Liberal arts colleges are four-year undergraduate institutions whose course offerings focus on the arts, sciences, humanities, and social sciences. These institutions aim to prepare students to be versatile, critical thinkers who are broadly educated.
They frequently do not offer programs designed to give students specialized training in specific professional fields. Rather, earning a liberal arts degree is designed to give you a well-rounded education that will make you competitive for a range of professions.
Liberal arts colleges have similar characteristics, such as small class sizes and an emphasis on the campus community. Finding the best liberal arts school for you involves weighing a handful of factors that will differentiate these alike institutions.
What to look for in a liberal arts college
Factors to consider when researching liberal arts colleges include:
Fields of study offered
Look closely at what degrees each school offers. The best liberal arts school for you will provide courses in your preferred area of study.
While liberal arts colleges generally offer similar majors and minors, focusing on arts, sciences, humanities, and social sciences, there are some differences. For example, not all liberal arts colleges offer degrees in a specific foreign language that might be of interest to you. They might only offer degrees in Spanish, when you’re interested in learning French.
Student to faculty ratio
Again, mostly liberal arts colleges value small class sizes vs. large lecture halls. Still, there is a difference between a school that has an average student to faculty ratio of 6 to 1 and a school that has an average ratio of 20 to 1.
Schools will usually advertise their students to faculty ratio clearly on their websites. If you know the class size you’d prefer, this factor can help you find the best liberal arts school.
Location
Academic offerings are important, but don’t overlook location as a factor in where you attend college. Location, weather, urban vs. rural – these all play a role in how we feel and how we perform on a day-to-day basis.
Do you prefer year-round sunshine, or are you more of a four seasons kind of person? Would you enjoy living in a bustling urban area, or do you prefer a quieter small town feel? Location and its related factors should be considered when looking for the best liberal arts school.
Cost and financial aid
For many students, the cost of attending a liberal arts college is something they need to consider. And because costs can be offset by financial aid packages, you’ll want to compare what each school is offering. The difference in cost between your top schools could help you make your final decision on where to attend.
Other liberal arts school differentiators
Still not sure which school to choose? Consider looking at other characteristics that can differentiate liberal arts schools. These include the quality of on-campus building and facilities, student life and available clubs and organizations, qualifications of faculty members, and alumni networks.
What can I do with a liberal arts degree?
Because liberal arts colleges specialize in providing students with a well-rounded education that incorporates a range of skills and knowledge, liberal arts degree graduates usually find themselves with opportunities in multiple industries. Common jobs for liberal arts degree holders include those in public administration, business, education, the arts, journalism/writing, and marketing.
