It seems that he focuses on fit not rank. Also small classes, easier to apply to and be admitted. Seems like these schools also have “seats” to fill. Using the theory the more people that know about them the more chances to apply to them.
I went to one of their college tour fairs outside of Chicago 4/5 years ago or so and the whole event had such a different positive vibe to it. We were looking for some specific programs and if one school didn’t have it or was not strong in it they would actually recommend another school there… Kinda cool. Also very packed like standing room only… We thought no one would be there… Lol… Pro Hint : go early if you want a seat for the presentation…
I would add Union College to the list. Acceptance rate 43%. But especially because of their “Making U Possible” program: “families who have an EFC – as measured through the CSS Profile – up to $50,000 (average family income of $100,000) can expect a minimum of $30,000 in grant and scholarship assistance. Families with an EFC between $50,000 and $90,000 (incomes as high as $250,000) would be eligible for a minimum of $20,000.”
It’s a small liberal arts college (2000 students) with an engineering school as well. I think it’s a perfect fit for CTCL.
Great thread!
I would add Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma Washington. While not a LAC, it has 2,836 undergrads and 371 grad students, so it is mostly undergrads. Its acceptance rate is about 80%.
Except for Evergreen State, the CTCL list is all private schools.
http://coplac.org/members/ lists some public LACs. If one is in-state, such a school may be a relatively low cost LAC option. Some are not that expensive even for out-of-state students (e.g. Truman State, University of Minnesota - Morris).
I think that’s because most of the LACs that were established in the NE got enough attention over the years that theyy’ve become selective, rich, and have a large amount of name recognition. I think that it’s because they’ve always served the much wealthier and influential population of the NE/Atlantic. So it’s rare for a really good LAC to go unnoticed in the NE. Moreover, the NE LAC setting was also a lot more attractive
On the other hand, the Midwestern LACs mostly serve a different crowd - one which was initially not as affluent and has less influence on popular culture. So they rarely achieve the fame of the NE colleges. Because they are less famous they are less popular, and therefore are often ranked lower. However, they still provide the same excellent Liberal Arts education as their NE sisters. That combination of excellent education and with lower name recognition is, more or less, the definition of a CTCL.
PS. Ohio seems to be the champion - five colleges from that list are in Ohio.
My neighbor’s daughter graduated from Hobart. Loved it! Looks beautiful from the web - lake front housing. Neighbor’s daughter got a generous merit scholarship. She’s currently finishing up a fully funded PhD program at UVA, where she went right from Hobart, so they must be doing something right! The sticker price is scaring me off a bit, but we may visit and investigate the merit options.
@MaineLonghorn not to hijack but can you ask your D (or maybe you know) how “school spirit” is at Susquehanna? It has been pretty high on the list due to merit and major, but now D21 has decided she wants school spirit (her high school has none) and football game fun.
@4gsmom Thanks for the information on Union College. I would have overlooked it since it’s a “Hidden Ivy”. But the 43% acceptance rate makes it an option for students who may not make it into the NESCAC schools. I also like the merit aid, too.
Naysayer here. There are so many great choices for different students that just listing anecdotal favorites (like the book does) seems pointless. ALL colleges change lives and those listed here and in the book miss so many nearly equivalent alternatives to known top tier schools. I guess this becomes a list for second tier colleges when one won’t thrive at other choices.
I’m with wis75; all colleges change lives. It seems as if the list is heavy on colleges with easier admissions policies, and that in and of itself doesn’t make those colleges any more life changing than others.
@ucbalumnus Thanks for the link to the public liberal arts colleges. I’m familiar with SUNY Geneseo, which gets high marks in NY State. Some are the size of Liberal Arts schools, some are a bit larger, and you certainly aren’t a number at these schools.
In NY State, however, you might find that class sizes will be large rand study abroad often isn’t much of an option, since the cost in-state is so much lower than private schools that a semester abroad would cost more than at a SUNY school for a semester. But…from what I hear, you still get great attention from your profs and the ability to do research and internships.
@MWolf Yes, it seems the NE is the “natural setting” for a leafy, neo-classical Liberal Arts College, and they do get much more recognition and with that, the money and the reputations. Two of the CTCL schools that my son got into, I’m sure, would be much more selective if they were closer to NYC or Boston.
But even in the Midwest, there are the more desirable schools: Oberlin, Grinnell, Kenyon, Carelton, Macalester.
Thanks for the contrarian view. It opens up some interesting questions.
Are all small (ish) 1000 - 3000 student Liberal Arts Colleges, more or less, the same? In other words, do the really prestigious LAC have the same things to offer plus much more than these CTCL schools? And are the Ivies just better at everything?
I went to a prestigious NESCAC school in the 80’s. Did I have some professors who were unapproachable, obtuse and unhelpful? Yes. Did I, like most of my peers never darken the door to the career office until the last semester senior year? Yes. Did I do any summer internships or engage in original research? No?
Second. Have all Liberal Arts Colleges (not just the CTCL) become more market-driven, research-focused and are filled with passionate scholar-teachers who love to nurture students?
I do think that lots of the CTCL schools offer merit (perhaps to attract students to the hinterlands), but it makes a solid, private, education accessible to more families than might a need-based only model.
CTCL is a marketing group. The schools in the group pay to be in it (it’s incorporated), have marketing material, travel in a pack to the roadshows. Public school don’t always have the budget for that and want to market to a different group of students. Not many public schools consider themselves LACs.
One of my kids would not have been a good fit for the CTCL schools as she pretty much hates reading and really hates discussing books she didn’t want to read in the first place. A few of them did recruit her but she had no interest.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland is a public honors LAC. I can not say enough about it. Waterfront location just upstream from the Chesapeake Bay, 60 miles south east of Washington DC. Because of its setting it is a dream school for anyone interested in American History, anthropology, or archeology, environmental science or biology. It IS, however, not a place for anyone who wants an urban vibe outside their doorstep. Very rural. Many opportunities to intern with defense contractors and the US Navy (very close to Pax River Naval Air Base and a defense contractor corridor.) Students are expected to participate in a semester abroad or a senior project. Very warm, open, friendly atmosphere. If you call (as a parent trying to clear up a semester abroad payment issue, for example) the person answering the phone knows your child.
