<p>This is slightly off topic, but one indication that a less well known college offers good academics is the presence of a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Phi Beta Kappa does its own analysis as to the quality of a college’s instruction before granting an application for a chapter. </p>
<p>Now a few top schools–notably Bryn Mawr–don’t have chapters. I’m not suggesting that there aren’t other good colleges that don’t have them. But the presence of a Phi Beta Kappa chapter imeans that the college has undergone a fairly vigorous vetting process and, for liberal arts colleges, is a mark that assures a certain level of quality.</p>