Arts Over Ivy: Most Exclusive Liberal Arts Colleges?

I've always leaned more towards the liberal arts pathway and I'm interested in colleges that focus strongly on this area. So, I wanted to ask—which colleges are considered the most exclusive when it comes to liberal arts? And how does the term 'exclusivity' play into the liberal arts college realm?

Exclusivity in the context of colleges generally refers to the selectivity of the admissions process. In other words, an exclusive college is one with a low acceptance rate, meaning it only admits a small percentage of its total applicants.

Liberal arts colleges have a reputation for exclusivity due to their typically small sizes, close-knit student communities, and a strong focus on a broad-based, interdisciplinary education. Here are a few of the most exclusive liberal arts colleges in the United States:

1. Pomona College — Located in Claremont, California, Pomona has a unique connection to other undergraduate colleges collectively known as the Claremont Colleges. Pomona offers a strong comprehensive curriculum with an emphasis on the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

2. Amherst College — Known for its open curriculum, Amherst, located in Amherst, Massachusetts, allows students the freedom to design their educational experience without the constraints of specific core or distribution requirements.

3. Swarthmore College — Swarthmore, located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has a unique Honors Program inspired by the Oxford tutorial system. Students engage in small discussion-based seminars and receive written evaluations instead of grades.

4. Williams College — In the mountains of Williamstown, Massachusetts, William's has a tutorial system where students take classes in pairs and meet with the professor to discuss their work.

5. Claremont McKenna College — Also part of the Claremont Colleges, Claremont McKenna in Claremont, California, often becomes the choice of students seeking an interdisciplinary education with a focus on social sciences and leadership.

Exclusivity within these institutions is closely linked with their strong commitment to fostering an educational environment emphasizing liberal arts principles—communication, critical thinking, and broad-based knowledge. They achieve this through small class sizes, a low student-to-teacher ratio, and a focus on discussion-based learning. These features, coupled with the colleges' strong reputations, often lead to a larger number of applicants and lower acceptance rates, increasing their exclusivity.