The College Consensus guide to the Top Consensus Ranked National Liberal Arts Colleges is designed to give prospective students the fullest possible view of their options when choosing a liberal arts college. Whether they are looking for intellectual challenge, a close-knit community, or entry into leadership in business, government, or the arts, students can look to the College Consensus for a comprehensive picture of the top liberal arts schools in the US.
How Do We Make Our Ranking of the Best National Liberal Arts Colleges?
College Consensus is an aggregate ranking that brings together data from reputable college ranking sites like The Wall Street Journal, Wallethub, U.S. News & World Report, plus trustworthy student review sites like Cappex and Niche. We gather all of a school’s rankings for the Publisher Rating, and all of the student grades for the Student Review Rating. Averaged together, all of these numbers create the Consensus Rating, making up the College Consensus.
The best liberal arts colleges in the nation keep the spirit of traditional college education alive, while reinventing the classical humanities and sciences for the 21st century. In general, national liberal arts colleges focus on undergraduate education (though many have at least a few master’s degrees). While they may encourage faculty and student research, their emphasis is primarily on providing the very best undergraduate experience, with a common core of classes in the humanities, arts, and sciences. The Top Consensus Ranked National Liberal Arts Colleges have a reputation that allows them to attract students nationally for an education steeped in critical thinking, research, and communication.
What’s Different About the College Consensus Ranking?
Since we draw on information from many different sites, with many different methodologies and perspectives, College Consensus gives prospective students the truest picture of what experts and students alike have to say. Since all voices are taken seriously, it’s not just the colleges with the biggest endowments and loudest marketing that rise to the top – it’s the ones with the best academics, best student experience, and best overall quality. Read more about our rankings methodology and sources at our about page.
This ranking highlights the top-ranked, nationally-recognized liberal arts colleges. For students who want the larger size and wider resources of a research university, College Consensus has ranked the Best National Research Universities. For the complete, overall ranking of all US colleges and universities, see the Best Colleges & Universities ranking.
The Top Consensus Ranked National Liberal Arts Colleges are listed in descending order by their Consensus score. In the event of ties, schools are ranked in alphabetical order with the same rank number.
1
Williams College
83.6
College Consensus
86.3
Publisher Consensus
80.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
2
Amherst College
83.4
College Consensus
84.7
Publisher Consensus
82.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
3
Pomona College
83.4
College Consensus
82.6
Publisher Consensus
84.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
4
Bowdoin College
83.3
College Consensus
84.5
Publisher Consensus
82
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
5
Smith College
81.9
College Consensus
83.1
Publisher Consensus
80.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
6
Claremont McKenna College
81.8
College Consensus
80.1
Publisher Consensus
83.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
7
Wesleyan University
81
College Consensus
81.7
Publisher Consensus
80.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
8
Carleton College
80.8
College Consensus
80
Publisher Consensus
81.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
9
Harvey Mudd College
80.7
College Consensus
79.4
Publisher Consensus
81.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
10
Bates College
80.1
College Consensus
78
Publisher Consensus
82.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
11
Wellesley College
80.1
College Consensus
81.9
Publisher Consensus
78.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
12
Middlebury College
79.9
College Consensus
79.7
Publisher Consensus
80.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
13
Hamilton College
79.7
College Consensus
79.8
Publisher Consensus
79.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
14
Washington and Lee University
79.3
College Consensus
75.9
Publisher Consensus
82.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
15
Vassar College
78.7
College Consensus
76.3
Publisher Consensus
81.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
16
Swarthmore College
78.5
College Consensus
81.9
Publisher Consensus
75
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
17
Scripps College
77.3
College Consensus
70.9
Publisher Consensus
83.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
18
Grinnell College
77.2
College Consensus
76
Publisher Consensus
78.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
19
Bryn Mawr College
77.2
College Consensus
74.5
Publisher Consensus
79.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
20
Colby College
77.1
College Consensus
76.1
Publisher Consensus
78.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
21
Colgate University
76.8
College Consensus
76.6
Publisher Consensus
77
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
22
Davidson College
76.8
College Consensus
76.2
Publisher Consensus
77.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
23
College of the Holy Cross
76.7
College Consensus
74.2
Publisher Consensus
79.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
24
Colorado College
76.6
College Consensus
73.7
Publisher Consensus
79.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
25
University of Richmond
76.6
College Consensus
75.2
Publisher Consensus
77.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
26
Macalester College
76.3
College Consensus
72.8
Publisher Consensus
79.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
27
Haverford College
76.1
College Consensus
77.2
Publisher Consensus
75.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
28
Barnard College
75.3
College Consensus
75
Publisher Consensus
75.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
29
Pitzer College
75.3
College Consensus
71.3
Publisher Consensus
79.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
30
Union College (NY)
74.9
College Consensus
72.4
Publisher Consensus
77.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
31
Mount Holyoke College
74.7
College Consensus
76.6
Publisher Consensus
72.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
32
Whitman College
74.4
College Consensus
67.2
Publisher Consensus
81.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
33
Thomas Aquinas College
74.2
College Consensus
66
Publisher Consensus
82.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
34
Oberlin College
74.1
College Consensus
71.6
Publisher Consensus
76.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
35
Bucknell University
73.7
College Consensus
71.7
Publisher Consensus
75.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
36
Gettysburg College
73.7
College Consensus
70.2
Publisher Consensus
77.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
37
Wabash College
73.7
College Consensus
65.4
Publisher Consensus
82
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
38
Kenyon College
73.7
College Consensus
70.7
Publisher Consensus
76.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
39
Franklin and Marshall College
72.6
College Consensus
73.5
Publisher Consensus
71.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
40
Connecticut College
72.4
College Consensus
71.1
Publisher Consensus
73.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
41
Lafayette College
72.4
College Consensus
72.1
Publisher Consensus
72.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
42
Denison University
72.4
College Consensus
71.9
Publisher Consensus
72.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
43
Occidental College
72.2
College Consensus
68.9
Publisher Consensus
75.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
44
Wheaton College (IL)
71.9
College Consensus
62.7
Publisher Consensus
81.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
45
Furman
71.6
College Consensus
67.8
Publisher Consensus
75.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
46
Wofford College
71.6
College Consensus
61.6
Publisher Consensus
81.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
47
Sewanee-The University of the South
71.3
College Consensus
67.3
Publisher Consensus
75.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
48
Reed College
71.3
College Consensus
62.3
Publisher Consensus
80.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
49
St Lawrence University
71.1
College Consensus
66
Publisher Consensus
76.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
50
Skidmore College
71.1
College Consensus
68.1
Publisher Consensus
74
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
51
Dickinson College
70.7
College Consensus
69.1
Publisher Consensus
72.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
52
Rhodes College
70.6
College Consensus
66.6
Publisher Consensus
74.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
53
Lawrence University
70.5
College Consensus
65.7
Publisher Consensus
75.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
54
St Olaf College
70.4
College Consensus
65.9
Publisher Consensus
75
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
55
Knox College
70.4
College Consensus
64.1
Publisher Consensus
76.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
56
Trinity College
70.3
College Consensus
70.3
Publisher Consensus
70.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
57
DePauw University
70.1
College Consensus
66.6
Publisher Consensus
73.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
58
Spelman College
70
College Consensus
65
Publisher Consensus
75
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
59
Kalamazoo College
69.9
College Consensus
65.6
Publisher Consensus
74.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
60
Centre College
69.8
College Consensus
65.8
Publisher Consensus
73.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
61
College of Saint Benedict
69.6
College Consensus
59.8
Publisher Consensus
79.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
62
Willamette University
69.6
College Consensus
64.6
Publisher Consensus
74.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
63
Allegheny College
69.5
College Consensus
64.8
Publisher Consensus
74.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
64
Hendrix College
68.9
College Consensus
58.8
Publisher Consensus
79.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
65
Hobart William Smith Colleges
68.8
College Consensus
65.8
Publisher Consensus
71.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
66
Beloit College
68.5
College Consensus
62.3
Publisher Consensus
74.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
67
Juniata College
68.4
College Consensus
61.3
Publisher Consensus
75.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
68
Southwestern University
68.3
College Consensus
59.5
Publisher Consensus
77
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
69
Millsaps College
68.2
College Consensus
58
Publisher Consensus
78.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
70
Hampden-Sydney College
68.2
College Consensus
55.2
Publisher Consensus
81.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
71
Muhlenberg College
68.1
College Consensus
62
Publisher Consensus
74.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
72
The College of Wooster
68.1
College Consensus
64.9
Publisher Consensus
71.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
73
University of Puget Sound
68.1
College Consensus
64.3
Publisher Consensus
71.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
74
Gustavus Adolphus College
68
College Consensus
61.6
Publisher Consensus
74.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
75
Wheaton College (MA)
68
College Consensus
65
Publisher Consensus
70.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
76
Hope College
67.8
College Consensus
57.5
Publisher Consensus
78.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
77
Transylvania University
67.4
College Consensus
59.7
Publisher Consensus
75.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
78
Sarah Lawrence College
67.3
College Consensus
63.1
Publisher Consensus
71.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
79
Washington & Jefferson College
67.2
College Consensus
60.3
Publisher Consensus
74.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
80
Ohio Wesleyan University
67
College Consensus
59.3
Publisher Consensus
74.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
81
St Mary’s College of Maryland
66.9
College Consensus
59.1
Publisher Consensus
74.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
82
Linfield College-McMinnville Campus
66.9
College Consensus
58.8
Publisher Consensus
74.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
83
Bard College
66.8
College Consensus
62.7
Publisher Consensus
70.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
84
Illinois Wesleyan University
66.8
College Consensus
63.9
Publisher Consensus
69.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
85
Saint Johns University
66.8
College Consensus
58.5
Publisher Consensus
75
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
86
Ouachita Baptist University
66.7
College Consensus
50
Publisher Consensus
83.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
87
Luther College
66.5
College Consensus
59.1
Publisher Consensus
73.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
88
Covenant College
66.3
College Consensus
49.5
Publisher Consensus
83.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
89
Saint Norbert College
66.2
College Consensus
53.2
Publisher Consensus
79.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
90
Franklin College
66.2
College Consensus
51
Publisher Consensus
81.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
91
Augustana College
66
College Consensus
58.6
Publisher Consensus
73.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
92
Cornell College
66
College Consensus
59.4
Publisher Consensus
72.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
93
Austin College
65.9
College Consensus
58.2
Publisher Consensus
73.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
94
Earlham College
65.9
College Consensus
60.2
Publisher Consensus
71.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
95
Virginia Military Institute
65.8
College Consensus
62.7
Publisher Consensus
68.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
96
Lake Forest College
65.7
College Consensus
58.3
Publisher Consensus
73.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
97
The College of Idaho
65.6
College Consensus
51.2
Publisher Consensus
80.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
98
Saint Michael’s College
65.6
College Consensus
53.5
Publisher Consensus
77.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
99
Hanover College
65.4
College Consensus
56.8
Publisher Consensus
74
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
100
Ripon College
65.3
College Consensus
54.9
Publisher Consensus
75.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
101
Doane University-Arts & Sciences
65.3
College Consensus
51.6
Publisher Consensus
78.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
102
Central College
65.2
College Consensus
52.8
Publisher Consensus
77.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
103
Saint Mary’s College
65.1
College Consensus
59
Publisher Consensus
71.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
104
Presbyterian College
64.9
College Consensus
55.3
Publisher Consensus
74.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
105
Lycoming College
64.9
College Consensus
53.8
Publisher Consensus
75.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
106
Saint Anselm College
64.9
College Consensus
59.2
Publisher Consensus
70.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
107
Westmont College
64.8
College Consensus
56.6
Publisher Consensus
73
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
108
Concordia College at Moorhead
64.7
College Consensus
54.8
Publisher Consensus
74.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
109
Stonehill College
64.5
College Consensus
57.1
Publisher Consensus
71.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
110
Ursinus College
64.5
College Consensus
60.9
Publisher Consensus
68.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
111
Washington College
64.4
College Consensus
57.8
Publisher Consensus
71
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
112
Susquehanna University
64.2
College Consensus
55.7
Publisher Consensus
72.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
113
Berea College
64.1
College Consensus
63.8
Publisher Consensus
64.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
114
Sweet Briar College
64
College Consensus
52.3
Publisher Consensus
75.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
115
Wartburg College
63.9
College Consensus
51.8
Publisher Consensus
76
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
116
Georgetown College
63.8
College Consensus
51.3
Publisher Consensus
76.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
117
Elizabethtown College
63.8
College Consensus
56.2
Publisher Consensus
71.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
118
Coe College
63.7
College Consensus
56.5
Publisher Consensus
70.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
119
University of Minnesota-Morris
63.4
College Consensus
52.2
Publisher Consensus
74.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
120
Illinois College
63.4
College Consensus
51.4
Publisher Consensus
75.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
121
Houghton College
63.3
College Consensus
52.8
Publisher Consensus
73.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
122
Albion College
63.2
College Consensus
54.2
Publisher Consensus
72.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
123
Roanoke College
63.1
College Consensus
52.4
Publisher Consensus
73.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
124
Westminster College (PA)
62.9
College Consensus
55.2
Publisher Consensus
70.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
125
Birmingham Southern College
62.9
College Consensus
53.5
Publisher Consensus
72.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
126
Alma College
62.8
College Consensus
53.6
Publisher Consensus
71.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
127
Drew University
62.7
College Consensus
56
Publisher Consensus
69.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
128
Randolph-Macon College
62.6
College Consensus
54.2
Publisher Consensus
71
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
129
Siena College
62.6
College Consensus
54
Publisher Consensus
71.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
130
Gordon College
62.4
College Consensus
49.6
Publisher Consensus
75.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
131
Centenary College of Louisiana
62.3
College Consensus
47.6
Publisher Consensus
77
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
132
Maryville College
62.3
College Consensus
49.3
Publisher Consensus
75.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
133
Eckerd College
62.2
College Consensus
52.6
Publisher Consensus
71.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
134
University of North Carolina at Asheville
62.2
College Consensus
47.8
Publisher Consensus
76.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
135
William Jewell College
62.1
College Consensus
52.7
Publisher Consensus
71.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
136
Meredith College
62.1
College Consensus
48.2
Publisher Consensus
76
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
137
Goucher College
61.8
College Consensus
54.1
Publisher Consensus
69.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
138
Simpson College
61.8
College Consensus
50.7
Publisher Consensus
72.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
139
Spring Hill College
61.6
College Consensus
50.5
Publisher Consensus
72.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
140
Wittenberg University
61.6
College Consensus
46.6
Publisher Consensus
76.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
141
Bridgewater College
61.6
College Consensus
52.2
Publisher Consensus
71
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
142
Whittier College
61.2
College Consensus
55.4
Publisher Consensus
67
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
143
McDaniel College
61.1
College Consensus
53.2
Publisher Consensus
69.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
144
Saint Vincent College
61.1
College Consensus
53.1
Publisher Consensus
69
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
145
Carthage College
61
College Consensus
49.6
Publisher Consensus
72.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
146
Morehouse College
60.9
College Consensus
47.1
Publisher Consensus
74.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
147
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
60.8
College Consensus
43.3
Publisher Consensus
78.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
148
Emory & Henry College
60.7
College Consensus
50.1
Publisher Consensus
71.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
149
Randolph College
60.6
College Consensus
49.7
Publisher Consensus
71.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
150
Claflin University
60.6
College Consensus
48.5
Publisher Consensus
72.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
151
Moravian College
60.4
College Consensus
52.3
Publisher Consensus
68.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
152
Hollins University
60.2
College Consensus
56.2
Publisher Consensus
64.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
153
Fisk University
59.6
College Consensus
48.4
Publisher Consensus
70.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
154
Oglethorpe University
59.3
College Consensus
48
Publisher Consensus
70.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
155
Hiram College
58.9
College Consensus
50.3
Publisher Consensus
67.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
156
Salem College
57.6
College Consensus
50.9
Publisher Consensus
64.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
157
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
57.6
College Consensus
49.2
Publisher Consensus
65.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
158
Shepherd University
57.4
College Consensus
40.7
Publisher Consensus
74.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
159
Elmira College
57.1
College Consensus
46.6
Publisher Consensus
67.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
160
Guilford College
57.1
College Consensus
44.7
Publisher Consensus
69.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
161
Fort Lewis College
56.7
College Consensus
38.4
Publisher Consensus
75
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
162
Marymount Manhattan College
56
College Consensus
45
Publisher Consensus
67.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019
163
SUNY at Purchase College
55
College Consensus
43.1
Publisher Consensus
66.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019