Should Students Consider a Liberal Arts College?
Last Updated on September 27, 2023 by Jill Schwitzgebel
Before your teen can decide whether they should consider a liberal arts college, they need to understand what “liberal arts college” means. The term “liberal arts” comes from the classical Greek idea of having a broad, diverse education that is meant to develop intellectual curiosity. It has nothing to do with a political stance – it’s unfortunate that in the current environment some automatically equate “liberal arts” with a “liberal” political view.
What Families Should Know
There are lots of misconceptions that I hear from families about liberal arts colleges. So here’s a list of things you need to know to decide whether a liberal arts college (or more than one) belongs on your student’s list.
1. Liberal Arts Does Not Mean Only Arts
Liberal “arts” does not mean that the college does not have business, math, technical and science majors. As mentioned above, it’s based on a classical Greek idea about education – it just means that the educational focus will be more on how to think and connect ideas, rather than on memorization. It will have less of a pre-professional focus. But, this does not mean that students will not be well-prepared for employment after college, or that they will not be able to complete internships, etc. It means that the goal of the education is broader than a specific profession.
2. These Colleges Are Small
Of the top 50 National Liberal Arts Colleges on the US News list, all have fewer than 5,000 students. Class sizes are small, and will be much more interactive, with class discussion. By senior year, liberal arts college students report having 10 or less students in some of their major classes, and it’s not unusual for students to specially design a class with a professor, in which they are the ONLY student. The small size means that students typically get more interaction with professors, who will know their names, which will be important when it’s time to apply for graduate school or jobs. And, it means more opportunity to participate in extracurriculars and leadership on campus.
3. Undergraduates Only
Typically, there are no graduate students at a liberal arts college. That does not mean that professors are not engaging in research, however. This creates terrific opportunities for undergrads to get to do hands-on research with professors, that might typically be reserved for graduate students at a larger university. That experience could look great on a resume or grad school application. It also means that classes will be taught by professors rather than graduate students.
4. Writing Required
Partially due to the small class sizes, and mostly related to the liberal arts educational philosophy, students should expect that they will be doing some writing in many of their classes. At many liberal arts colleges, a senior thesis or other project might be required to graduate. This can be appealing to employers since it provides evidence that the student has had experience managing and completing and synthesizing research and/or completing a major project. Beyond that, 82% of employers list a “demonstrated proficiency in skills that cut across majors” as important. Writing skills are near the top of the list.
5. Ignore the Price Tag
Many, though not all, liberal arts colleges are private, not public. The price tag on those can look intimidatingly expensive. But, do not presume that that is the price that you’re likely to pay. These colleges have some of the best financial aid in the country available, including merit aid. It is not unreasonable to expect to pay no more than you would pay for a flagship university in some states. And, don’t forget, for a private college, the price is the same in or out-of-state, unlike at a public university where students may pay twice as much from out-of-state.
6. Liberal Arts Grads are More Likely to Earn Science PhDs
This often shocks high school students. While you may not have heard of some liberal arts colleges, chances are that grad schools have. Liberal arts colleges actually produce twice as many students who go on to earn a science PhD, per capita, as compared to other universities. Overall, 40% of liberal arts students go on to earn graduate degrees. And by the way, students from liberal arts colleges who did not major in science were admitted to medical school at the same rate as students from other institutions majoring in biological sciences.
7. Residential Living is Emphasized
Liberal arts colleges share a belief that what is happening outside of the classroom is important too. Therefore, they emphasize the residential experience and provide activities and opportunities for students to connect on campus in various ways, from living/learning communities to dorm “Olympics” to themed parties . Many colleges will guarantee residential housing on campus to students for all four years, which can be a really nice perk in an area where off-campus housing is scarce and/or expensive. If students are worried that there won’t be enough to do on a smaller campus, they shouldn’t be – most students are engaged with various extracurriculars.
Final Thoughts
At the current time, there seems to be some outsized concern that students who attend liberal arts colleges are somehow less employable than their peers at large universities. But, the evidence appears to contradict that. We know that according to the U.S. Department of Labor, 65% of current students will eventually be employed in jobs that have yet to be created, and 40% of current jobs will cease to exist. Liberal arts graduates have the skills that make them uniquely qualified to adapt to changing employment. And today, 90% of employers say that critical thinking and communication skills are more important than anyone’s specific major.
It is true that students who did not major in a STEM field are likely to earn less than their STEM peers in the years right after graduation. But, by midcareer, students majoring in liberal arts fields catch up! Please, don’t allow a false narrative to influence your student’s decision. During the college search, I always recommend that families visit at least one small liberal arts college, so that teens have a real basis of comparison.
