National Liberal Arts Colleges

Among the academic focuses at Middlebury College are programs in environmental studies, international studies, the sciences and literature. The private institution is located in Middlebury, Vermont, in a valley between the Green Mountains and the Adirondack Mountains.

Washington and Lee University is a private institution named for George Washington, who gave a generous endowment to the school, and Robert E. Lee, a former president of the college. The school is located in historic Lexington, Va., where about 80 percent of the student body is involved in Greek life.

Students at Grinnell College, a private school in the small town of Grinnell, Iowa, are known for their social activism. Grinnell ranks top among schools of its size in sending volunteers to the Peace Corps.

Vassar College is a private liberal arts institution in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Though Vassar was a women’s college until 1969, males now make up more than 40 percent of the student body.

Colby College’s campus in Waterville, Maine is a State Wildlife Management Area and is home to a wildlife refuge. The private school operates on a 4-1-4 academic calendar, which includes a four-week January term for internships, study abroad trips, and research projects.

Davidson College, a private institution about 20 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina, has a need-blind admissions policy. Through the Davidson Trust, the school aims to graduate students without debt by meeting all demonstrated need with a combination of grants and work-study programs rather than loans.

Haverford College, a private liberal arts school, is located about 10 miles outside Philadelphia in Haverford, Pennsylvania. Students have more than 150 organizations and sports teams to get involved in, including the only varsity cricket team in the country.

Smith College, a private school in Northampton, Mass., is one of the largest liberal arts schools for women in the country. Students live in group houses, not dormitories, at Smith.

The United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, is the oldest of the country’s five federal service academies. The public school is located in West Point, N.Y., where graduates earn a bachelor of science degree and are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

Colgate University is a private institution located in Hamilton, N.Y., a small town with a population about equal to the size of the student body. Students can explore the surrounding region and beyond through Colgate’s unique Outdoor Education Program, which includes winter camping, kayaking and skiing trips.