If you’re looking for a top notch liberal arts education at a bargain price, you’ll want to check out these seven liberal arts colleges, all of which will give you great bang for your buck.
If you are interested in West Coast schools, you’ll want to check out this gem. While the initial price tag might look scary, this college usually gives out over $34,000 worth of financial aid, and the typical student only owes about $10,000 in student loan debt when they graduate. That means you’ll get an amazing education at a fabulous price, all in a gorgeous setting. The student body is usually around 1,500 students.
2. Washington and Lee University
While the average student graduates with a little more debt from this school (usually about $24,000 worth of student loan debt), this college offers generous financial aid. The college is small, with a student population of about 1,800 students, and the school gets props for its high-scoring freshman class.
Swarthmore is one of the most competitive of the liberal arts colleges, seeing as it only admits approximately 16% of the applicants each year. It’s known for its heritage, since it was founded by Quakers, but also for academic excellence and rigorous courses. Swarthmore offers a great deal of financial aid, so most students find it only costs them about $20,000 per year, thanks to financial aid packages.
Top of the list of most prestigious colleges, Williams College is known for both value and high academic standards that rival the Ivies. The average graduate only carries around $8,000 of student loan debt upon graduation, which means these graduates are getting Ivy League quality educations at state school prices.
Located in quaint Davidson, North Carolina, Davidson College is a unique addition to this list. This college does not offer student loans as part of their financial aid packages, which keeps student borrowing down and makes for generous scholarship and grant programs. This tiny college of 1,700 students offers small classes and unusual perks, such as allowing students to schedule exams when they are ready to take them (within limits, of course) and allowing them to take exams unsupervised, trusting them to act with honor and integrity.
Vassar is known for its incredibly high test scores and selectivity when accepting new students. It is also known for generous financial aid, which is why the average graduate only holds about $24,000 in student loan debt when done with college. This college is a little bigger than the other colleges on this list; the student population is around 2,400.
This women-only college partners with MIT for a lot of activities and inter-scholastic programs, but it also provides one of the best financial values for a superb college education. Wellesley offers financial aid to around 60% of its students, and the average graduate crosses the finish line with only about $13,000 in student loan debt.
Affordable Liberal Arts Colleges
As you can see, there are plenty of bargain-priced liberal arts colleges out there, all of which will provide you with an excellent education. Now that you know about these great opportunities, you just need to focus on getting into one!