The public liberal arts college is something of an oddity in the higher ed universe. The vast majority of liberal arts colleges in this country are private. The most prominent ones such as Amherst College, Swarthmore College, Carleton College, and Pomona College are not only pricey (if you don’t qualify for financial aid), but also exclusive.
State liberal arts colleges, however, are less expensive, and your
child doesn’t have to be an Einstein clone to gain admission.
Liberal arts colleges, whether private or state run, are focused on
teaching undergraduates. The private schools typically have no graduate
programs, while the state versions may offer master’s degree programs.
It might be somewhat misleading to say that the goal of liberal
arts colleges is to encourage students to learn for learning’s sake.
Obviously, these kids are interested in securing good jobs after they
graduate, but you typically won’t find specialized occupational programs
such as nursing, pharmacy, engineering, and parks and recreation.
Instead most degrees, if not all, are awarded in traditional
liberal arts such as the sciences, literature, foreign languages, economics,
social sciences, and history.
Because these schools offer few if any graduate degrees, the faculty
is more focused on teaching undergraduates. And here’s another
welcome reality: There are often few, if any, graduate students teaching
classes. One of the biggest draws at these schools, whether private
or public, are the professors, who are not as likely to be consumed by
research commitments.
One of the most noticeable features of liberal arts colleges is their
size. Many private liberal arts colleges have fewer than 2,000 students.
Public liberal arts colleges typically have enrollments under 5,000,
which is, of course, far less than many state universities. In contrast to
students at state universities, undergrads at public liberal arts colleges
are more likely to attend smaller classes and develop working relationships
with their professors.
Many state liberal arts outposts aren’t well known. For instance,
while most people have heard of Rutgers, which is the state university
in New Jersey, few outside the Garden State know about The College
of New Jersey, which has been called a “budget Ivy.” The College of
New Jersey, which possesses a higher four-year graduation rate than
UCLA, attracts students with impressive academic records and standardized
test scores that you routinely see at selective private schools.
The middle 50% of the SAT scores for a recent incoming freshman
class ranged from 570 to 670 out of a possible 800 for reading and 600
to 700 for math.
The test scores are also noticeably higher at Truman State University
in Kirksville, Missouri, which is the state’s only public liberal arts
college, compared to the University of Missouri in Columbia, which is
the state’s flagship institution. Truman’s focus has also been to become
a public Ivy through quality teaching and challenging academics.
Some of these public liberal arts oases can be tough to get into.
The College of New Jersey, for instance, turns away 56% of its applicants.
Another gem, St. Mary’s College of Maryland in St. Mary’s City,
Maryland (a public school despite its name), rejects 44% of its applicants.
Plenty of these schools, however, don’t erect high barriers.
Southern Oregon University in picturesque Ashland, Oregon, which
is known for its Shakespeare studies and theatre, accepts 93% of its
applicants. Among the many schools with high acceptance rates are
Humboldt State University in Arcata, California (80%) and the University
of Minnesota, Morris (80%).
Here is a list of many of the nation’s public liberal arts schools:
East
The College of New Jersey, Ewing, New Jersey
Eastern Connecticut State University, Willmantic, Connecticut
Keene State College, Keene, New Hampshire
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams,
Massachusetts
Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mahwah, New Jersey
St. Mary’s College of Maryland, St. Mary’s City, Maryland
State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo, New York
State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz, New York
University of Maine at Farmington, Maine
Midwest
Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri
University of Minnesota, Morris, Minnesota
University of Wisconsin, Superior, Wisconsin
South
College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina
Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, Georgia
Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas
New College of Florida, Sarasota, Florida
University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, Virginia
University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama
University of North Carolina, Asheville, North Carolina
University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Virginia
Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia
Southwest
Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Chickasha,
Oklahoma
West
Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington
Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado
Humboldt State University, Arcata, California
Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California
Southern Oregon University, Ashland, Oregon
University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota
Canada
University of Alberta, Augustana campus, Camrose, Alberta
You can learn more about public liberal arts colleges by visiting
the Web site of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (www.
coplac.org), which promotes and supports these smaller institutions.
Action Plan
When shopping for schools, don’t overlook public liberal arts colleges.
If given the opportunity, many students would thrive in the
more intimate learning environment.
Source: The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price
