The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Liberal arts colleges are almost always limited to undergraduate programs. Students should expect to graduate with a well-rounded education, introduced to the history of modern thought and how ideas have developed over time. This doesn't mean that students leave school unprepared for the real world however - our top ranked liberal arts schools provide excellent value and earning potential.
Liberal arts colleges offer limited or no graduate-level programs and are classified as having a strong focus on the arts and sciences by the Carnegie Classification system.
Net cost: The median annual cost of all students that receive any aid. This does not refer to the “sticker price”, the price listed by the college.
Earnings: The median earnings of all bachelor-level students 10 years after enrollment. This includes both students that do and do not graduate, across all majors.
Payback: The amount of time in years it takes to pay off the median net cost by the median earnings. For this calculation, the median earning of high school graduates (in the school’s home state) are deducted from the median earnings.
Earningsplus: The difference between the school’s median earnings and the median earnings for all schools in the same state.
Rankings: The ranking order is based on the economic score. The economic score is calculated using a school’s payback and earningsplus performance.
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.5 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$86,571
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $35,892
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:14%
Graduation rate:94%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#2 in Liberal Arts
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, California
Economic score:0.92
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$108,988
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $58,309
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:18%
Graduation rate:93%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#3 in Liberal Arts
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia
Economic score:0.94
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.9 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$86,020
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $43,036
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:25%
Graduation rate:96%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#4 in Liberal Arts
Davidson College
Davidson, North Carolina
Economic score:1.15
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$71,671
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $29,600
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:20%
Graduation rate:91%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#5 in Liberal Arts
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, Virginia
Economic score:1.16
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.9 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$71,910
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $28,926
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:60%
Graduation rate:78%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#6 in Liberal Arts
Pomona College
Claremont, California
Economic score:1.18
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.6 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$69,149
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $18,470
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:9%
Graduation rate:94%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#7 in Liberal Arts
Colby College
Waterville, Maine
Economic score:1.25
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.9 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$71,127
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $23,861
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:11%
Graduation rate:91%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#8 in Liberal Arts
Lafayette College
Easton, Pennsylvania
Economic score:1.40
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.2 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$84,939
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $31,361
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:36%
Graduation rate:87%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#9 in Liberal Arts
Wabash College
Crawfordsville, Indiana
Economic score:1.45
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$63,425
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $17,780
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:64%
Graduation rate:72%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#10 in Liberal Arts
Wofford College
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Economic score:1.50
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.3 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$67,530
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $23,245
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:53%
Graduation rate:82%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#11 in Liberal Arts
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Economic score:1.53
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.1 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$72,637
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $19,059
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:10%
Graduation rate:95%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#12 in Liberal Arts
Hamilton College
Clinton, New York
Economic score:1.54
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.1 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$74,340
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $18,650
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:19%
Graduation rate:93%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#13 in Liberal Arts
Rhodes College
Memphis, Tennessee
Economic score:1.63
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.5 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$66,619
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $22,864
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:52%
Graduation rate:85%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#14 in Liberal Arts
Amherst College
Amherst, Massachusetts
Economic score:1.64
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.7 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$71,567
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $3,809
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:12%
Graduation rate:93%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#15 in Liberal Arts
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Economic score:1.68
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.8 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$88,154
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $34,576
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:38%
Graduation rate:89%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#16 in Liberal Arts
Haverford College
Haverford, Pennsylvania
Economic score:1.68
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.2 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$69,192
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $15,614
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:19%
Graduation rate:92%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#17 in Liberal Arts
Williams College
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Economic score:1.71
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:1.8 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$71,608
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $3,850
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:16%
Graduation rate:96%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#18 in Liberal Arts
Albion College
Albion, Michigan
Economic score:1.73
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.2 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$54,792
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $10,746
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:75%
Graduation rate:65%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#19 in Liberal Arts
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, Maine
Economic score:1.80
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.5 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$66,864
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $19,598
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:10%
Graduation rate:95%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
#20 in Liberal Arts
Colgate University
Hamilton, New York
Economic score:1.83
The economic score is calculated using two factors: 1) how fast students are able to payback their educational investment with new earnings and 2) how much alumni earn compared to all alumni in the same state, 10 years after enrollment. These two factors are referred to as payback and earningsplus.
These scorings are based on the most recent data released by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Payback:2.5 years
Average time in years to pay back educational costs.
Earnings:$76,267
Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.
EarningsPlus: + $20,577
How much more/less money the median student earns against all bachelor students in the same state, same enrollment year.
Admission rate:28%
Graduation rate:90%
Schools with a graduation rate in the bottom 50% in their state are shown in red. Schools in the bottom 25% nationally are put to the end of the ranking list.
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