Best Liberal Arts Colleges: Acceptance Rates & Rankings
The top 20 liberal arts colleges ranked by US News, compared by acceptance rate, net cost, and graduate outcomes. Updated for the 2026 admission cycle.
| Rank | School | Acceptance Rate | SAT Range | Net Cost | Salary (10yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |
Williams College
Williamstown, MA |
10.0% | 1470–1560 | $9,262 | $88,665 |
| #2 |
Amherst College
Amherst, MA |
9.8% | 1360–1550 | $18,259 | $77,644 |
| #3 |
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA |
6.9% | 1460–1560 | $18,814 | $80,257 |
| #5 |
Pomona College
Claremont, CA |
6.8% | 1480–1560 | $16,496 | $77,779 |
| #5 |
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME |
8.0% | 1480–1550 | $12,790 | $82,735 |
| #7 |
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA |
13.9% | 1440–1550 | $15,542 | $84,803 |
| #8 |
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA |
11.1% | 1450–1560 | $22,135 | $104,736 |
| #8 |
Carleton College
Northfield, MN |
22.3% | 1430–1550 | $17,666 | $75,525 |
| #12 |
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY |
17.7% | 1435–1550 | $25,403 | $71,366 |
| #14 |
Barnard College
New York, NY |
8.0% | 1453–1550 | $24,440 | $80,516 |
| #14 |
Davidson College
Davidson, NC |
14.5% | 1360–1510 | $16,514 | $81,400 |
| #14 |
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY |
11.8% | 1410–1550 | $19,180 | $78,411 |
| #14 |
Smith College
Northampton, MA |
19.7% | 1408–1540 | $12,777 | $64,027 |
| #14 |
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT |
17.1% | 1450–1540 | $16,617 | $73,897 |
| #19 |
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA |
12.7% | 1418–1550 | $16,900 | $62,830 |
| #19 |
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT |
10.4% | 1430–1550 | $21,362 | $76,310 |
| #19 |
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA |
17.4% | 1410–1530 | $10,321 | $94,810 |
| #22 |
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY |
11.9% | 1430–1530 | $18,489 | $85,139 |
| #24 |
Haverford College
Haverford, PA |
12.9% | 1430–1540 | $18,618 | $79,966 |
| #25 |
Colby College
Waterville, ME |
6.8% | 1440–1550 | $13,517 | $80,490 |
Explore Each College
Williams College
Amherst College
Swarthmore College
Pomona College
Bowdoin College
Wellesley College
Claremont McKenna College
Carleton College
Vassar College
Barnard College
Davidson College
Hamilton College
Smith College
Wesleyan University
Grinnell College
Middlebury College
Washington and Lee University
Colgate University
Haverford College
Colby College