2022 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	Net price of attendance for families below $75,000 income	% of loan principal remaining 5 years later	Predicted principal remaining	Social mobility rank	Research rank	Service rank
1	Harvey Mudd College (CA)	94%	25	18642	13%	28%	1	1	147
2	Pomona College (CA)	95%	64	7632	28%	37%	12	11	18
3	Wesleyan University (CT)	91%	133	8367	38%	39%	9	4	54
4	Washington and Lee University (VA)	93%	48	3924	33%	34%	2	104	39
5	Berea College (KY)	66%	287	4186	58%	61%	3	110	55
6	Williams College (MA)	95%	101	5080	38%	35%	11	8	90
7	Swarthmore College (PA)	95%	54	8420	42%	35%	36	2	74
8	Claremont McKenna College (CA)	93%	38	11018	31%	37%	6	25	99
9	Lafayette College (PA)	89%	58	12366	32%	40%	5	56	53
10	Amherst College (MA)	95%	93	7264	41%	37%	15	12	85
11	Bryn Mawr College (PA)	86%	55	14713	42%	41%	55	5	37
12	Haverford College (PA)	92%	46	10765	36%	36%	48	7	31
13	Smith College (MA)	89%	159	11695	43%	42%	41	13	20
14	Middlebury College (VT)	94%	64	9868	31%	36%	33	31	8
15	Grinnell College (IA)	86%	87	14318	38%	38%	67	9	24
16	Macalester College (MN)	89%	78	14413	32%	38%	46	24	10
17	Bowdoin College (ME)	95%	66	9684	36%	36%	44	20	12
18	Carleton College (MN)	93%	58	12544	29%	33%	54	3	83
19	College of Saint Benedict (MN)	81%	116	18939	37%	47%	26	109	6
20	Wellesley College (MA)	92%	112	8420	41%	36%	50	6	119
21	Franklin and Marshall College (PA)	85%	82	14460	41%	44%	13	27	93
22	Vassar College (NY)	91%	152	11180	38%	34%	42	15	46
23	Beloit College (WI)	80%	63	9083	42%	50%	16	49	47
24	Hamilton College (NY)	93%	71	10909	35%	35%	18	46	60
25	Connecticut College (CT)	83%	65	17808	37%	39%	20	57	45
26	Colby College (ME)	91%	49	3602	40%	35%	22	41	70
27	Mount Holyoke College (MA)	85%	127	15930	47%	44%	63	16	34
28	St. Olaf College (MN)	88%	106	13125	33%	39%	30	35	58
29	Whitman College (WA)	88%	43	21290	27%	39%	68	22	16
30	Gustavus Adolphus College (MN)	79%	145	15404	41%	42%	23	89	30
31	Knox College (IL)	75%	89	16524	45%	51%	61	79	5
32	Dickinson College (PA)	84%	67	14970	41%	41%	31	81	22
33	Bucknell University (PA)	89%	96	23921	34%	37%	24	26	125
34	College of the Holy Cross (MA)	91%	122	17347	38%	37%	10	102	103
35	University of MN–Morris (MN)*	60%	102	5048	50%	55%	25	84	57
36	Davidson College (NC)	92%	57	8240	42%	39%	29	34	124
37	University of Richmond (VA)	84%	145	10855	41%	40%	21	59	106
38	Colgate University (NY)	90%	82	11633	41%	37%	32	33	104
39	Simmons College of Kentucky (KY)	23%	1	5656	N/A	87%	4	195	189
40	Saint Mary's College (IN)	78%	67	14787	43%	49%	19	122	69
41	New College of Florida (FL)*	64%	46	7194	51%	47%	74	18	23
42	Allegheny College (PA)	75%	130	18552	45%	46%	71	69	13
43	Wheaton College (IL)	89%	134	18123	31%	38%	40	28	135
44	Trinity College (CT)	84%	67	10909	45%	42%	34	82	75
45	Juniata College (PA)	79%	75	19046	45%	46%	66	58	36
46	Occidental College (CA)	84%	108	16697	36%	35%	70	44	35
47	Hobart & William Smith Colls. (NY)	79%	87	20622	45%	43%	89	99	4
48	Denison University (OH)	85%	102	16692	43%	43%	97	90	3
49	Bates College (ME)	90%	52	9238	40%	36%	72	45	32
50	Kenyon College (OH)	90%	38	14199	34%	37%	60	21	116
51	Skidmore College (NY)	88%	95	12202	41%	41%	37	53	128
52	Gettysburg College (PA)	84%	83	14625	37%	40%	45	75	73
53	DePauw University (IN)	84%	101	17868	42%	47%	27	73	150
54	Saint John's University (MN)	76%	78	17117	37%	44%	62	51	68
55	Tougaloo College (MS)	41%	102	13571	87%	89%	28	62	174
56	St. Mary's College of MD (MD)*	76%	64	11346	40%	46%	49	68	92
57	Bennett College (NC)	44%	87	20170	86%	89%	38	140	62
58	Sacred Heart Major Seminary (MI)	65%	13	23205	56%	53%	7	175	201
59	Barnard College (NY)	93%	113	14406	38%	36%	53	19	164
60	Muhlenberg College (PA)	83%	63	18808	42%	42%	39	123	80
61	Kalamazoo College (MI)	83%	60	18118	43%	45%	81	43	49
62	St. John's College (MD)	72%	22	17041	40%	44%	58	40	144
63	Colorado College (CO)	88%	50	10523	35%	36%	86	38	64
64	Bethune-Cookman University (FL)	39%	338	16088	87%	87%	17	162	175
65	Albion College (MI)	65%	63	11955	52%	56%	59	83	98
66	Linfield College (OR)	72%	108	22925	45%	49%	51	107	97
67	Pitzer College (CA)	85%	40	12842	42%	39%	113	103	11
68	Hampshire College (MA)	67%	57	18687	47%	46%	168	23	1
69	Univ. of NH–Manchester (NH)*	61%	53	10438	44%	45%	8	190	196
70	Virginia Military Institute (VA)*	78%	53	9888	37%	42%	56	152	76
71	Thomas Aquinas College (CA)	81%	30	18435	28%	43%	14	119	201
72	Rust College (MS)	33%	130	10095	81%	86%	43	164	105
73	Centre College (KY)	84%	53	16174	44%	41%	99	77	33
74	Salem College (NC)	57%	105	15987	66%	62%	64	142	88
75	Lewis & Clark College (OR)	78%	111	22652	41%	41%	149	30	15
76	University of Mary Washington (VA)*	69%	168	16056	47%	47%	76	114	56
77	Univ. of NC–Asheville (NC)*	63%	253	9863	58%	51%	80	63	91
78	Coe College (IA)	67%	79	16297	44%	48%	82	118	41
79	Lake Forest College (IL)	72%	143	18750	49%	49%	47	95	169
80	Bard College (NY)	75%	84	19245	41%	49%	95	72	44
81	University of Puget Sound (WA)	78%	110	28054	41%	40%	122	70	19
82	Willamette University (OR)	75%	100	25468	43%	44%	93	42	109
83	Goucher College (MD)	66%	69	19924	48%	54%	110	126	21
84	Whittier College (CA)	68%	152	20973	56%	55%	104	135	25
85	St. Lawrence University (NY)	84%	96	15285	41%	43%	91	133	40
86	Agnes Scott College (GA)	69%	85	18119	65%	58%	137	65	17
87	Scripps College (CA)	87%	31	15306	34%	35%	85	61	138
88	Wartburg College (IA)	67%	97	18378	45%	48%	138	148	7
89	Lycoming College (PA)	68%	100	15003	52%	54%	35	134	195
90	Hartwick College (NY)	58%	106	20644	49%	55%	96	129	50
91	Sewanee–Univ. of the South (TN)	81%	65	20572	44%	41%	119	100	29
92	Union College (NY)	87%	89	15998	38%	40%	52	157	167
93	Wabash College (IN)	74%	51	15256	51%	44%	98	60	136
94	Furman University (SC)	81%	83	20437	44%	39%	143	48	28
95	St. John's College (NM)	51%	25	22434	48%	48%	114	54	111
96	Trinity University (TX)	79%	84	14852	36%	40%	139	39	52
97	Hope College (MI)	79%	159	18767	42%	44%	112	52	113
98	Wofford College (SC)	80%	77	20130	47%	42%	84	147	94
99	Drew University (NJ)	62%	95	18737	54%	52%	106	115	59
100	College of Wooster (OH)	74%	102	17206	44%	45%	136	47	42
101	Claflin University (SC)	52%	276	19392	84%	86%	94	132	86
102	Soka University of America (CA)	92%	31	12337	58%	50%	69	138	165
103	Cornell College (IA)	72%	97	21630	52%	47%	163	78	14
104	CUNY Medgar Evers College (NY)*	24%	290	5954	68%	79%	65	160	183
105	Washington & Jefferson College (PA)	73%	74	21816	49%	47%	87	96	151
106	Reed College (OR)	82%	56	17265	40%	35%	170	10	120
107	Houghton College (NY)	72%	102	22823	44%	49%	102	93	132
108	Ripon College (WI)	68%	69	15496	52%	50%	109	80	126
109	Central College (IA)	68%	89	18584	45%	47%	162	161	9
110	Westminster College (PA)	69%	112	17098	49%	51%	107	185	61
111	Saint Anselm College (NH)	77%	77	22347	41%	41%	116	163	66
112	Hendrix College (AR)	78%	70	14788	44%	40%	146	29	100
113	Covenant College (GA)	67%	68	20606	39%	45%	77	146	172
114	Oberlin College (OH)	86%	63	16457	36%	38%	157	17	133
115	Augustana College (IL)	76%	136	18933	46%	45%	105	117	130
116	Rhodes College (TN)	82%	70	17965	46%	39%	133	92	63
117	Albright College (PA)	59%	135	17056	58%	60%	83	172	145
118	Simpson University (CA)	72%	157	21483	55%	59%	88	180	127
119	Warren Wilson College (NC)	52%	59	21693	50%	51%	178	111	2
120	Illinois College (IL)	66%	71	13557	48%	52%	92	150	140
121	Bennington College (VT)	71%	33	23180	45%	49%	123	121	82
122	Washington College (MD)	72%	47	18470	47%	47%	73	143	184
123	Susquehanna University (PA)	72%	109	20371	46%	45%	103	145	134
124	MA College of Liberal Arts (MA)*	58%	136	14113	60%	56%	79	176	158
125	Earlham College (IN)	69%	56	16336	47%	50%	153	36	110
126	Bryn Athyn College (PA)	52%	15	16925	52%	60%	75	167	179
127	Ursinus College (PA)	78%	87	23946	44%	43%	115	67	170
128	Concordia College–Moorhead (MN)	72%	139	19130	41%	45%	128	106	81
129	SUNY Purchase College (NY)*	67%	297	15758	57%	52%	78	173	163
130	Randolph College (VA)	60%	36	20142	59%	56%	148	88	51
131	Providence Christian College (CA)	61%	8	20685	58%	60%	57	195	201
132	Saint Norbert College (WI)	72%	109	21446	44%	45%	142	139	38
133	Monmouth College (IL)	57%	104	14362	52%	53%	125	136	84
134	Univ. of Virginia's Coll.–Wise (VA)*	47%	134	8934	64%	60%	90	165	157
135	Dillard University (LA)	43%	165	17127	84%	83%	145	74	77
136	Wittenberg University (OH)	65%	93	18935	52%	47%	155	71	65
137	Lawrence University (WI)	79%	75	16617	45%	43%	140	64	118
138	Presbyterian College (SC)	66%	52	17237	52%	54%	124	154	87
139	Luther College (IA)	78%	102	19637	41%	44%	135	86	112
140	Saint Vincent College (PA)	74%	99	16653	49%	48%	111	131	152
141	Transylvania University (KY)	74%	63	20686	49%	43%	147	91	78
142	Sweet Briar College (VA)	54%	34	20786	52%	54%	121	108	142
143	Saint Michael's College (VT)	79%	81	22945	40%	43%	141	94	101
144	Bloomfield College (NJ)	33%	157	18685	75%	79%	101	183	146
145	Stonehill College (MA)	80%	81	25882	39%	41%	129	112	108
146	Wheaton College (MA)	79%	83	21700	46%	42%	108	178	137
147	Westminster College (MO)	59%	57	19212	54%	52%	169	14	162
148	Hanover College (IN)	67%	87	16372	53%	49%	126	97	160
149	Austin College (TX)	70%	75	17629	50%	46%	156	66	122
150	Cheyney University of PA (PA)* ^^	24%	89	11686	86%	85%	134	159	107
151	Southwestern University (TX)	73%	81	21674	44%	46%	154	85	117
152	Univ. of Pittsburgh–Greensburg (PA)*	37%	91	14701	47%	50%	100	169	188
153	Sarah Lawrence College (NY)	79%	55	28029	43%	42%	151	76	141
154	Wells College (NY)	55%	56	17540	60%	59%	130	120	149
155	Ohio Wesleyan University (OH)	68%	88	21951	50%	48%	160	98	102
156	Maryville College (TN)	57%	91	16289	56%	50%	171	141	26
157	Westmont College (CA)	76%	74	25254	41%	42%	118	124	186
158	Gordon College (MA)	71%	80	22516	43%	48%	159	127	96
159	Lane College (TN)	28%	191	13483	85%	89%	120	194	153
160	Spelman College (GA)	77%	214	40870	84%	78%	186	37	48
161	University of Maine–Machias (ME)*	35%	42	7440	66%	66%	117	186	182
162	Virginia Union University (VA)	33%	130	20690	83%	89%	127	168	171
163	Roanoke College (VA)	68%	111	21385	49%	47%	144	125	159
164	Franklin College (IN)	62%	75	17068	57%	50%	161	179	95
165	Virginia Wesleyan University (VA)	52%	106	21731	63%	58%	172	171	43
166	Bethany Lutheran College (MN)	53%	44	12613	47%	52%	132	182	166
167	Millsaps College (MS)	67%	35	20001	56%	54%	165	55	178
168	Aquinas College (MI)	60%	113	14814	56%	53%	158	153	154
169	Bridgewater College (VA)	64%	101	17182	51%	52%	131	170	190
170	Hollins University (VA)	56%	50	18002	59%	53%	173	113	123
171	Meredith College (NC)	61%	107	20678	56%	52%	179	151	72
172	Georgetown College (KY)	55%	65	15756	59%	49%	187	155	27
173	Bethany College (WV)	42%	48	14269	63%	60%	177	184	71
174	Guilford College (NC)	50%	206	20831	67%	59%	182	130	89
175	Paine College (GA)	23%	51	13975	86%	90%	152	166	191
176	Johnson C. Smith University (NC)	39%	100	19336	85%	87%	175	116	143
177	Centenary College of Louisiana (LA)	53%	44	20811	52%	51%	185	87	114
178	Univ. of Science & Arts of Okla. (OK)*	41%	47	6757	67%	63%	164	191	155
179	Martin University (IN)	9%	29	14672	83%	90%	166	195	148
180	Randall University (OK)	38%	14	15117	70%	71%	150	195	198
181	Emmanuel College (MA)	67%	113	26516	55%	47%	181	192	115
182	Morehouse College (GA)	54%	174	33490	82%	75%	195	32	139
183	Allen University (SC)	25%	66	14115	87%	90%	167	189	181
184	Randolph-Macon College (VA)	64%	72	21432	51%	48%	174	156	187
185	Ouachita Baptist University (AR)	65%	83	17327	51%	47%	188	144	129
186	Oakwood University (AL)	49%	112	25215	83%	81%	194	101	121
187	Hampden-Sydney College (VA)	65%	43	26321	46%	44%	184	158	168
188	University of the West (CA)	54%	4	10367	78%	72%	176	195	176
189	Lyon College (AR)	47%	51	16583	58%	53%	193	137	131
190	Holy Cross College (IN)	45%	40	19431	58%	51%	183	195	185
191	Hebrew Theological College (IL)	9%	14	16168	43%	58%	180	177	199
192	Young Harris College (GA)	40%	63	17435	59%	58%	196	187	79
193	Oglethorpe University (GA)	48%	68	19721	67%	57%	189	149	192
194	Ave Maria University (FL)	56%	52	14292	57%	51%	190	174	180
195	Eckerd College (FL)	65%	124	28645	56%	46%	201	128	67
196	Fisk University (TN)	37%	52	24140	86%	80%	199	50	161
197	Southern Virginia University (VA)	40%	66	17037	63%	55%	191	193	177
198	Pillar College (NJ)	37%	46	19095	73%	71%	192	195	197
199	Marymount Manhattan College (NY)	48%	83	33207	58%	54%	197	181	156
200	Birmingham-Southern College (AL)	67%	48	20565	56%	47%	202	105	173
201	East-West University (IL)	23%	107	18528	80%	75%	198	195	194
202	King's College (NY)	51%	38	31979	45%	48%	200	188	200
203	Beulah Heights University (GA)	25%	39	11162	87%	72%	203	195	193