<p>Amherst is not the only very selective liberal arts college that grants generous aid to international students. In 2007-2008, the average aid package to internationals at Williams was $48,259. At Swarthmore, it was $42,729. At Pomona, $37,930. At Middlebury, $42,511.</p>
<p>Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore and Pomona are all among the 20 most selective undergraduate institutions in the USA. More selective than Rice, Northwestern, Chicago, Berkeley, Georgetown … or Cornell. Swarthmore also is more selective than Dartmouth, Brown, or Duke (if you measure selectivity by admit rate, scores, and GPA/rank, using the US News method). I would not say these LACs are “Ivy equivalent”. If anything, it would be more appropriate to say the undergraduate programs at most Ivies and other very selective universities are “LAC-like”. That is, despite having robust graduate programs, these universities maitain the small classes, minimal use of TAs, and focus on the liberal arts and sciences that you’d find at a LAC. </p>
<p>LACs are pretty much a US phenomenon. International students may tend to be unfamiliar with them. Apparently they do not apply in large numbers and are sought after by these schools. Therefore, for an international student who wants an “Ivy-par” undergraduate education at a discounted cost, a LAC can be an excellent contrarian choice.</p>