What Are the Top Liberal Arts Schools in 2025?
Summary
Williams College currently holds the #1 spot among liberal arts colleges in the US in some recent rankings, followed closely by Amherst and Swarthmore. But there are other top-notch liberal arts colleges as well students need to consider. In this post Crimson's Director of Global Admissions, Abbigail Colwyn, offers a guide to the liberal arts colleges with the highest overall rankings and encourages students to get support from an expert strategist in order to get matched with the best schools possible and craft a winning application.
Top Liberal Arts Colleges in 2025
Liberal arts colleges have a curriculum designed to provide an education that focuses on overall intellectual enrichment and offer a curriculum centered on subjects like the humanities, arts, literature, writing, philosophy, sociology, and natural and social sciences.
An excellent liberal arts school is one that:
- Has a close-knit community, small classes, and deep connection with faculty on 1-1 level
- Prepares you to pursue graduate school (if you choose to)
- Offer an intellectually stimulating environment
- Has a characteristic school ‘personality’ (environmentally friendly, socially conscious, artsy, etc.)
- Offers wide range of subjects without forcing you to commit to a major
- Offers interdisciplinary learning and excellent undergrad research (in any field, not only lab sciences!)
Best Liberal Arts Colleges in 2025
| Source: National Liberal Arts Colleges Rankings, 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| College | Location | Rank |
| Williams College | Williamstown, Massachusetts | 1 |
| Amherst College | Amherst, Massachusetts | 2 |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | 3 |
| United States Naval Academy | Annapolis, Maryland | 4 |
| Bowdoin College | Brunswick, Maine | =5 |
| Pomona College | Claremont, California | =5 |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley, Massasschusetts | 7 |
| Carleton College | Northfield, Minnesota | 8 |
| Claremont McKenna College | Claremont, California | 8 |
| United States Air Force Academy | USAF Academy, Colorado | 8 |
| United States Military Academy at West Point | West Point, New York | 8 |
| Harvey Mudd College | Claremont, California | 9 |
The Best Liberal Arts School: Williams vs. Amherst
While US News ranks Williams as the top liberal arts college, I'd view both Williams and Amherst as the top liberal arts schools.
Your individual preferences are what determines which school is right for you. Here are the main differences between Amherst and Williams:
| Based on US news ranking (at schools where doctorate not offered) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Amherst | Williams | |
| Need blind? | For ALL students | Only for domestic students |
| Curriculum | Open Curriculum | Tutorial |
| Unique Academics | - Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought - Education Studies | - Anthropology - Astronomy/Astrophysics |
If you prefer an education that prioritizes student choice and self-directed learning, Amherst's open curriculum might suit you better.
On the other hand, if you prefer an education where the main teaching method is regular, very small group sessions like Oxford or Cambridge, Williams might be the better choice for you.
One thing that sets Amherst apart is the Access to Amherst program. A program prioritizes the invitation of students from historically excluded groups, such as African-American, Hispanic/Latinx American, Native American, and Asian-American backgrounds, as well as first-generation students. Typically 75% of the attendees were admitted.
Top Liberal Arts Colleges by Engineering Majors
Engineering is one of the most in-demand majors, with excellent job prospects. If you're looking to study engineering at a liberal arts schools, it's definitely worth considering these schools besides the high-ranking ones above.
| College | Location | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey Mudd College | Claremont, California | 2 |
| Lafayette College | Easton, Pennsylvania | 19 |
| Bucknell University | Lewisburg, Pennsylvania | 22 |
| Union College | Schenectady, New York | 22 |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | 22 |
| Trinity College | Hartford, Connecticut | 62 |
Top Liberal Arts Colleges by Financial Aid
If financial support is an important criteria for you, it would be wise to consider these schools that balance excellent academics with generous financial aid.
| College | US News Ranking | % of Intl Students with Financial Aid | Total Cost | Average Aid | Net Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skidmore College | 38 | 34% | $74,140 | $70,250 | $3,890 |
| Lafayette College | 38 | 52% | $74,016 | $61,022 | $12,994 |
| St. Olaf College | 62 | 100% | $62,880 | $48,102 | $14,778 |
Skidmore College offers one of the best average financial aid packages for international students. It also has strong academic programs in business, psychology, economics, studio art, biology, as well as a unique horse-riding program.
Between Philadelphia and New York City, Lafayette College has a great location, and offers students access to major urban centers while maintaining a tight-knit campus community. The school has a top-quality engineering program, ranking 2nd on our list above. It also has strong majors in government and law as well as mechanical engineering.
St. Olaf College is known for its music conservatory, where students can get tutored by music professionals. All international students at St. Olaf receive some sort of financial aid. The school also offers unique majors such as social work, nursing, and kinesiology.
Other Top Liberal Arts Schools to Consider
When I'm working with a student to find the right college for them, I think about what maximizes their chances of thriving in that school.
Ranking isn't everything. Besides the top schools above, there are other schools to consider for a variety of other factors.
Other Top Liberal Arts Schools
| School | Why Consider It? |
|---|---|
| Scripps College | - Excellent women’s college - Easier to get in than other consortium schools |
| Barnard | - Higher acceptance rate than Columbia University but you'll graduate with a Columbia degree - New York as a campus |
| Bryn Mawr College | - Excellent women’s college - Strong social science program - Dual program with UPenn |
Schools like Barnard and Bryn Mawr, part of the Seven Sisters, started out as a counterpart for the Ivy League at a time when the Ivy League only admitted male students. Today, these women's colleges are still excellent liberal arts schools.
The Claremont Consortium also stands out from other liberal arts schools. These colleges are a group of highly-selective colleges that share a central library, campus safety services, health services, and other resources.
Other schools stand out because of a specific program they excel in. For example, Harvey Mudd has the best engineering program out of all liberal arts schools.
Which Liberal Arts College Is Right for You?
Choosing between a liberal arts college and a university is a personal decision that should be made after extensive thought and research. All of these top liberal arts colleges deliver high-quality, well-rounded education.
You can find the perfect liberal arts school for you and maximize your chances of acceptance with our strategists! with the help of an expert strategist. From identifying the right program to putting together a perfect application, students working with Crimson are 7 times more likely to get admitted to their dream school!