College Guide

Rankings

Below are the Washington Monthly's 2012 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, ° indicates a for-profit school.

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

		Overall Score	Students receiving Pell grants	Net price	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
102	Calvin College (MI)	43	27%	22974	72%	77%	138	5.01	11	108	165	58	7%	212	91	93
103	College of Idaho (ID)	42	34%	16712	67%	58%	129	0.00	105	160	59	97	40%	5	91	93
104	Simpson College (IA)	42	29%	17712	63%	68%	60	0.00	105	185	157	118	15%	110	43	12
105	University of Minnesota-Morris (MN)*	42	32%	13595	56%	66%	23	0.67	75	114	149	118	18%	82	91	93
106	SUNY College-Old Westbury (NY)*	42	49%	8814	52%	39%	30	1.20	63	202	198	87	7%	211	23	18
107	Sarah Lawrence College (NY)	42	21%	26112	75%	77%	190	0.16	104	51	102	51	38%	9	91	93
108	Linfield College (OR)	42	24%	22842	65%	63%	178	0.00	105	144	16	109	12%	139	40	32
109	Transylvania University (KY)	42	24%	18993	72%	76%	76	0.00	105	54	143	77	19%	70	91	93
110	Presbyterian College (SC)	42	23%	13983	61%	66%	36	0.00	105	119	147	2	18%	79	27	67
111	Birmingham Southern College (AL)	42	22%	20357	72%	63%	188	0.00	105	72	138	68	7%	213	46	58
112	Maryville College (TN)	42	36%	15375	67%	59%	88	0.00	105	139	63	118	8%	206	17	29
113	College of Wooster (OH)	42	19%	24322	75%	77%	177	0.99	65	47	22	118	15%	114	91	93
114	Chester College of New England (NH)	41	56%	21374	54%	79%	44	0.00	105	205	198	118	25%	34	91	93
115	Kentucky State University (KY)*	41	64%	8663	31%	25%	15	4.91	12	177	194	75	21%	60	79	90
116	Lane College (TN)	40	90%	8862	30%	32%	9	0.00	105	205	198	118	12%	141	91	93
117	Lyon College (AR)	40	45%	15986	62%	51%	134	0.00	105	135	155	118	14%	123	91	93
118	Hope College (MI)	40	21%	22702	76%	78%	151	3.60	22	89	97	118	7%	224	91	93
119	West Virginia State University (WV)*	40	51%	10346	29%	23%	28	3.77	18	182	187	28	10%	167	91	93
120	Gettysburg College (PA)	39	13%	27938	86%	85%	229	0.81	69	85	51	71	10%	168	60	85
121	St. Norbert College (WI)	39	22%	20019	66%	77%	66	0.00	105	147	112	33	22%	46	41	59
122	University of Maine-Machias (ME)*	39	58%	8594	27%	34%	6	0.00	105	205	198	118	23%	40	91	93
123	College of the Atlantic (ME)	39	38%	13710	60%	69%	25	0.00	105	205	198	118	31%	19	91	93
124	Austin College (TX)	39	26%	19108	70%	79%	61	0.00	105	66	78	118	8%	204	91	93
125	Cornell College (IA)	39	26%	21201	77%	66%	217	0.00	105	113	120	118	15%	104	62	84
126	Skidmore College (NY)	38	14%	24614	76%	84%	141	2.85	33	133	91	118	13%	129	65	48
127	Bay Path College (MA)	38	52%	20091	53%	56%	104	0.00	105	205	198	118	16%	102	86	5
128	United States University (CA)°	38	100%	NA	1%	0%	121	0.00	105	205	198	118	0%	230	91	93
129	Johnson C. Smith University (NC)	38	71%	18143	40%	39%	94	0.00	105	164	198	27	11%	152	56	54
130	Eckerd College (FL)	38	17%	28335	68%	69%	225	0.33	102	88	31	70	9%	185	53	23
131	Westminster College (PA)	38	30%	19084	63%	79%	47	0.00	105	178	162	118	22%	55	36	27
132	Shawnee State University (OH)*	38	57%	13958	32%	21%	84	0.00	105	205	196	118	32%	17	85	80
133	University of Puget Sound (WA)	38	19%	29402	75%	80%	211	0.46	94	41	14	104	7%	216	91	93
134	Mesa State College (CO)*	38	38%	12195	39%	26%	67	1.80	51	199	195	118	28%	27	21	73
135	Beloit College (WI)	38	21%	21475	78%	77%	156	0.00	105	50	69	118	11%	157	91	93
136	Stonehill College (MA)	38	14%	28873	78%	85%	193	0.00	105	148	116	50	16%	103	11	47
137	Sewanee-University of the South (TN)	37	15%	22301	75%	81%	123	0.00	105	63	61	118	17%	91	91	93
138	Gordon College (MA)	37	26%	25920	70%	71%	195	0.00	105	110	137	42	7%	218	80	26
139	Harrisburg Univ. of Science & Tech. (PA)	37	69%	13515	31%	NA	19	0.00	105	205	198	118	7%	208	91	93
140	DePauw University (IN)	37	20%	22333	76%	85%	105	0.50	89	140	33	114	33%	16	91	93
141	Ursinus College (PA)	37	20%	27123	79%	81%	202	0.54	85	78	110	118	7%	223	87	56
142	Virginia Military Institute (VA)*	36	15%	10350	63%	70%	13	0.85	67	179	166	1	1%	229	91	93
143	Pikeville College (KY)	36	66%	14625	45%	38%	71	0.00	105	205	198	19	10%	177	91	93
144	Allen University (SC)	36	99%	12453	22%	8%	74	0.00	105	205	198	54	8%	192	91	93
145	Univ. of North Carolina-Asheville (NC)*	36	22%	8662	65%	55%	22	2.67	36	156	156	118	11%	154	91	93
146	Goshen College (IN)	36	35%	18194	68%	68%	87	0.00	105	97	65	118	7%	214	91	93
147	Houghton College (NY)	36	36%	21301	68%	68%	148	0.00	105	130	123	36	8%	200	91	93
148	Georgetown College (KY)	36	35%	16948	62%	68%	51	0.00	105	201	154	49	9%	183	82	60
149	Scripps College (CA)	36	11%	24014	89%	82%	224	0.00	105	79	52	118	9%	186	91	93
150	St. Mary's College of Maryland (MD)*	35	11%	20236	70%	77%	79	0.34	99	120	9	118	21%	61	91	93
151	St. Michael's College (VT)	35	16%	27472	70%	77%	179	0.64	79	165	95	62	13%	131	37	36
152	Hanover College (IN)	35	30%	15249	61%	66%	42	0.00	105	75	103	118	14%	121	91	93
153	Southern Virginia University (VA)	35	48%	17418	50%	27%	242	0.00	105	205	198	39	30%	21	91	93
154	Lafayette College (PA)	34	10%	22231	82%	89%	116	2.09	42	38	167	64	18%	80	91	93
155	Berry College (GA)	34	30%	19200	68%	60%	173	0.00	105	94	135	118	19%	67	91	93
156	Clearwater Christian College (FL)	34	48%	16285	53%	40%	155	0.00	105	205	145	4	12%	140	91	93
157	Martin University (IN)	33	79%	16126	16%	19%	54	0.00	105	205	198	118	22%	47	91	93
158	Ripon College (WI)	33	32%	17841	66%	71%	62	0.00	105	112	198	16	15%	112	91	93
159	Goucher College (MD)	33	19%	24616	68%	66%	199	0.49	91	115	75	85	10%	172	84	70
160	Univ. of Virginia's College-Wise (VA)*	33	52%	9921	36%	48%	8	0.48	92	194	198	55	14%	124	91	93
161	Bennett College for Women (NC)	33	77%	18272	28%	47%	37	0.00	105	163	198	118	10%	179	91	93
162	Concordia College-Moorhead (MN)	33	23%	19861	69%	67%	135	0.62	82	122	105	53	13%	133	91	93
163	Wittenberg University (OH)	33	23%	24917	70%	66%	214	0.00	105	56	117	118	20%	66	91	93
164	Wabash College (IN)	32	21%	21743	70%	77%	101	3.20	26	80	40	118	0%	230	91	93
165	University of Wisconsin-Parkside (WI)*	32	37%	9814	40%	32%	26	0.54	84	200	197	108	16%	99	71	83
166	Bethany College (WV)	32	55%	18558	47%	58%	52	0.00	105	84	170	118	8%	193	91	93
167	Hartwick College (NY)	32	35%	21087	67%	56%	212	0.00	105	151	164	118	24%	38	91	93
168	Susquehanna University (PA)	32	19%	26840	70%	79%	159	0.00	105	159	130	41	29%	24	55	77
169	Eastern Nazarene College (MA)	32	44%	20917	54%	55%	133	0.00	105	150	198	118	35%	13	91	93
170	Washington & Jefferson College (PA)	32	23%	26305	72%	71%	210	1.33	60	169	115	57	24%	39	49	88
171	Augustana College (IL)	32	17%	24508	73%	77%	171	0.47	93	117	111	118	19%	69	91	93
172	Bethany Lutheran College (MN)	32	43%	15230	56%	40%	168	0.00	105	205	150	38	16%	100	91	93
173	College of the Holy Cross (MA)	31	14%	23288	84%	93%	120	1.28	62	57	174	20	13%	130	91	93
174	Green Mountain College (VT)	31	31%	24212	56%	47%	234	0.00	105	205	107	118	35%	12	91	93
175	Northland College (WI)	31	35%	18474	54%	54%	91	0.00	105	100	144	118	9%	184	91	93
176	St. Mary's College (IN)	31	25%	24964	70%	82%	124	0.00	105	152	93	23	16%	101	91	93
177	Erskine College and Seminary (SC)	31	30%	14899	57%	63%	39	0.00	105	53	198	76	11%	164	91	93
178	Argosy University-Phoenix Online (AZ)°	31	82%	24924	28%	NA	219	0.00	105	205	198	118	0%	230	91	93
179	Luther College (IA)	31	19%	22722	78%	74%	191	0.34	99	121	136	118	14%	120	91	93
180	Bloomfield College (NJ)	31	77%	13900	35%	29%	59	0.00	105	205	198	118	11%	158	91	93
181	Moravian Coll./Moravian Theo. Sem. (PA)	30	34%	22799	64%	71%	126	0.00	105	146	76	79	12%	148	91	93
182	Bennington College (VT)	30	21%	27123	69%	60%	243	0.00	105	101	35	118	12%	136	91	93
183	Wisconsin Lutheran College (WI)	30	38%	16667	62%	58%	85	0.00	105	191	198	88	16%	97	91	93
184	Union College (NY)	30	19%	23972	80%	83%	167	1.98	46	109	161	61	10%	171	91	93
185	Trinity College (CT)	29	11%	19192	81%	86%	72	1.88	49	125	100	118	13%	134	91	93
186	Rust College (MS)	29	68%	8716	34%	27%	16	0.00	105	192	198	118	9%	188	91	93
187	Fort Lewis College (CO)*	29	30%	11433	38%	38%	24	0.39	97	184	134	118	22%	53	91	93
188	Marlboro College (VT)	29	25%	27441	55%	50%	237	0.00	105	166	25	118	18%	78	91	93
189	Mass. College of Liberal Arts (MA)*	29	39%	10894	56%	51%	29	0.00	105	181	146	118	13%	132	91	93
190	Nebraska Wesleyan University (NE)	29	28%	20723	66%	65%	144	0.00	105	155	153	93	12%	146	91	93
191	St. Anselm College (NH)	28	18%	27806	64%	74%	172	0.00	105	131	133	110	12%	142	52	42
192	Ouachita Baptist University (AR)	28	26%	15265	65%	57%	89	0.00	105	136	185	44	17%	90	91	93
193	Wells College (NY)	28	34%	20796	58%	63%	97	0.00	105	142	83	118	17%	92	91	93
194	St. Lawrence University (NY)	28	19%	25976	81%	83%	189	0.00	105	162	30	56	7%	210	91	93
195	Pine Manor College (MA)	28	79%	17706	34%	34%	81	0.00	105	205	198	118	7%	219	91	93
196	Simpson University (CA)	28	52%	17176	50%	43%	128	0.00	105	205	175	10	7%	225	91	93
197	Carthage College (WI)	27	33%	25435	73%	58%	247	0.00	105	170	151	95	10%	170	91	93
198	Shimer College (IL)	27	53%	22929	45%	22%	251	0.00	105	98	198	118	9%	190	91	93
199	Wheaton College (MA)	27	19%	28390	74%	76%	215	0.00	105	127	82	118	12%	143	91	93
200	Sweet Briar College (VA)	26	25%	26718	58%	59%	207	0.00	105	116	49	118	8%	195	91	93
201	Penn State-Abington (PA)*	26	46%	10927	36%	49%	10	0.00	105	205	198	31	0%	230	91	93
202	Talladega College (AL)	26	73%	10214	27%	19%	31	0.00	105	205	198	118	0%	230	91	93
203	Bard College (NY)	26	13%	23916	85%	76%	233	0.00	105	76	101	118	7%	215	91	93
204	McDaniel College (MD)	25	24%	22073	64%	70%	119	0.00	105	132	198	6	16%	93	91	93
205	Monmouth College (IL)	25	37%	15993	60%	55%	82	0.00	105	188	159	52	19%	73	91	93
206	Huston-Tillotson University (TX)	25	66%	16587	30%	24%	102	0.00	105	205	198	22	7%	222	91	93
207	Muhlenberg College (PA)	25	9%	30410	77%	86%	200	0.49	90	153	181	115	10%	178	67	55
208	Westmont College (CA)	25	17%	30342	71%	77%	213	0.00	105	106	158	81	8%	207	91	93
209	Randolph College (VA)	25	30%	21395	64%	60%	174	0.00	105	160	140	118	7%	226	91	93
210	Peace College (NC)	25	58%	17966	37%	35%	95	0.00	105	205	163	118	7%	217	91	93
211	Amridge University (AL)	24	60%	17308	27%	23%	100	0.00	105	205	198	118	0%	230	91	93
212	Louisiana State Univ.-Alexandria (LA)*	24	42%	7076	26%	11%	17	0.00	105	205	198	118	15%	111	91	93
213	San Diego State Univ.-Imper. Vall. (CA)*	24	NA	NA	48%	66%	27	0.00	105	205	198	118	0%	230	91	93
214	Stillman College (AL)	24	69%	18008	31%	24%	143	0.00	105	197	198	65	10%	173	91	93
215	Lycoming College (PA)	24	33%	22830	60%	70%	103	0.00	105	141	182	46	18%	86	91	93
216	Burlington College (VT)	24	40%	23331	34%	45%	109	0.00	105	205	198	118	11%	161	91	93
217	Roanoke College (VA)	24	20%	24385	64%	71%	147	1.38	59	196	177	118	11%	159	69	49
218	Penn State-Greater Allegheny (PA)*	23	52%	15136	36%	47%	32	0.00	105	205	198	118	0%	230	91	93
219	Siena College (NY)	23	19%	24444	73%	80%	149	1.06	64	172	190	30	20%	62	91	93
220	Argosy University-Los Angeles (CA)°	23	63%	31976	28%	NA	236	0.00	105	205	198	118	0%	230	91	93
221	Bridgewater College (VA)	23	27%	19929	61%	64%	98	0.00	105	203	85	89	8%	199	59	76
222	Wofford College (SC)	23	18%	18644	68%	83%	46	0.00	105	205	139	7	9%	189	91	93
223	Argosy University-Denver (CO)°	22	60%	37014	37%	NA	240	0.00	105	205	198	118	0%	230	91	93
224	King's College (NY)	22	32%	26258	67%	50%	249	0.00	105	205	198	69	0%	230	91	93
225	Lambuth University (TN)	22	49%	16540	50%	35%	175	0.00	105	183	129	118	0%	230	91	93
226	Life University (GA)	22	53%	19358	32%	42%	64	0.00	105	205	198	118	10%	174	91	93
227	American Jewish University (CA)	21	23%	19824	45%	90%	18	0.00	105	205	198	118	32%	18	91	93
228	Randolph-Macon College (VA)	21	23%	23872	65%	62%	194	0.00	105	67	152	59	11%	160	91	93
229	Washington College (MD)	21	14%	28671	72%	71%	232	0.00	105	149	57	118	10%	175	91	93
230	Pacific Union College (CA)	21	33%	23962	63%	33%	252	0.00	105	93	184	67	22%	54	91	93
231	Shorter University (GA)	21	40%	13456	50%	51%	38	0.00	105	190	198	118	17%	89	91	93
232	St. Vincent College (PA)	21	22%	19510	63%	77%	53	0.00	105	168	189	118	18%	81	91	93
233	Holy Cross College (IN)	21	33%	20056	49%	13%	253	0.00	105	205	128	14	39%	8	91	93
234	Penn State-Beaver (PA)*	21	40%	15521	32%	43%	35	0.85	68	205	198	118	0%	230	91	93
235	Hampden-Sydney College (VA)	20	19%	26630	63%	68%	180	0.00	105	92	198	15	16%	96	91	93
236	Univ. of New Hampshire-Manch. (NH)*	20	28%	9666	35%	36%	14	0.00	105	205	176	118	0%	230	90	79
237	Western State Coll. of Colorado (CO)*	20	29%	13958	52%	36%	130	0.00	105	176	126	118	15%	109	91	93
238	Soka University of America (CA)	20	26%	16927	71%	88%	33	0.00	105	205	198	118	11%	155	91	93
239	Grove City College (PA)	19	0%	16432	75%	83%	43	0.00	105	65	193	118	0%	230	91	91
240	Argosy University-Inland Empire (CA)°	19	64%	28992	29%	NA	239	0.00	105	205	198	118	0%	230	91	93
241	Virginia Wesleyan College (VA)	18	33%	21929	55%	45%	216	0.00	105	158	124	21	5%	227	91	93
242	Alice Lloyd College (KY)	18	53%	9177	45%	38%	20	0.00	105	205	198	118	0%	230	91	93
243	Univ. of Pittsburgh-Greensburg (PA)*	18	31%	13657	54%	58%	34	0.00	105	204	191	43	0%	230	91	93
244	Principia College (IL)	17	0%	11192	61%	74%	11	0.00	105	69	42	118	0%	230	91	93
245	Castleton State College (VT)*	17	30%	12977	47%	41%	49	0.00	105	189	160	83	20%	63	91	93
246	Eastern Mennonite University (VA)	17	30%	20559	58%	57%	139	0.00	105	198	142	118	8%	203	91	93
247	Albright College (PA)	16	38%	22485	62%	61%	169	0.00	105	174	192	113	8%	194	91	93
248	Marymount Manhattan College (NY)	14	26%	28112	65%	49%	250	0.00	105	195	198	118	12%	137	91	93
249	Ave Maria University (FL)	14	28%	18895	68%	52%	226	0.00	105	205	198	118	8%	205	91	93
250	SUNY at Purchase College (NY)*	13	19%	15245	71%	55%	170	0.00	105	180	168	118	15%	106	91	93
251	Virginia Intermont College (VA)	6	27%	18439	45%	29%	218	0.00	105	205	198	118	11%	162	91	93
252	Brevard College (NC)	5	34%	19147	47%	34%	206	0.00	105	205	198	118	7%	220	91	93
253	New St. Andrews College (ID)	2	0%	13661	52%	3%	254	0.00	105	205	198	118	0%	230	91	93
254	San Diego Christian College (CA)	0	27%	23515	49%	59%	117	0.00	105	205	198	118	4%	228	91	93

For items 1-100, click here »