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Five Reasons to Consider Small Liberal Arts Colleges


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When families think about college, large universities with big-name recognition often dominate the conversation. Yet, small liberal arts colleges, many with fewer than 4,000 students, provide a transformative undergraduate experience that rivals (and often surpasses) that of larger institutions. Both U.S. News and Forbes recently underscored their impact: the U.S. News Top 25 Liberal Arts Colleges and the Forbes Top 50 Small Colleges showcase schools where students thrive academically, personally, and professionally.


1. Personalized Learning and Faculty Mentorship

At colleges such as Williams, Amherst, and Swarthmore, students benefit from small classes where faculty know them by name. Professors often serve as mentors, guiding students toward research, internships, and graduate opportunities. This close contact is difficult to replicate at larger universities, where undergraduates may never take a class with a tenured professor.


2. A Close-Knit Community

With smaller campuses and residential living, students find it easier to connect, participate, and lead. Whether at Bowdoin in Maine, Pomona in California, or Washington & Lee in Virginia, students describe strong bonds and a sense of belonging. These relationships create a supportive environment that encourages collaboration and personal growth.


3. Breadth and Depth of Education

The liberal arts model prioritizes both specialization and exploration. Students major in everything from physics to philosophy, while also developing strong writing, communication, and problem-solving skills. These skills form the foundation for adaptability, an asset in a rapidly changing workforce.


4. Distinct Career Outcomes

Graduates of small colleges consistently achieve strong career outcomes. Forbes highlights that these schools, while small in size, are “well positioned” to prepare students for success. Their alumni networks are powerful and loyal, often opening doors in business, law, medicine, education, and the arts.

  • Higher Earnings: Many small colleges rank among the top in mid-career salary potential.

  • Graduate School Placement: Liberal arts colleges have some of the nation’s highest rates of students going on to advanced degrees.

  • Employer Preference: Surveys show employers value the critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills that liberal arts graduates bring.


5. Two Perspectives, One Message

  • U.S. News Top 25 LACs highlight schools like Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Wellesley, Carleton, Davidson, and Colby.

  • Forbes Top 50 Small Colleges broadens the picture, including institutions such as Caltech, Babson, Rose-Hulman, and the U.S. service academies.

Taken together, these rankings remind us that “small” does not mean limited. Instead, it points to focused attention, broad learning, and strong outcomes.


Why Families Should Consider Them

For students seeking challenge, community, and career readiness, small liberal arts colleges are a powerful choice. They may not always have the stadium crowds or sprawling campuses of larger universities, but their graduates prove that intimate learning environments produce big results.


Forbes list of 50 Top Small Colleges (2025)

  1. Williams College (MA)

  2. California Institute of Technology (CA)

  3. Amherst College (MA)

  4. Swarthmore College (PA)

  5. Claremont McKenna College (CA)

  6. Wellesley College (MA)

  7. Pomona College (CA)

  8. Washington and Lee University (VA)

  9. Bowdoin College (ME)

  10. Colgate University (NY)

  11. Wesleyan University (CT)

  12. Haverford College (PA)

  13. Harvey Mudd College (CA)

  14. Davidson College (NC)

  15. Babson College (MA)

  16. College of the Holy Cross (MA)

  17. Lafayette College (PA)

  18. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (MA)

  19. Bucknell University (PA)

  20. Colby College (ME)

  21. Hamilton College (NY)

  22. Trinity University (TX)

  23. Barnard College (NY)

  24. Trinity College (CT)

  25. Carleton College (MN)

  26. University of Richmond (VA)

  27. Smith College (MA)

  28. Grinnell College (IA)

  29. Bates College (ME)

  30. Vassar College (NY)

  31. Occidental College (CA)

  32. The Cooper Union (NY)

  33. Brandeis University (MA)

  34. Dickinson College (PA)

  35. Union College (NY)

  36. Scripps College (CA)

  37. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (IN)

  38. Franklin & Marshall College (PA)

  39. Pitzer College (CA)

  40. Colorado College (CO)

  41. Illinois Institute of Technology (IL)

  42. Kenyon College (OH)

  43. Gettysburg College (PA)

  44. Bryn Mawr College (PA)

  45. DePauw University (IN)

  46. Kalamazoo College (MI)

  47. St. Olaf College (MN)

  48. Connecticut College (CT)

  49. University of Portland (OR)

  50. SUNY Maritime College (NY)

 
 
 

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