tolerance, free-thinking, and global perspectives. Beloiters understand that knowledge exists on a spectrum and classroom learning demands real-life integration and applicability. The college also features the Advanced Mentoring Program (AMP), which connects first years with a faculty mentor who guides and teaches new students as they transition into college living and learning. 

Admit Rate: 62%.   

Cost of Attendance: $65,430

Allegheny College

Allegheny College understands that we live in a world of multitudes, and encourages its students to think and learn without limits. Despite lacking a core curriculum, Alleghany requires its students to complete both a major and a minor, though they have until sophomore year to explore and declare. The Alleghany Gateway not only offers resources and facilities for support and success, but it also features a staggering network that connects students to study abroad programs and internship opportunities. 

Admit Rate: 62%.   

Cost of Attendance: $67,560

Clark University

In Worcester, Massachusetts, Clark University is a college devoted to the Liberal Education and Effective Practice (LEEP) model of learning, which couples classroom content with hands-on world and workplace experiences. Regardless of major, every Clarkie completes a “Problems of Practice” course, which provides an internship experience under faculty supervision. After 4 years of learning in practice, students complete and defend a senior capstone project.

Admit Rate: 52%.   

Cost of Attendance: $60,152

 Guilford College

A southern school founded in the Quaker tradition, Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, is a diverse and inclusive campus. A proponent of hands-on learning, Guilford’s academic semester consists of 12 weeks of classes capped with a 3 week intensive off-campus experience. In addition to declaring a traditional major, Guilford students are also encouraged to pursue a passion or issue to explore in a more indepth fashion. 

Admit Rate: 75%.   

Cost of Attendance: $55,290

McDaniel College

Hailed as one of the colleges that change lives, McDaniel College commits to its students. In fact, the McDaniel Commitment gives students access to a multitude of resources and a team of faculty and advisors dedicated to their success. In addition to four years of personalized attention, McDaniel students enjoy a rigorous liberal arts curriculum consisting of classwork and enriching learning experiences. 

Admit Rate: 91%. 

 Cost of Attendance: $61,042

University Puget Sound

Offering the best of the Pacific Northwest’s beaches and mountain ranges is the University of Puget Sound, located in Tacoma, Washington. UPS freshmen complete a core curriculum in the liberal arts, featuring freshman seminars and a capstone course. 

Admit Rate: 83%. 

 Cost of Attendance: $69,661

University of Redlands

Students seeking unparalleled academic freedom should look no farther than the University of Redlands. A true blend of liberal arts studies and pre-professional rigor, University of Redlands is home to the Johnson Center for Integrative Studies. This experimental learning program puts students at the helm of their studies. Eschewing core requirements, Johnson Center students design academic contracts with their professors and create their entire plan of study. 

Admit Rate: 76%.   

Cost of Attendance: $71,624

Hendrix College

Recognized as the South’s most progressive liberal arts college, Hendrix College equips its students with the passion and purpose to change the world. Located in Conway, Arkansas, Hendrix College’s students are inquisitive, passionate and fun. All freshmen participate in a week-long orientation that culminates in an off campus service and community trip. Hendrix College is especially strong in undergraduate research (over 60% of students participate) and career preparedness. 

Admit Rate: 69%. 

Cost of Attendance: $66,310

Willamette University

The first university in the West, Willamette provides students with a personalized education that is complemented by civic and global experiences. Willamette students are encouraged to pursue and engage in their passions through intensive seminars and many complete a capstone project culminating in a researched thesis. In fact, participating in research is encouraged at Willamette, and the university awards over 75 grants to undergraduates pursuing research. The university is also home to Salem Oregon’s Zena forest, a 305-acre outdoor laboratory. 

Admit Rate: 77%.   

Cost of Attendance: $69,598