College Guide

Rankings

Below are the Washington Monthly's 2010 liberal arts college rankings. We rate schools based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: Social Mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), Research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs), and Service (encouraging students to give something back to their country). For an explanation of each category, click here. For more information about the overall goals of the rankings, click here. To learn more about our methodology, click here.

Use the above dropdown menu to switch to different categories of schools. Click on the "sort" button at the top of each column to sort schools by that category. You can also sort the list by state or by name of college. * Indicates a public school.

sort	Institution sort a-z sort by state		Social Mobility sort				Research sort			Service sort

		Overall Score	Students receiving Pell grants	Predicted grad rate Actual grad rate Rank			Research expenditures, in millions Rank		Bachelor's to PhD rank	Peace Corps Rank	ROTC Rank	Federal work-study funds spent on service Rank		Community service participation and hours served Rank	Service staff, courses and financial aid support Rank
101	Westminster College (MO)	48	23%	68%	63%	180	$0.00	95	150	127	61	23%	33	45	36
102	Houghton College (NY)	48	32%	64%	72%	47	$0.00	95	128	89	37	7%	220	104	101
103	West Virginia Wesleyan College	48	27%	58%	59%	136	$0.00	95	153	201	125	12%	123	16	12
104	Millsaps College (MS)	47	19%	70%	68%	163	$0.59	62	94	173	94	7%	213	39	19
105	Washington & Jefferson (PA)	46	19%	66%	73%	61	$0.00	95	171	77	71	22%	41	71	85
106	Lewis & Clark College (OR)	46	10%	83%	71%	229	$1.05	43	66	14	93	25%	27	104	101
107	Bethany College (WV)	46	39%	45%	63%	6	$0.00	95	113	107	125	13%	116	104	101
108	Wittenberg University (OH)	46	17%	66%	63%	170	$0.00	95	44	125	125	15%	92	55	24
109	Stonehill College (MA)	46	10%	73%	82%	41	$0.00	95	158	182	51	13%	117	36	27
110	College of St. Benedict (MN)	46	19%	69%	84%	8	$0.00	95	165	93	125	25%	25	104	101
111	St. Vincent College (PA)	46	25%	58%	73%	9	$0.00	95	178	161	109	16%	86	82	68
112	Hollins University (VA)	46	27%	64%	59%	185	$0.00	95	149	19	125	13%	119	80	82
113	Lafayette College (PA)	45	9%	81%	89%	45	$1.47	34	83	140	48	10%	161	104	101
114	College of Idaho	45	20%	65%	67%	117	$0.00	95	111	34	125	33%	12	104	101
115	Lyon College (AR)	45	35%	61%	62%	134	$0.00	95	164	118	125	9%	179	29	101
116	Allen University (SC)	45	96%	17%	6%	222	$0.00	95	229	201	65	8%	194	104	101
117	Sewanee, University of the South (TN)	45	12%	78%	77%	153	$0.19	92	51	20	125	13%	115	104	101
118	Birmingham-Southern Col. (AL)	45	16%	69%	66%	174	$0.00	95	100	150	57	21%	44	65	42
119	College of the Atlantic (ME)	45	24%	72%	62%	215	$0.00	95	133	7	125	22%	39	104	101
120	St. Norbert College (WI)	45	20%	63%	75%	22	$0.00	95	115	193	14	15%	89	104	101
121	Hastings College (NE)	45	29%	56%	64%	51	$0.00	95	191	176	125	9%	177	42	28
122	Illinois Wesleyan University	45	13%	78%	83%	76	$0.86	51	62	76	72	10%	164	104	101
123	Carroll College (MT)	44	22%	61%	61%	147	$0.00	95	188	40	11	20%	54	104	101
124	Texas Lutheran University	44	28%	52%	52%	148	$0.00	95	190	152	103	68%	2	104	101
125	Olivet College (MI)	44	54%	38%	36%	162	$0.00	95	208	201	97	7%	232	56	21
126	Mass. Col. of Liberal Arts*	44	29%	53%	57%	82	$0.00	95	217	156	125	26%	23	75	26
127	Meredith College (NC)	44	25%	56%	66%	32	$0.00	95	222	172	125	28%	20	72	66
128	Moravian College (PA)	44	23%	63%	76%	13	$0.00	95	127	162	66	8%	206	89	94
129	University of Minnesota, Morris*	43	27%	65%	63%	159	$0.00	95	74	53	125	18%	67	104	101
130	Cedar Crest College (PA)	43	32%	57%	58%	129	$0.00	95	219	160	69	21%	51	79	58
131	Virginia Military Institute*	43	11%	68%	74%	69	$0.66	60	189	186	1	5%	241	104	101
132	Maryville College (TN)	43	30%	63%	51%	226	$0.00	95	192	177	125	9%	192	7	16
133	Clarke College (IA)	43	29%	60%	64%	79	$0.00	95	147	166	125	11%	142	52	87
134	Hampshire College (MA)	43	12%	78%	67%	223	$1.12	39	41	18	125	13%	112	104	101
135	Univ. of Puget Sound (WA)	43	12%	77%	76%	151	$0.45	65	78	17	88	8%	204	104	101
136	Centenary College of Louisiana	43	18%	66%	59%	196	$0.00	95	87	24	125	8%	203	51	75
137	Hope College (MI)	42	17%	71%	73%	113	$2.60	19	125	62	106	7%	240	104	101
138	Doane College (NE)	42	33%	57%	66%	37	$0.00	95	229	115	89	16%	79	104	81
139	Goshen College (IN)	42	22%	65%	72%	59	$0.00	95	49	80	125	7%	227	104	101
140	Transylvania University (KY)	42	23%	69%	70%	133	$0.00	95	80	134	73	17%	70	104	101
141	Simpson University (CA)	42	35%	55%	44%	220	$0.00	95	229	120	8	7%	221	98	61
142	Hiram College (OH)	42	35%	56%	62%	68	$0.00	95	76	149	125	7%	224	104	101
143	Oglethorpe University (GA)	42	26%	65%	62%	175	$0.00	95	202	171	92	9%	185	73	14
144	Pikeville College (KY)	42	61%	43%	36%	205	$0.00	95	229	201	29	12%	132	104	101
145	Ursinus College (PA)	41	13%	76%	76%	141	$0.47	64	117	88	125	7%	239	67	77
146	Muhlenberg College (PA)	41	5%	77%	86%	36	$0.51	63	114	196	60	8%	209	77	54
147	Whittier College (CA)	41	24%	57%	55%	156	$0.00	95	108	91	64	36%	7	104	101
148	Hendrix College (AR)	41	20%	76%	70%	195	$0.38	77	79	116	125	20%	53	104	101
149	Gettysburg College (PA)	41	8%	83%	83%	144	$0.43	71	77	36	87	10%	171	104	101
150	Franklin and Marshall College (PA)	41	7%	84%	79%	187	$1.99	25	61	59	125	10%	163	104	101
151	Russell Sage College (NY)	41	29%	62%	73%	23	$0.00	95	116	201	125	12%	127	104	101
152	U. of North Carolina, Asheville*	41	17%	69%	60%	209	$5.20	6	143	190	125	21%	47	104	101
153	Asbury College (KY)	41	21%	63%	71%	53	$0.00	95	121	187	40	19%	60	104	101
154	Huston-Tillotson University (TX)	41	76%	26%	16%	213	$0.00	95	215	201	26	7%	228	104	101
155	Wabash College (IN)	41	19%	68%	70%	111	$0.45	67	35	52	125	0%	245	104	101
156	Salem College (NC)	41	36%	56%	53%	172	$0.00	95	169	153	67	27%	21	104	101
157	Nebraska Wesleyan University	40	28%	65%	65%	139	$0.00	95	120	99	50	10%	155	104	101
158	Kentucky Wesleyan College	40	53%	48%	40%	208	$0.00	95	180	201	125	24%	29	104	101
159	Talladega College (AL)	40	68%	31%	29%	164	$0.00	95	179	201	125	10%	167	104	101
160	Lane College (TN)	40	69%	29%	32%	102	$0.00	95	229	201	91	8%	199	104	101
161	Pine Manor College (MA)	40	59%	27%	35%	44	$0.00	95	229	201	125	24%	30	104	101
162	Siena College (NY)	40	16%	66%	80%	11	$0.45	66	173	197	34	14%	100	104	101
163	St. Lawrence University (NY)	40	17%	73%	76%	100	$0.00	95	124	67	42	7%	234	104	101
164	Austin College (TX)	40	22%	73%	78%	75	$0.00	95	132	108	125	9%	187	104	101
165	Lindsey Wilson College (KY)	40	59%	40%	30%	219	$0.00	95	229	201	125	16%	83	69	90
166	Albion College (MI)	40	14%	68%	73%	74	$0.00	95	141	97	125	15%	93	66	89
167	Augustana College (IL)	40	15%	70%	75%	71	$0.21	91	97	54	125	13%	118	104	101
168	Gordon College (MA)	39	17%	69%	75%	62	$0.00	95	161	82	33	10%	173	104	101
169	Bloomfield College (NJ)	39	64%	28%	36%	46	$0.00	95	229	201	125	9%	191	104	101
170	Westmont College (CA)	39	15%	74%	80%	64	$0.00	95	137	184	56	17%	76	104	101
171	Trinity College (CT)	39	10%	82%	86%	78	$0.95	49	99	137	125	7%	217	104	101
172	Concordia College (NY)	39	30%	42%	43%	131	$0.00	95	229	151	125	61%	3	104	101
173	Monmouth College (IL)	38	28%	56%	67%	29	$0.00	95	172	147	55	12%	131	104	101
174	Scripps College (CA)	38	5%	88%	83%	186	$0.00	95	54	57	125	11%	151	104	101
175	Luther College (IA)	38	17%	71%	72%	130	$0.00	95	56	141	125	12%	129	104	101
176	Wheaton College (MA)	38	21%	76%	81%	72	$0.00	95	135	201	125	9%	190	104	101
177	Huntingdon College (AL)	37	34%	51%	55%	93	$0.00	95	156	201	35	13%	120	104	101
178	Northland College (WI)	37	38%	59%	57%	160	$0.00	95	185	86	125	7%	236	104	101
179	Guilford College (NC)	37	21%	63%	58%	190	$0.00	95	167	146	122	18%	65	84	46
180	Univ. of Maine, Presque Isle*	37	53%	38%	42%	81	$0.00	95	216	188	125	11%	149	104	101
181	Lycoming College (PA)	37	22%	58%	71%	15	$0.00	95	144	113	79	10%	156	104	101
182	Wisconsin Lutheran College	37	27%	60%	66%	66	$0.00	95	170	100	125	12%	122	104	101
183	Concordia Col., Moorhead (MN)	37	19%	67%	66%	154	$0.00	95	134	104	46	18%	66	104	101
184	Marlboro College (VT)	37	18%	74%	64%	212	$0.00	95	58	84	125	15%	88	104	101
185	Eastern Mennonite Univ. (VA)	37	28%	56%	65%	42	$0.00	95	105	170	125	8%	200	104	101
186	SUNY College, Old Westbury (NY)*	36	47%	48%	38%	214	$1.68	31	224	198	125	7%	230	70	101
187	Sterling College (KS)	36	47%	45%	51%	63	$0.00	95	229	201	125	11%	144	104	101
188	Stephens College (MO)	36	34%	55%	57%	116	$0.00	95	199	165	125	19%	55	104	101
189	St. Andrews Presb. Col. (NC)	36	18%	53%	54%	126	$0.00	95	106	41	125	30%	17	104	101
190	University of Hawaii, Hilo*	36	27%	48%	32%	238	$7.93	1	193	132	107	19%	57	104	101
191	Lake Forest College (IL)	35	18%	70%	66%	179	$0.39	74	148	28	125	8%	198	104	101
192	Randolph College (VA)	35	22%	64%	67%	106	$0.00	95	119	201	125	18%	62	104	101
193	Wells College (NY)	35	30%	60%	55%	183	$0.00	95	98	134	125	12%	133	104	101
194	Albright College (PA)	35	28%	52%	64%	19	$0.00	95	175	195	117	14%	98	104	101
195	McPherson College (KS)	35	28%	53%	48%	184	$0.00	95	229	201	125	23%	31	53	50
196	Bethel College (KS)	35	26%	60%	61%	135	$0.00	95	203	201	125	8%	207	85	53
197	Univ. of Wisconsin, Green Bay*	35	23%	58%	55%	167	$1.03	45	211	183	99	35%	9	104	101
198	Wingate University (NC)	34	31%	53%	53%	145	$0.00	95	214	201	104	11%	150	76	69
199	Green Mountain College (VT)	34	33%	54%	47%	203	$0.00	95	229	65	125	29%	19	104	101
200	Hampden-Sydney Col. (VA)	34	14%	67%	62%	181	$0.00	95	142	98	13	12%	126	104	101
201	Millikin University (IL)	34	25%	55%	63%	55	$0.00	95	152	154	125	14%	101	104	101
202	Washington College (MD)	34	11%	69%	80%	26	$0.00	95	159	87	125	10%	174	104	101
203	St. Anselm College (NH)	33	11%	65%	76%	27	$0.00	95	122	122	77	11%	145	104	101
204	Jarvis Christian College (TX)	33	76%	22%	10%	225	$0.00	95	229	201	125	11%	147	104	101
205	Berry College (GA)	33	23%	64%	61%	176	$0.24	86	168	133	125	18%	68	104	101
206	Georgetown College (KY)	32	23%	63%	57%	193	$0.00	95	146	114	32	8%	195	104	101
207	Bard College (NY)	32	12%	89%	75%	232	$0.28	83	65	201	125	7%	225	104	101
208	Hartwick College (NY)	32	26%	60%	55%	191	$0.00	95	136	126	125	15%	96	104	101
209	Goucher College (MD)	31	16%	70%	64%	192	$0.22	90	93	124	82	10%	168	104	101
210	Mesa State College (CO)*	31	28%	46%	32%	234	$0.00	95	226	200	125	21%	45	15	29
211	Randolph-Macon College (VA)	31	15%	63%	65%	110	$0.00	95	112	74	74	7%	212	104	101
212	University of Maine, Machias*	31	43%	46%	33%	231	$0.00	95	229	201	125	33%	13	104	101
213	Albertus Magnus College (CT)	31	33%	42%	56%	10	$0.00	95	220	201	125	11%	148	104	101
214	Sweet Briar College (VA)	30	15%	64%	72%	54	$0.43	70	195	105	125	8%	196	104	101
215	Eckerd College (FL)	30	19%	65%	64%	152	$0.00	95	163	159	76	14%	104	104	101
216	North Greenville University (SC)	30	31%	65%	49%	235	$0.00	95	229	201	36	19%	59	104	101
217	University of Virginia, Wise*	29	36%	45%	47%	124	$0.00	95	174	201	125	12%	125	104	101
218	Virginia Wesleyan College	28	31%	51%	44%	204	$0.00	95	229	201	22	8%	197	100	92
219	Bridgewater College (VA)	28	24%	56%	59%	96	$0.00	95	204	101	125	8%	205	104	101
220	American Jewish University (CA)	28	17%	66%	73%	60	$0.00	95	229	201	125	13%	114	104	101
221	Baker University (KS)	28	22%	60%	59%	149	$0.00	95	197	194	125	17%	73	104	101
222	Greensboro College (NC)	27	27%	48%	41%	199	$0.00	95	225	201	125	17%	69	94	45
223	Thomas Aquinas College (CA)	27	15%	77%	70%	202	$0.00	95	95	201	125	0%	245	104	101
224	Hanover College (IN)	26	19%	65%	59%	194	$0.00	95	69	163	125	0%	245	104	101
225	Merrimack College (MA)	26	14%	65%	72%	58	$0.00	95	205	174	125	7%	226	104	101
226	Roanoke College (VA)	26	16%	64%	61%	171	$0.40	73	187	128	125	12%	138	104	101
227	Univ. of Wisconsin, Parkside*	26	33%	48%	32%	236	$0.22	89	207	199	124	12%	121	83	59
228	Coastal Carolina University (SC)*	26	23%	56%	46%	216	$1.10	40	223	191	53	20%	52	104	101
229	Marymount Manhattan Col. (NY)	25	20%	60%	49%	221	$0.00	95	201	169	78	16%	80	102	88
230	Ferrum College (VA)	24	46%	38%	31%	201	$0.00	95	213	201	125	7%	238	104	101
231	Shimer College (IL)	24	20%	77%	55%	247	$0.00	95	75	201	125	4%	243	104	101
232	Franklin Pierce University (NH)	24	23%	52%	49%	166	$0.00	95	212	175	96	19%	58	104	101
233	College of St. Thomas More (TX)	24	14%	52%	75%	2	$0.00	95	229	201	125	0%	245	104	101
234	Thiel College (PA)	24	39%	43%	35%	207	$0.00	95	194	179	125	7%	214	104	101
235	Evangel University (MO)	24	32%	57%	40%	239	$0.00	95	155	201	63	9%	175	104	101
236	Warren Wilson College (NC)	23	17%	68%	46%	248	$0.00	95	181	5	125	2%	244	104	101
237	Bennington College (VT)	23	14%	80%	61%	242	$0.00	95	130	201	125	12%	134	104	101
238	Purchase College, SUNY (NY)*	23	22%	63%	51%	227	$0.00	95	196	158	125	13%	108	104	101
239	Peace College (NC)	22	40%	43%	29%	233	$0.00	95	229	201	81	17%	77	104	101
240	St. John's College (NM)	22	22%	79%	46%	251	$0.00	95	198	48	125	10%	169	104	101
241	Colorado State Univ., Pueblo*	21	36%	46%	33%	230	$0.15	94	227	201	47	7%	222	104	101
242	Atlantic Union College (MA)	21	32%	35%	36%	127	$0.00	95	183	201	125	12%	137	104	101
243	Fort Lewis College (CO)*	19	24%	54%	33%	245	$0.24	85	182	130	125	21%	46	104	101
244	Christopher Newport Univ. (VA)*	19	9%	68%	49%	241	$0.71	57	200	110	18	5%	242	104	101
245	Lambuth University (TN)	18	28%	56%	40%	237	$0.00	95	218	157	85	7%	219	104	101
246	Brevard College (NC)	18	27%	50%	31%	243	$0.00	95	229	144	125	9%	180	63	99
247	Western State Col. of Colorado*	16	25%	54%	36%	240	$0.00	95	209	155	125	12%	136	104	101
248	Brigham Young Univ., Hawaii	13	15%	63%	51%	228	$0.00	95	210	201	68	0%	245	104	101
249	Metropolitan State Col. of Denver*	12	24%	50%	21%	249	$0.00	95	228	192	90	33%	15	104	101
250	Sierra Nevada College (NV)	12	31%	51%	21%	250	$0.00	95	229	90	125	11%	140	104	101
251	Bryn Athyn Col. of New Church (PA)	8	17%	66%	44%	246	$0.00	95	229	201	125	0%	245	104	101
252	Thomas More Col. of Lib. Arts (NH)	0	21%	69%	26%	252	$0.00	95	229	201	125	0%	245	104	101

For items 1-100, click here »