Most Moderate Liberal Arts College? (Yep, that's an oxymoron!)

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Okay, so today I toured Grinnell... I liked it but I am not sure if I would enjoy the all out liberalism. Personally I'm a Libertarian, but conservative/Republican leaning. I am open to opposing ideas, but I have to draw the line at a certain point, I don't really want to walk around with people who talk about "going green" and "saving animals" all the time. It's just annoying.</p>

<p>Is there a LAC like Grinnell that is:
-maybe a bit bigger
-in a big city, if possible
-more moderate
-good finaid</p>

<p>Thanks!!</p>

2

<p>Check out Claremont McKenna (and also Pomona, though that might be too liberal). They are both in the Claremont consortium, so while each school is not that big, all together there are about 5,000 students in walking distance. Claremont McKenna is known for being more conservative than many LACs (it's not deeply conservative, or anything, but its students tend to be more moderate than at a place like Grinnell). </p>

<p>Maybe Occidental? It's not bigger, but it's in LA. While it's still liberal, I didn't get the same "save the world" vibe.</p>

<p>University of Richmond might be worth a look. Richmond isn’t NYC, but it’s a lot bigger than the places most LACs are located in.</p>

3

<p>Thanks, and yea, I am not looking for a conservative college--that would just not be fun! I'd like a school that's politically involved, but not to where they talk about the environment all day. Soo, slightly-left-of-center or moderate.</p>

4

<p>Might look at Holy Cross-2800 students in mid-size city, located 1 hour from Boston. HC has nice campus.</p>

5

<p>Sounds like a very religious college... in which case I would not be interested.</p>

6

<p>Holy Cross is no more religious than Boston College, Georgetown, Fordham, Fairfield, Marquette, Gonzaga, St Louis U, or any of the 28 colleges the Jesuits run in the US. All of these schools are run by the Jesuits which are a liberal Catholic religious order. Holy Cross just sounds more religious because of the name. Complete list of the 28 Jesuit colleges in the USA can be found here: Member</a> Institutions</p>

7

<p>Washington and Lee University Generals
College of the Holy Cross Crusaders
Claremont McKenna College Stags
Hamilton College Continentals
Colgate University Raiders</p>

<p>The last two aren't by major cities, but they are still worth a look.</p>

8

<p>Indeed, 1980. Excellent recommendation. I might add to the OP that there are some hidden LAC's in that "National Rankings", such as Fordham, Marquette and St.Louis University. But any Jesuit college really is an LAC in its mission statement and ordinarily its size. </p>

<p>Notre Dame University is also generally regarded as a fairly conservative school.</p>

<p>Furman University and Washington and Lee are considered very conservative.</p>

<p>Presbyterian College in Greenville, South Carolina is also a very conservative school.</p>

<p>Davidson is a well balanced school with a high percentage of conservatives. </p>

<p>Wake Forest is also conservative (in its student body, not its faculty). Duke is the same.</p>

<p>But I put my money on the Jesuit schools. They provide a vey well rounded, ethics based education. Well balanced and the student bodies tend to be very balanced.</p>

<p>Personally, I prefer a balance (even if my views are tilted right) because I enjoy a lively and healthy discussion. I just avoid schools where opposing opinions are viewed as hostile. That occurs at some extremist left wing schools (of which there are many) and at some extremist right wing schools (not too many of these, but they are out there).</p>

<p>College is about exploration of ideas. The marketplace of ideas. Its the ONE time in your life when you can speak out and be heard and not get fired! LOL. And in that light, a culture that is tolerant and open and encourages lively debate is the best. The Jesuits do that particularly well. Most Jesuit colleges run about 60% Catholic in the student body, with varying degrees of "religiosity" among the "faithful". So dont let religion turn you away from attending one of these fine schools. </p>

<p>Georgetown, BC, Holy Cross, Fordham, Marquette, St. Louis Univ. , Xavier, Loyola (Chicago, LA, Maryland), Fairfield, Creighton, UScranton, Santa Clara, Gonzaga, Seattle University, St. Joe's, USF, Canisius, John Carroll are the best known.....</p>

<p>good luck!</p>

9

<p>Lehigh and Lafayette Colleges are also good schools that aren't known for being left wing oriented...really more balanced and down the middle.</p>

<p>As is Providence College in Rhode Island.</p>

10

<p>Colgate and Bucknell would be all of those things you are seeking except in a bigger city. However, in general, the less liberal the school is the less urban it is. </p>

<p>I wouldn't say your original phrase is an oxymoron since liberal in the context of liberal arts college refers to breadth of study; not political pursuasion.</p>

11

<p>Also Emory and Vanderbilt have a healthy number of conservative students. I think USC is the most conservative in California, from what I have heard.</p>

12

<p>Davidson College is moderate, with Charlotte nearby for your large city. It has excellent financial aid and is loan-free.</p>

<p>Trinity U in San Antonio and Rhodes in Memphis would also be worth consideration.</p>

13

<p>Colorado College has an interesting mix of trustafarians (wanna-be hippies), athletes, preppies, and kids from rural western surroundings. Plus, Colo Springs is itself a quite conservative city to offset the generally liberal (though not overwhelming so) vibe of CC.</p>

<p>Lafayette also comes to mind - Easton is a decent sized-place and not far from NYC and Philly.</p>

14

<p>
[quote]
Lafayette also comes to mind - Easton is a decent sized-place and not far from NYC and Philly.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Have you ever been to Easton, PA? Aside from being closer to NYC and Philly (although still more than an hour away from each), it is not much different than Hamilton, NY or Lewisburg, PA.</p>

15

<p>It's not an oxymoron.</p>

16

<p>C'mon... the Lehigh Valley isn't a metropolis, but it is way more populous than Lewisburg (population 5,620) or Hamilton (3,781). Let's face it, there just aren't many LAC options in larger cities... which is why I used "decent-sized" as a description. I believe the OP is from small-town Iowa, so it is all relative.</p>