Less selective, match/safety liberal arts colleges?

Hi!

It seems like LACs that are often mentioned on CC and the ones I tend to be drawn to are all extremely selective, admitting >25% or so of applicants. While I may apply to one of these schools to see what happens, I know it is imperative to apply to more matches and “safeties.”

What are some great liberal arts colleges that are more of a match/safety for a 3.8 GPA, 29 composite ACT that still have an excellent reputation, campus life, academics, etc? I will be retaking the ACT hoping for a higher score, but am wanting to have some realistic options on my college list. Perhaps places with an admit rate of 40-75% or so? Location in Northeast or on the west coast preferred but not required. No intended major at this point. Just looking for some general options at this point to get my list going. Many thanks!

If you have not already done so, please take a look at Colleges that Change Lives. This lists a plethora of wonderful LAC’s that would match you, and that offer potential financial and/or merit aid. This would be a good starting point for your search.

Good luck!

Take a look at Dickinson. My D1 chose it over some higher ranked schools and loved it. If you are female, Mount Holyoke has a lovely campus, solid academics, and the consortium for some additional social and academic opportunities.

St. Lawrence, Wheaton (MA), Mt Holyoke, Connecticut College. The experiences at schools such as these could be quite different, but all would offer you an excellent education.

Earlham, Indiana just west of Ohio might be one to look at. Just under 1k students, so aI don’t know if that’s too small for you.

Trinity CT has an acceptance rate below 40%, but you’re above their 50th percentile ACT score.

Another vote for looking in the CTCL schools as mentioned in post #1. You’d be a solid candidate for $20K or so of merit aid at lots of those schools.

sarah lawrence?

Sarah Lawrence’s offerings are mainly visual and performing arts, some humanities, and psychology, based on its course catalog. If the OP may be interested in going in depth in other areas, that may be limiting.

Some of the public LACs listed in http://www.coplac.org/members/ are not that selective or expensive (even for out-of-state students). Truman State, University of Minnesota - Morris, SUNY Geneseo, and New College of Florida may be worth a look, as well as any which you may be in-state for.

Thanks for all of the suggestions thus far! I just looked at CTCL and a few look promising. All-female schools don’t appeal to me, otherwise I would definitely look at Mount Holyoke, it is a fantastic college.

Sarah Lawrence probably wouldn’t be a fit due to the offerings. I’ll take a look at Trinity, Dickinson, and CC though.

In the midwest but take a look at Lawrence University in Wisconsin and St. Olaf in MN. Also, Whitman in Washington.

I will second the recommendations of Dickinson and St. Lawrence.

These are my favorites among some of the less super selective LACs.

Hobart
Skidmore
Lafayette
Holy Cross
F&M
Bucknell
Trinity
these have admit rates below 40% and are selective, but your 29 ACT would put you in the middle 50%

@doschicos Whitman is pretty much my top choice at this point. It seems basically perfect to me. I like that it is outdoorsy too, since I’m from Colorado. I have a friend who attends and loves it. I have heard of St. Olaf before as well, will look into it.

Thanks for the long list @wisteria100!!! I appreciate it a lot. I will take a look at these!

Just to add to the one statement above, new college of Florida is very small and very liberal but a very good school academically. If I were considering it, definitely know what its about and it’s uniqueness. For example, they don’t give grades.

Rhodes (my college!!), Eckerd, Earlham, Lake Forest, Beloit, and Lawrence

In case there’s a chance you have done so, do not confuse St. Lawrence with Sarah Lawrence. They are very different schools. Not incidentally, St. Lawrence’s location – between the Thousand Islands and Adirondack Mountains – is incredible.

Lots of women who think they don’t want a women’s college come away from Mount Holyoke raving after visiting, and end up applying. If you are in the area, considering stopping for a tour.

@isabee Whitman is a great school! Are you considering Colorado College at all? More selective these days but similar vibe between Whitman and CC.

@doschicos I have toured Colorado College-- it’s very close to home which could be a benefit as well as a drawback. It would also certainly be a reach for me, as you’re right, it is very selective and has become more so in recent years. But a great school and vibe nonetheless! I will probably apply. I like that both Whitman and CC seem to have a more laid back but intelligent environment. They’re well regarded. They both seem down-to-earth and very friendly. Access to the outdoors is a major plus. I like the general feel and definitely want to find and apply to some similar places!

For the East Coast some other safe options could be Clark University in Worcester, MA and Washington College in Chesterstown, MD. Other prospects in the PNW could include Willamette, Lewis & Clark, Puget Sound, and Western Washington. For southern CA check out Chapman and University of Redlands which would both be safe options.

@isabee I think CC and Whitman both meet your description and what you are looking for. One of my kids loved both schools. At CC, definitely put a lot of effort into the supplemental essays. It plays a heavy role in admissions decisions.

Also, take a look at Bates in Maine. It is test optional.