Looking for smaller LACs with an "alternative" vibe, plus have merit!

We recently visited some colleges in Ohio, and my daughter finished the tour loving Kenyon and Oberlin. She didn’t really care for Denison as it seemed to have more of a preppy vibe. Kenyon and Oberlin would be a moderate reach for her. Going into her Junior year, she has a 3.9 UW and a 4.5 W GPA.

We were also looking at some of the CTCL schools like Ursinus and Juniata, and also Muhlenberg (not on their list), but I think they may be a little preppier than what she’s looking for. Ursinus and Juniata should be a solid match. Does anyone know how preppy/Greek these schools are?

We are looking in the mid-Atlantic, New England, possibly upper midwest states. Can anyone suggest some other more “crunchy” schools that give merit?

I would add Beloit and Lawrence to your list. They are both in Wisconsin. I would think that half tuition merit would be doable at both.

Clark in Worcester, MA

Clark University might meet the OP’s description. According to the CDS they gave out over $15,000,000 in non-need based FA in 2015 and they are crunchy. A small and very solid university that may offer merit to OP. Not too preppy and they are in New England.

See https://www.clarku.edu/fast-facts

I second Clark University as an awesome school with the personality you seek and VERY generous merit.

Brandeis University has a liberal, social-justicy vibe, yet it also has a pre-professional element, but it would probably be a good match overall. It gives some merit aid but only to top students.

Skidmore has the vibe you seek but gives merit aid only to tippy top students in the sciences or arts (not to history or English majors, etc.).

Connecticut College blends a liberal, feminist, hip vibe with some more preppy elements, and offers some limited merit aid.

Muhlenberg has a performing arts component that does attract some students with whom she might be comfortable, so it might be worth your exploring. She might find her people there. Great merit aid.

I do not know if either of the following colleges offers any merit (you would have to look at their websites), but they epitomize the vibe you seek: Bard and Hampshire.

St. Mary’s College of Maryland - good merit, no Greek life, and a “crunchy” vibe

+1 to Clark, Bard, Skidmore. If she’d consider women’s colleges, take a look at Smith.

Not LACs but UNC-Asheville and University of Vermont.

I second UNC Asheville (which is indeed a LAC). Nearby Warren Wilson is also worth a look if she wants a more crunchy-granola vibe.

Earlham, Beloit, Lawrence. And one of my favorites (though just as reachy, if not more so, than Oberlin and Kenyon) – Grinnell.

Connecticut is pretty preppy. St. Mary’s College of MD didn’t strike me as crunchy —more like a summer camp with sailing. Agree that Bard is a good option.

How about Hampshire? Very crunchy. Merit awards don’t require a separate application.

What does crunchy mean in this context???

Crunchy = an environmentalist/hippy vibe, if I understand it. The “crunchy” adjective is based on the texture of granola.

Bard would fit that too, and if Oberlin and Kenyon are reachy, Bard could be a match. (edit - @doschicos beat me to it)

Lots of good lib/crunchy schools listed already in this thread. Good job, team.

Seconding Hampshire. Sarah Lawrence gives merit, though I’m not sure how good it is. Allegheny isn’t necessarily crunchy but I wouldn’t call it preppy either, just a very down to earth student body. Great merit.

There is no Greek life at all at Juniata. Its a small school that embraces everyone.

I would put Bard more in the hipster than hippie camp but still check it out.

@time4adventure: If you loved Kenyon College, then you may misunderstand the tern “crunchy”, and you are unlikely to connect with Warren Wilson & some other schools suggested in this thread.

Also, if you loved Kenyon College, then your tastes may be a bit more toward preppy than you write.

It would be helpful to know what you & your daughter loved about Kenyon College–which I think is much more like Sewanee-The University of The South than like any other college suggested above in this thread.

To be blunt about the term “crunchy”, how often does your student bathe & how often does she prefer that her classmates bathe. If more than once or twice a week, then Warren Wilson is not a match & the term crunchy should be rephrased.

My best guess based on your original post in this thread is that Grinnell College may be what you & your daughter are seeking. University of Vermont is another to consider–as noted above by another poster. Elon University in North Carolina may be another to consider, although out of your specified geographical preference areas.

I was also going to say Warren Wilson, outside of Asheville.

@time4adventure If you define “crunchy” and “alternative vibe” as a school where students are environmentally focused, very accepting of others, and not preppy, then schools like Juniata and St. Mary’s of MD, and maybe Goucher would be good to look at. They also check off the boxes for location, size, no Greek life, and good merit.

I agree with @Publisher that I don’t think of Kenyon as “crunchy” or alternative, but more like a sophisticated, intelligent, athletic vibe. Kenyon has about 25% greek life participation and has a top swimming and diving program as well as Men’s soccer program. We’ve been on campus, at this point, probably more than 8 times, between 2 kids’ visits plus watching sports competitions, and know several current students and recent grads. The student body did not strike us as crunchy or alternative, though Oberlin has a more “quirky” vibe, in my perception. But of course, your mileage may vary.