<p>I'm interested in a smaller liberal arts environment. I plan on applying to schools like Oberlin, Macalester, Vassar, Amherst, Williams, etc., but I know the acceptance rates at some of these colleges can be quite low (and the prices can be quite high). Does anybody know of any cheaper/somewhat easier to get into schools that provide a similar type of environment?</p>
<p>Thanks! :)</p>
<p>Beloit, Knox, Lawrence, St. Olaf, Wooster, just to name a few. Check Colleges That Change Lives (ctcl.org) for a list of quality colleges which are less selective than the ones you’ve listed.</p>
<p>Two public liberal arts colleges are </p>
<p>U of Minnesota at Morris
[University</a> of Minnesota Morris | About Morris](<a href=“http://www.morris.umn.edu/about/]University”>About UMN Morris | University of Minnesota Morris)</p>
<p>St. Mary’s College of Maryland
<a href=“http://www.smcm.edu%5B/url%5D”>www.smcm.edu</a></p>
<p>These might be more affordable. I don’t know if they would be easier for you to get into if you are from out of state.</p>
<p>There’s a whole bunch of these schools. Generally speaking, the midwestern schools (such as Grinnell) are more likely to grant merit aid than their northeastern counterparts (many of which don’t grant merit aid at all). Look at the less competitive of the NESCAC colleges (New England), the ACM colleges (midwest), Quaker colleges outside the Philadelphia Quaker Vatican area (Earlham, Guilford), a string of schools in California (Claremont Colleges), and the Pacific NW (Reed, Whitman).</p>
<p>St. John’s College (Great Books) is in a class by itself. Then there are southern colleges such as Davidson. Also “alternative” schools (Hampshire, Marlboro, Warren Wilson).</p>
<p>All of the above are pricey if you have to pay full ticket. Within each group, there’s a big variation in selectivity (e.g. Guilford is far less selective than Swarthmore). </p>
<p>There are a few public “honors” colleges: one in Virginia (Wm and Mary), one in Maryland (St. Mary’s), and one in Florida (New College).</p>
<p>Any one of these colleges probably can present an argument that for YOU, it is absolutely the best school in the known universe. Swarthmore/Williams/Amherst make it easily, because they are the most selective and prestigious. The publics make it because they are the cheapest, but still good. Colorado College can argue it is the only top LAC in a Rocky Mountain setting and its block plan is the best way for many students to learn. St. John’s can argue that the Great Books are the greatest source of human knowledge. etc.</p>
<p>One more “public liberal arts” is Truman State U in Missouri</p>
<p>Another one-at-a-time calendar school is Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa</p>
<p>tk21769 is right, there are scads of these places across the country. Another source of information would be to google your favorite religious denomination + college. This should get you to a list of Lutheran or Methodist or Jesuit/Ursuline/Sacred Heart colleges and universities that might suit you well.</p>