College Guide

Rankings

Below are the Washington Monthly's 2011 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	Houghton College (NY)	52	34%	65%	70%	71	$0.00	98	86	155	42	10%	160	125	124
102	Maryville College (TN)	51	33%	60%	56%	180	$0.00	98	160	104	122	10%	152	25	23
103	Union College (NY)	51	12%	81%	86%	76	$2.56	20	112	162	59	7%	223	102	113
104	Wabash College (IN)	51	25%	65%	67%	119	$0.61	69	20	43	122	0%	244	125	124
105	Drew University (NJ)	51	20%	65%	76%	16	$0.00	98	77	152	72	17%	72	109	101
106	Paine College (GA)	51	76%	19%	28%	23	$0.00	98	194	208	63	8%	192	125	124
107	Calvin College (MI)	51	17%	71%	75%	80	$3.34	11	65	139	56	7%	225	125	124
108	McDaniel College (MD)	51	20%	64%	70%	66	$0.00	98	107	149	6	10%	149	125	124
109	Coe College (IA)	51	19%	68%	70%	124	$0.44	79	173	91	23	15%	85	80	98
110	Bethel College (KS)	51	31%	64%	69%	75	$0.00	98	123	208	122	8%	207	76	40
111	St. Norbert College (WI)	51	17%	62%	71%	31	$0.00	98	116	179	30	18%	64	70	86
112	Lycoming College (PA)	51	24%	57%	76%	4	$0.00	98	131	187	84	14%	106	91	96
113	Centenary College of Louisiana (LA)	50	27%	63%	62%	157	$0.00	98	125	44	122	8%	189	61	53
114	St. Vincent College (PA)	50	26%	59%	73%	11	$0.00	98	135	196	122	8%	210	38	71
115	Ohio Wesleyan University (OH)	50	15%	71%	60%	221	$0.24	94	75	59	122	26%	22	22	74
116	College of Idaho (ID)	50	28%	63%	61%	167	$0.00	98	199	38	96	40%	7	125	124
117	Virginia Military Institute (VA)*	50	14%	67%	73%	63	$0.98	51	140	193	1	5%	241	125	124
118	Scripps College (CA)	50	8%	87%	87%	143	$0.00	98	42	33	122	13%	111	125	124
119	Hollins University (VA)	50	38%	57%	65%	42	$0.00	98	211	116	122	11%	145	90	102
120	Sewanee—University of the South (TN)	50	12%	78%	82%	84	$0.00	98	43	36	122	12%	121	125	124
121	Bloomfield College (NJ)	49	72%	27%	27%	135	$0.00	98	224	208	122	12%	130	110	107
122	Transylvania University (KY)	49	19%	70%	75%	77	$0.00	98	53	147	54	18%	61	125	124
123	Clarke University (IA)	49	32%	57%	65%	33	$0.00	98	224	174	122	18%	54	49	85
124	St. Michael's College (VT)	49	11%	68%	77%	24	$0.00	98	151	92	38	8%	209	26	48
125	College of Wooster (OH)	49	14%	73%	76%	102	$0.61	68	31	48	122	9%	179	125	124
126	Guilford College (NC)	49	22%	58%	61%	97	$0.00	98	174	132	87	30%	11	111	25
127	Stonehill College (MA)	48	11%	73%	82%	32	$0.00	98	175	153	52	8%	195	36	34
128	Johnson C. Smith University (NC)	48	56%	32%	38%	59	$0.00	98	210	208	46	7%	220	74	100
129	University of Puget Sound (WA)	48	12%	76%	78%	121	$0.34	85	56	15	82	8%	204	125	124
130	Doane College (NE)	48	29%	57%	64%	57	$0.00	98	120	135	75	15%	86	118	97
131	Asbury University (KY)	47	35%	54%	65%	18	$0.00	98	127	192	47	12%	124	125	124
132	St. Mary's College (IN)	47	15%	69%	79%	22	$0.00	98	146	83	17	14%	97	125	124
133	Huntingdon College (AL)	47	30%	52%	46%	196	$0.00	98	184	208	45	47%	3	116	81
134	West Virginia Wesleyan College (WV)	47	31%	53%	54%	134	$0.00	98	162	185	122	11%	144	27	26
135	Albion College (MI)	46	15%	68%	74%	61	$0.00	98	97	50	122	9%	186	89	91
136	Ursinus College (PA)	46	15%	76%	83%	54	$0.55	73	119	123	122	7%	234	121	68
137	Hope College (MI)	46	14%	71%	79%	41	$2.20	23	91	80	121	7%	228	125	124
138	Oglethorpe University (GA)	46	32%	65%	54%	222	$0.00	98	124	208	122	14%	99	78	16
139	Birmingham-Southern College (AL)	46	16%	69%	72%	101	$0.00	98	149	165	57	16%	83	62	61
140	Trinity College (CT)	46	13%	80%	86%	69	$0.67	63	64	112	122	8%	193	125	124
141	St. Lawrence University (NY)	45	16%	73%	81%	43	$0.00	98	122	58	43	9%	181	125	124
142	St. John's College (MD)	45	16%	83%	60%	244	$0.00	98	28	3	122	10%	162	125	124
143	Eckerd College (FL)	45	16%	66%	65%	156	$0.54	74	100	72	77	7%	230	43	76
144	Hiram College (OH)	45	33%	53%	69%	9	$0.00	98	110	186	106	7%	219	125	124
145	William Jewell College (MO)	45	18%	70%	63%	206	$0.00	98	96	208	53	17%	68	41	65
146	Lake Forest College (IL)	44	26%	67%	67%	136	$0.27	90	111	61	122	14%	101	125	124
147	Lafayette College (PA)	44	6%	81%	90%	30	$1.79	33	99	167	74	12%	131	125	124
148	Randolph College (VA)	44	28%	61%	63%	123	$0.00	98	80	137	122	19%	44	125	124
149	Kentucky Wesleyan College (KY)	44	40%	49%	52%	109	$0.00	98	179	171	122	27%	19	125	124
150	Pikeville College (KY)	44	50%	42%	35%	200	$0.00	98	224	208	15	23%	28	125	124
151	Pine Manor College (MA)	43	65%	24%	35%	19	$0.00	98	224	208	122	9%	178	125	124
152	Warren Wilson College (NC)	43	17%	68%	43%	245	$0.00	98	181	4	122	3%	242	31	3
153	St. Anselm College (NH)	43	11%	64%	73%	25	$0.00	98	143	114	92	10%	148	42	46
154	Goshen College (IN)	43	23%	63%	70%	50	$0.00	98	79	67	122	9%	177	125	124
155	Simpson University (CA)	43	41%	46%	43%	172	$0.00	98	224	134	7	8%	201	125	124
156	Gordon College (MA)	43	17%	68%	72%	83	$0.00	98	109	79	27	9%	176	125	124
157	Franklin and Marshall College (PA)	43	5%	84%	85%	128	$2.11	25	59	146	122	9%	185	125	124
158	Russell Sage College (NY)	43	33%	62%	70%	34	$0.00	98	147	164	122	7%	232	125	124
159	Hastings College (NE)	43	27%	60%	62%	114	$0.00	98	186	148	122	8%	206	40	64
160	Concordia College—Moorhead (MN)	43	20%	67%	66%	154	$0.74	59	83	87	50	13%	119	125	124
161	McPherson College (KS)	43	36%	50%	45%	191	$0.00	98	157	208	122	18%	56	57	60
162	St. Andrews Presbyterian College (NC)	42	29%	49%	43%	197	$0.00	98	224	53	122	53%	2	125	124
163	Texas Lutheran University (TX)	42	31%	52%	49%	173	$0.00	98	163	208	86	45%	5	125	124
164	Moravian College (PA)	42	20%	61%	75%	10	$0.00	98	180	128	61	7%	231	97	119
165	Cedar Crest College (PA)	42	32%	57%	55%	168	$0.00	98	158	170	122	13%	113	96	87
166	Hampshire College (MA)	42	12%	78%	64%	226	$1.02	50	55	19	122	14%	102	125	124
167	Austin College (TX)	41	23%	74%	74%	144	$0.00	98	102	125	122	8%	199	125	124
168	Westminster College (MO)	41	21%	65%	58%	201	$0.00	98	215	145	65	19%	48	39	43
169	Thomas Aquinas College (CA)	41	17%	78%	82%	81	$0.00	98	70	97	122	0%	244	125	124
170	SUNY College—Old Westbury (NY)*	41	42%	48%	37%	219	$1.44	35	222	205	113	8%	200	71	31
171	Hendrix College (AR)	40	16%	83%	66%	234	$0.68	62	54	101	110	17%	71	125	124
172	Westmont College (CA)	40	16%	70%	80%	21	$0.00	98	113	183	64	12%	128	125	124
173	University of Minnesota—Morris (MN)*	40	27%	65%	59%	194	$0.00	98	108	96	122	19%	46	125	124
174	St. John's College (NM)	40	23%	78%	53%	246	$0.00	98	19	57	122	7%	214	125	124
175	Luther College (IA)	40	16%	71%	76%	74	$0.41	81	78	140	122	10%	165	125	124
176	Carroll College (MT)	40	16%	64%	64%	151	$0.00	98	156	102	10	12%	123	125	124
177	Muhlenberg College (PA)	39	5%	76%	85%	26	$0.51	75	134	208	118	9%	175	92	78
178	College of the Atlantic (ME)	39	28%	71%	61%	217	$0.00	98	224	39	122	18%	57	125	124
179	Siena College (NY)	39	16%	66%	73%	46	$0.57	71	182	194	28	13%	110	125	124
180	Sweet Briar College (VA)	39	22%	57%	60%	98	$0.00	98	60	107	122	13%	118	125	124
181	Hanover College (IN)	38	20%	63%	63%	142	$0.00	98	69	130	122	17%	67	125	124
182	Wittenberg University (OH)	38	13%	72%	66%	192	$0.00	98	142	133	122	9%	170	47	42
183	Monmouth College (IL)	38	25%	57%	64%	47	$0.00	98	176	161	36	12%	127	125	124
184	University of North Carolina—Asheville (NC)*	38	20%	68%	59%	210	$4.04	8	165	166	122	11%	136	125	124
185	Nebraska Wesleyan University (NE)	38	26%	65%	66%	130	$0.00	98	154	106	73	9%	183	125	124
186	Jarvis Christian College (TX)	38	68%	18%	11%	203	$0.00	98	224	208	122	26%	21	125	124
187	University of Virginia—Wise (VA)*	38	40%	44%	50%	67	$0.00	98	190	208	69	15%	91	125	124
188	University of Hawaii—Hilo (HI)*	38	30%	46%	31%	230	$6.92	2	203	150	68	14%	103	125	124
189	Wheaton College (MA)	37	18%	75%	75%	148	$0.00	98	153	119	122	12%	122	125	124
190	Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MA)*	36	30%	52%	50%	164	$0.00	98	224	169	122	15%	88	108	38
191	Hampden-Sydney College (VA)	36	11%	65%	66%	132	$0.00	98	118	144	18	17%	73	125	124
192	Wingate University (NC)	36	28%	52%	55%	106	$0.00	98	209	188	108	8%	205	77	62
193	Georgetown College (KY)	36	23%	61%	61%	140	$0.00	98	161	125	32	11%	146	125	124
194	Goucher College (MD)	36	17%	67%	69%	125	$0.29	88	105	105	76	8%	202	125	124
195	Marlboro College (VT)	36	16%	75%	60%	228	$0.00	98	93	34	122	18%	63	125	124
196	Wells College (NY)	35	30%	60%	59%	163	$0.00	98	224	49	122	9%	180	125	124
197	College of St. Thomas More (TX)	35	50%	59%	50%	212	$0.00	98	224	208	122	0%	244	125	124
198	Wesleyan College (GA)	35	31%	55%	41%	227	$0.00	98	224	208	122	13%	109	35	17
199	Augustana College (IL)	35	12%	70%	78%	39	$0.00	98	144	121	122	12%	120	125	124
200	Lyon College (AR)	35	31%	62%	46%	233	$0.00	98	52	208	122	16%	80	125	124
201	Coastal Carolina University (SC)*	35	23%	55%	46%	209	$1.97	28	205	207	49	18%	62	45	124
202	Roanoke College (VA)	34	15%	63%	64%	129	$0.40	82	172	159	122	11%	133	84	94
203	Bard College (NY)	34	13%	88%	78%	218	$0.00	98	106	136	122	7%	224	125	124
204	University of Maine—Machias (ME)*	34	45%	39%	35%	184	$0.00	98	224	208	122	27%	18	125	124
205	Thiel College (PA)	34	44%	44%	40%	183	$0.00	98	169	138	122	7%	215	125	124
206	University of Wisconsin—Green Bay (WI)*	33	21%	58%	52%	193	$1.06	48	201	182	100	32%	9	125	124
207	Berry College (GA)	32	21%	66%	59%	198	$0.00	98	126	124	122	17%	69	125	124
208	Baker University (KS)	32	32%	58%	54%	185	$0.00	98	183	199	99	14%	104	125	124
209	Hartwick College (NY)	32	24%	60%	57%	176	$0.00	98	138	191	122	18%	66	125	124
210	Mesa State College (CO)*	32	28%	49%	29%	240	$0.66	65	218	202	122	25%	24	17	57
211	University of Maine—Presque Isle (ME)*	32	48%	38%	33%	188	$0.00	98	185	208	122	13%	115	125	124
212	Albright College (PA)	31	28%	56%	62%	65	$0.00	98	195	201	122	8%	197	125	124
213	Washington College (MD)	31	10%	67%	79%	15	$0.00	98	191	78	122	7%	218	125	124
214	Northland College (WI)	31	19%	60%	60%	147	$0.00	98	152	54	122	10%	156	125	124
215	Eastern Mennonite University (VA)	31	23%	59%	62%	108	$0.00	98	132	180	122	8%	196	125	124
216	Burlington College (VT)	31	48%	45%	38%	205	$0.00	98	224	208	122	10%	167	125	124
217	Wisconsin Lutheran College (WI)	30	25%	60%	64%	88	$0.00	98	187	208	122	10%	159	125	124
218	Green Mountain College (VT)	30	28%	57%	44%	225	$0.00	98	224	110	122	33%	8	125	124
219	Meredith College (NC)	30	19%	57%	57%	146	$0.00	98	166	175	122	7%	235	95	83
220	Randolph-Macon College (VA)	30	19%	60%	63%	99	$0.00	98	168	122	55	6%	239	125	124
221	Peace College (NC)	29	38%	42%	35%	199	$0.00	98	224	208	122	13%	117	105	77
222	Bridgewater College (VA)	29	24%	53%	57%	91	$0.00	98	200	89	122	9%	182	125	124
223	Ferrum College (VA)	28	45%	38%	36%	165	$0.00	98	224	189	122	7%	233	125	124
224	Virginia Wesleyan College (VA)	27	26%	50%	45%	187	$0.00	98	192	184	21	8%	188	125	124
225	Atlantic Union College (MA)	27	39%	32%	39%	53	$0.00	98	196	208	122	8%	191	125	124
226	University of Wisconsin—Parkside (WI)*	26	34%	46%	27%	238	$0.21	95	216	206	104	17%	70	72	73
227	Sterling College (KS)	26	35%	51%	41%	216	$0.00	98	224	100	122	11%	134	125	124
228	Christopher Newport University (VA)*	26	10%	74%	58%	232	$0.81	57	189	117	31	6%	237	124	99
229	Albertus Magnus College (CT)	26	35%	38%	46%	37	$0.00	98	219	208	122	7%	211	125	124
230	Bennington College (VT)	26	14%	79%	58%	241	$0.00	98	68	157	122	11%	143	125	124
231	Stephens College (MO)	26	28%	54%	52%	169	$0.00	98	198	208	122	11%	139	125	124
232	Concordia College (NY)	25	34%	40%	41%	133	$0.00	98	224	160	122	13%	112	125	124
233	North Greenville University (SC)	25	31%	60%	52%	207	$0.00	98	224	208	41	0%	243	125	124
234	Purchase College—SUNY (NY)*	24	25%	62%	49%	224	$0.00	98	193	158	122	15%	95	125	124
235	Greensboro College (NC)	24	25%	49%	45%	178	$0.00	98	188	208	81	9%	169	103	121
236	Evangel University (MO)	22	28%	56%	45%	220	$0.00	98	167	195	71	6%	238	125	124
237	Lambuth University (TN)	22	31%	48%	41%	204	$0.00	98	208	154	83	8%	208	125	124
238	Franklin Pierce University (NH)	22	20%	52%	45%	202	$0.00	98	214	208	122	30%	12	125	124
239	Colorado State University—Pueblo (CO)*	21	36%	45%	27%	237	$0.32	86	212	173	39	10%	161	125	124
240	Western State College of Colorado (CO)*	20	21%	54%	39%	229	$0.00	98	177	108	122	20%	41	125	124
241	Fort Lewis College (CO)*	20	20%	56%	34%	243	$0.26	93	197	88	122	18%	58	87	122
242	Marymount Manhattan College (NY)	19	21%	59%	49%	215	$0.00	98	220	177	97	12%	126	125	124
243	American Jewish University (CA)	18	36%	45%	28%	236	$0.00	98	224	208	122	19%	51	125	124
244	Brevard College (NC)	16	25%	50%	30%	239	$0.00	98	224	156	122	10%	150	54	118
245	Shimer College (IL)	15	31%	74%	28%	249	$0.00	98	90	208	122	9%	184	125	124
246	Sierra Nevada College (NV)	11	17%	53%	38%	231	$0.00	98	224	109	122	15%	84	125	124
247	Brigham Young University—Hawaii (HI)	11	15%	64%	52%	223	$0.00	98	207	203	90	0%	244	125	124
248	Metropolitan State College of Denver (CO)*	5	27%	48%	21%	247	$0.00	98	217	204	70	8%	194	125	124
249	Bryn Athyn College of the New Church (PA)	0	16%	63%	33%	248	$0.00	98	224	208	48	0%	244	125	124

For items 1-100, click here »