<p>I have a son with an interest in math. Can anyone recommend LAC's with especially strong math programs in Iowa or the surrounding states? Carleton, Macalester, and St. Olaf have been mentioned by folks at our school.</p>
<p>Grinnell? It's in Iowa and very good overall.</p>
<p>For LACs in particular, departments don't very that much in terms of quality within a given school, with only a few exceptions (like Harvey Mudd). So for math, I think most "good" LAC's all around will be good in math.</p>
<p>Check out this thread, which shows # of math grads at LACs for 2004:</p>
<p>A few midwestern schools that stand out are Wabash, Illinois Wesleyan, and Knox.</p>
<p>Clendenenator, thanks for the information. He's considered Grinnell, but the atmosphere may be too liberal for his liking (from what he's heard), and it's a very small community that isn't very close to any bigger communities. He'd prefer to at least be close to a larger community (thus the attraction to the Minneapolis area.)</p>
<p>Art Vandelay, thank for the list. I did a search but hadn't come up with anything like that. I'm still new to the forum, though. I appreciate your finding that!</p>
<p>Beloit College (Wisconsin)
Carleton College (Minnesota)
College of Wooster (Ohio)
Colorado College
Denison University (Ohio)
DePauw University (Indiana)
Earlham College (Indiana)
Grinnell College (Iowa)
Kalamazoo College (Michigan)
Kenyon College (Ohio)
Macalester College (Minnesota)
Oberlin College (Ohio)
St. Olaf College (Minnesota)
University of Chicago (not LAC but close enough...and it has an awesome Math department)
Wabash College (Indiana)
Wheaton College (Illinois)</p>
<p>Most of those colleges are pretty liberal, so if your son does not like a liberal atmpshere, he would probably be best served crossing out many of the schools above, especially Carleton and Oberlin.</p>
<p>Thanks, Alexandre. I know he sent away for more information from a few of those on your list. There are some additional ones to consider. This might be a topic for a new discussion: the liberal/conservative balance at schools. I was a bit surprised that you mentioned Carleton before Macalester as being especially liberal. From what I've read, Macalester might make that list before Carleton. But...I'm still new at this. I appreciate your input. My son isn't ultra-conservative - probably moderate to conservative - but he has indicated that he wouldn't want to be in an environment on the far end of liberal without any other like-minded folks. He doesn't mind being in the minority, but he wouldn't want his voice to be completely shut out.</p>
<p>Depending upon what's "midwest", Rice University in Houston may work. It is practically a LAC, near a city, has great math, and though it is slightly liberal overall, there are plenty of conservatives.</p>
<p>Edit: Thought of another. Washington University in St. Louis. Again, LAC-like but it is a university. Math program is awesome; they've done as well in the Putnam competitions as schools like Berkeley and Cornell that are much larger.</p>
<p>Thanks, Clendenenator. Oh yes - Washington University. He got info from them (from the PSAT list I suspect). His dad indicated that they had a good math program. My husband's mother actually got her master's in math from there. I know that was one of the schools he contacted for more information. Not an LAC as you mention, but one worth considering.</p>