The 25 most liberal colleges in America

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The 25 most liberal colleges in America

Northwestern University graduation

Northwestern University/Facebook

Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, is one of the most liberal colleges in America.

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  • Niche ranked the most liberal colleges in America as part of its annual series of college rankings.
  • Most of the top 25 are on the West Coast and in the Northeast.
  • Many small liberal arts schools make appearances on the list.


As part of its annual series of school rankings, Niche ranked hundreds of American colleges on a scale from most liberal to most conservative.

It might not come as a surprise that the most liberal colleges in the United States are mostly on the West Coast and in the Northeast and include many small liberal arts schools.

Niche based its rankings on surveys from students at each school, and factored in both the political leanings of the students and the survey-takers' impressions of the political leanings of the rest of the student body.

Read on to find out which school is the most liberal in America.

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25. University of California — Santa Barbara

25. University of California — Santa Barbara

Acceptance rate: 36%

Tuition: $14,451 (in-state), $42,465 (out-of-state)

SAT range: 1120-1390

24. Fashion Institute of Technology — New York City

24. Fashion Institute of Technology — New York City

Acceptance rate: 40%

Net price: $5,483 (in-state), $14,863 (out-of-state)

SAT range: N/A

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23. Kenyon College — Gambier, Ohio

23. Kenyon College — Gambier, Ohio

Acceptance rate: 27%

Net price: $53,560

SAT range: 1230-1440

22. Northwestern University — Evanston, Illinois

22. Northwestern University — Evanston, Illinois

Acceptance rate: 11%

Tuition: $52,678

SAT range: 1400-1560

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21. State University of New York at New Paltz

21. State University of New York at New Paltz

Acceptance rate: 43%

Tuition: $7,775 (in-state), $17,625 (out-of-state)

SAT range: 1010-1200

20. University of Washington — Seattle, Washington

20. University of Washington — Seattle, Washington

Acceptance rate: 45%

Tuition: $11,207 (in-state), $36,587 (out-of-state)

SAT range: 1120-1370

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Wesleyan University — Middletown, Connecticut

Wesleyan University — Middletown, Connecticut

Acceptance rate: 18%

Tuition: $52,804

SAT range: 1300-1480

18. Carleton College — Northfield, Minnesota

18. Carleton College — Northfield, Minnesota

Acceptance rate: 23%

Tuition: $52,782

SAT range: 1320-1540

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17. State University of New York at Purchase

17. State University of New York at Purchase

Acceptance rate: 44%

Tuition: $8,498 (in-state), $18,148 (out-of-state)

SAT range: 970-1180

16. Vassar College — Poughkeepsie, New York

16. Vassar College — Poughkeepsie, New York

Acceptance rate: 27%

Tuition: $55,210

SAT range: 1330-1500

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15. Smith College — Northampton, Massachusetts

15. Smith College — Northampton, Massachusetts

Acceptance rate: 37%

Tuition: $50,044

SAT range: 1240-1470

14. Bryn Mawr College — Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

14. Bryn Mawr College — Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

Acceptance rate: 40%

Tuition: $14,451 (in-state), $42,465 (out-of-state)

SAT range: 1220-1450

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13. Sarah Lawrence College — Bronxville, New York

13. Sarah Lawrence College — Bronxville, New York

Acceptance rate: 52%

Tuition: $54,010

SAT range: 1170-1390

12. Howard University — Washington, DC

12. Howard University — Washington, DC

Acceptance rate: 30%

Tuition: $24,122

SAT range: 1040-1240

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11. New York University — New York City

11. New York University — New York City

Acceptance rate: 32%

Tuition: $50,464

SAT range: 1250-1480

10. Oberlin College — Oberlin, Ohio

10. Oberlin College — Oberlin, Ohio

Acceptance rate: 28%

Tuition: $53,460

SAT range: 1250-1450

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9. American University — Washington, DC

9. American University — Washington, DC

Acceptance rate: 36%

Tuition: $46,615

SAT range: 1150-1340

8. Portland State University — Portland, Oregon

8. Portland State University — Portland, Oregon

Acceptance rate: 89%

Tuition: $8,783 (in-state), $26,130 (out-of-state)

SAT range: 930-1160

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7. Bard College — Annandale-On-Hudson, New York

7. Bard College — Annandale-On-Hudson, New York

Acceptance rate: 56%

Tuition: $52,906

SAT range: N/A

6. Mount Holyoke College — South Hadley, Massachusetts

6. Mount Holyoke College — South Hadley, Massachusetts

Acceptance rate: 52%

Tuition: $47,940

SAT range: 1220-1490

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5. University of California — Berkeley

5. University of California — Berkeley

Acceptance rate: 17%

Tuition: $14,170 (in-state), $42,184 (out-of-state)

SAT range: 1270-1540

4. Mills College — Oakland, California

4. Mills College — Oakland, California

Acceptance rate: 84%

Tuition: $46,236

SAT range: 925-1233

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3. Columbia College Chicago — Chicago, Illinois

3. Columbia College Chicago — Chicago, Illinois

Acceptance rate: 88%

Tuition: $26,474

SAT range: N/A

2. San Francisco State University — San Francisco, California

2. San Francisco State University — San Francisco, California

Acceptance rate: 68%

Tuition: $7,254 (in-state), $19,134 (out-of-state)

SAT range: 860-1090

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1. University of California — Santa Cruz

1. University of California — Santa Cruz

Acceptance rate: 58%

Tuition: $14,020 (in-state), $42,034 (out-of-state)

SAT range: 1060-1290

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