Top 10 schools for liberal arts in the USA

Updated: Monday, July 6, 2026, 16:14 [IST]

The idea of liberal arts education in America is an approach to learn concepts that empowers individuals and prepares them to deal with complexity, change and diversity. This provides students a broader view of the world and a detailed study in a specific area of interest.

Education in liberal arts develops the sense of social responsibility and strong skills like communication, problem solving and analytical skills and the ability to apply knowledge and skills in the real-world settings.

Why international students should take up education in liberal arts?

You get to express your feelings with faculty and staff, that makes you comfortable as an international student.
The institutions offering liberal arts tend to have smaller class sizes which leads to interpersonal communication between you and your professors.
A liberal arts education definitely helps to improve English writing skills.
It offers an all-round education, helps students gain ability to think creatively, and present professionally.
It allows you to think logically and apply ideas in real-world situations.

Here is the list of top 10 national liberal arts colleges in the US which emphasise on education in the liberal arts field of study:

Williams College, Williamstown, MA

Williams College is a private institution in a rural setting. It has 3 undergraduate academic branches: humanities, sciences, and social sciences.

Tuition and fees: $46,600 (approx.)

Enrollment: 2,052

Amherst College, Amherst, MA

Amherst College, a private school in a rural setting. Amherst is a member of the Five Colleges consortium, students can also take courses at Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts--Amherst.

Tuition and fees: $46,574 (approx.)

Enrollment: 1,817

Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore College, a private liberal arts institution in a suburban setting. Swarthmore is part of the Tri-College Consortium, students can also take courses at nearby Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College.

Tuition and fees: $44,718 (approx.)

Enrollment: 1,552

Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME

Bowdoin College is a private institution located in the coastal New England town of Brunswick, Maine, in a suburban setting.

Tuition and fees: $45,446 (approx.)

Enrollment: 1,839

Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT

Middlebury College is a private institution located in a rural setting. Academic programmes at the Middlebury College are environmental studies, international studies, the sciences, and literature.

Tuition and fees: $45,314 (approx.)

Enrollment: 2,516

Pomona College, Claremont, CA

Pomona College is located in Claremont in a suburban setting.

Tuition and fees: $43,580 (approx.)

Enrollment: 1,607

Carleton College, Northfield, MN

Carleton College is a private school in a rural setting. Students here have about 35 majors to choose from and more than 170 organizations to check out.

Tuition and fees: $46,167 (approx.)

Enrollment: 2,055

Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA

Wellesley is a private liberal arts college for women in a suburban setting. Students at Wellesley have more than 1,000 courses and more than 50 majors to choose from.

Tuition and fees: $43,554 (approx.)

Enrollment: 2,481