<p>lindz, thanks. As we plan for ShawbridgeDaughter, NCF is a school that I put on the list but want to learn more about it.</p>
<p>While this isn’t really an LAC, it’s got a smaller student population and the main campus is a perfect size. It’s also gorgeous! Looks like it should be on the East coast. Brick buildings, many covered in ivy. It’s University of the Pacific. They guarantee students will graduate in 4 years providing they stay on track. I also hear they can be generous with aid and merit scholarships. My daughter was adamant about visiting, until we walked onto the campus and saw how beautiful it was. We were also impressed with the small-college friendliness.</p>
<p>They also have a law school and dental school in other cities.</p>
<p>The only drawback for my daughter is the location: Stockton, CA. She wasn’t too thrilled with the area. Well, she’s going to apply and we’ll see how it goes. She’s been pushing for large universities with 20,000-40,000 students. I’m surprised she would even consider a school with under 4,000 students. We shall see!</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>Wow…I’ve forgotten about that newer Cal State, even tho I know a friend’s daughter goes there.</p>
<p>There are Cali kids with lowish stats that post on this board that are wondering where they can get in. I’ll keep this school in mind. (These kids’ stats aren’t really low, but public California schools are getting more and more selective these days.)</p>
<p>University of the Pacific is not a public. It’s private. </p>
<p>I like little CSU Monterey Bay. Nice location. Of course, when I’ve ridden my bike in the area, which is a former Army base, I’ve found the admonishments not to go off road persuasive-- unexploded ordnance! Oh-kay.</p>
<p>All of the service academies should be on the list.</p>
<p>mom2. both of my DDs applied to CSUMB and were accepted last year but chose a different option. DS in the hs class of 2013 will likely also use it as a safety. </p>
<p>Its hands on curriculum and focus on integration of subjects is likely to appeal to him too</p>
<p>Test scores optional for early decision applicants. This is interesting considering the average SAT score for incomming freshman this year was 1340. </p>
<p>[Test</a> scores optional for early decision applicants - News](<a href=“http://media.www.thelamron.com/media/storage/paper1150/news/2009/10/08/News/Test-Scores.Optional.For.Early.Decision.Applicants-3797468.shtml#4]Test”>http://media.www.thelamron.com/media/storage/paper1150/news/2009/10/08/News/Test-Scores.Optional.For.Early.Decision.Applicants-3797468.shtml#4)</p>
<p>Richard Stockton College near Atlantic City, NJ.</p>
<p>Top 100 Public Schools according to Kiplinger - A few are COPLAC colleges (SUNY Geneseo, New College etc.) </p>
<p>[Rankings</a> for 100 Best Values in Public Colleges](<a href=“http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges/ataglance.html]Rankings”>Kiplinger | Personal Finance News, Investing Advice, Business Forecasts)</p>
<p>Comments from students, alumni, parents</p>
<p>[Best</a> Values in Public Colleges for 2008-2009 - Kiplinger.com](<a href=“Best Values in Public Colleges for 2008-2009 | Kiplinger”>Best Values in Public Colleges for 2008-2009 | Kiplinger)</p>
<p>Out of State Ranking - SUNY schools take the number one and number two spots</p>
<p>[Rankings</a> for 100 Best Values in Public Colleges](<a href=“http://content.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges/pubcollege.php?sortby=OUTRANK04&orderby=flip&states[]=ALL&myschool[]=none&outputby=table]Rankings”>http://content.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges/pubcollege.php?sortby=OUTRANK04&orderby=flip&states[]=ALL&myschool[]=none&outputby=table)</p>
<p>Top Public LAC vs. Top Private - A decision many of us had to make</p>
<p>Interesting discussion</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/suny-college-geneseo/784872-suny-geneseo-vs-top-private-university-decision-many-us-had-make.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/suny-college-geneseo/784872-suny-geneseo-vs-top-private-university-decision-many-us-had-make.html</a></p>
<p>UNC-Asheville</p>
<p>All are great schools!</p>
<p>In terms of the Midwest – not that many on the list, but definitely I have heard good things about Truman State and, like icing on the cake, it has VERY low OOS tuition. Wisconsin-Superior looks really nice, but I am betting it is too remote for many students. The one I am scratching my head about is UI-Springfield. Never heard it was a public LAC, in fact I have never heard of anyone who considered going there.</p>
<p>Humboldt state is definitely LAC like. A dedicated student can get great mentoring from the profs and the surrounding area offers the idea outdoor classroom for many majors. Natural Resources is the big draw but the association with Tribal communities should not be overlooked. Lots of opportunities for students to seek out. More artists per capita than any other CA county. Only oceangoing vessel in America dedicated to undergrad research.
Fairhaven College of interdisciplinary studies associated with WWU is another.
Also a second nomination for the Clark Honors College at U of Oregon.</p>
<p>I don’t think honors colleges really count as a “small public LAC” unless they 1) grant their own degrees in the complete core variety of majors, and 2) have separate GE requirements.</p>
<p>As an IL student who briefly considered going there, I know that UI- Springfield is NOT that LAC-like. Yes, their enrollment is low. That doesn’t automatically make them a liberal arts college. In this case, it’s because the Springfield area population is small and nobody really considers going there from outside that region.</p>
<p>Maybe it would have been easier to define small public’s that are horrible. Honestly, I’ve liked every one of the Pennsylvania State Schools in the West Chester-Kutztown-Millersville -Shippensburg bunch that we’ve visited, and they are all generally pretty small. Even the one that I didn’t like that much, Bloomsburg, is apparently the right choice for others. </p>
<p>The liberal arts part is what disqualifies most public’s. According to this wiki definition [Liberal</a> arts college - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_arts_college]Liberal”>Liberal arts college - Wikipedia) “Liberal arts colleges are primarily colleges with an emphasis upon undergraduate study in the liberal arts.” and “The “liberal arts college experience” in the US is characterized by three main aspects that demarcates it from undergraduate experience in other countries: 1-smaller size than Universities, which usually means more individual attention is given to each student; 2-residential, which means students live and learn away from home often for the first time and learn to live well with others. Additionally, the residential experience of living on campus brings a wide variety of cultural, political, and intellectual events to students who might not otherwise seek them out in a non-residential setting; 3-a typically two-year exploration of the liberal arts or general knowledge before declaring a major.”</p>
<p>Is that the case with the public schools mentioned?</p>
<p>To me a liberal arts college has: 1) a strong core curriculum that crosses all academic areas 2) professors with the highest terminal degrees who primarily teach, research is a secondary consideration 3) small class size with a more socratic style than lecture style 4) is primarily focused on undergraduate education. In general and in my opinion true liberal arts colleges tend to have smaller campus populations and while kids may designate themselves as pre-med, pre-law, pre-MBA or whatever, the college is not focused on professional or technical majors.</p>
<p>Kathiep - it’s definitely the case with St. Mary’s College of MD. It’s a classic LAC in every sense.</p>
<p>It also had facilities that beat several of the private LACs we visited, and a location that was unparalleled in terms of natural beauty. It’s drawback is its remoteness, but I am sure that it appeals to people for that reason…sadly, not for my D!</p>
<p>“A four-year non-sectarian liberal arts college in St. Mary’s City, Maryland”</p>
<p>“U.S. News & World Report Ranks SMCM in First Place Among Public Traditional Liberal Arts Colleges In the Nation” for those that care about pubications such as USNWR</p>
<p>Keilexandra - Thank you for posting that list! I’ve been looking for a “financial safety” for my son, who prefers a small liberal arts college. We’re not going to find that here in Texas (all the publics are big), but we will take a look at some of these. Even with OOS tuition, many of these cost less than privates. Also, his Dad lives in Colorado, so Ft. Lewis College looks like a possibility.</p>