47 Best colleges for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences in Michigan

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Michigan ranked based on their research performance in Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. A graph of 16.2M citations received by 426K academic papers made by 47 universities in Michigan was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in the United States

#3 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

2. Michigan State University

East Lansing

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#32 in the United States

#36 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

3. Wayne State University

Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#90 in the United States

#106 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

4. Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#163 in the United States

#188 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $11,048
Enrollment: 16,744

5. Oakland University

Rochester Hills

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#227 in the United States

#260 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1130
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $12,988

6. Michigan Technological University

Houghton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#250 in the United States

#283 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

7. Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#258 in the United States

#291 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1080
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 96%

8. Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#289 in the United States

#324 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

9. Grand Valley State University

Allendale

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#298 in the United States

#336 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1065
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 94%

10. Andrews University

Berrien Springs

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#384 in the United States

#432 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $24,728

11. Hope College

Holland

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#427 in the United States

#477 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $30,700

12. Calvin College

Grand Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#478 in the United States

#530 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1207
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $25,231

13. Kettering University

Flint

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#524 in the United States

#579 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $35,609

14. University of Detroit Mercy

Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#535 in the United States

#590 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $16,790

15. Northern Michigan University

Marquette

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#704 in the United States

#770 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $12,012
Enrollment: 7,409

16. Saginaw Valley State University

University Center

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#726 in the United States

#792 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 99%

17. Albion College

Albion

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#760 in the United States

#829 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $16,719
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $53,298

18. Hillsdale College

Hillsdale

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#783 in the United States

#852 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $23,993

19. Kalamazoo College

Kalamazoo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#814 in the United States

#884 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $26,956

20. Ferris State University

Big Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#833 in the United States

#903 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1005
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 99%

21. Michigan School of Psychology

Farmington Hills

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#853 in the United States

#923 in North America

Enrollment: 190
Male:Female: 23:77

22. Lawrence Technological University

Southfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#864 in the United States

#934 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Net Price: $34,083
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,877

23. Alma College

Alma

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#921 in the United States

#993 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Net Price: $22,094
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $41,618

24. Jackson College

Jackson

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1077 in the United States

#1154 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $10,185
Enrollment: 5,086

25. Northwood University

Midland

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1082 in the United States

#1159 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Net Price: $25,549
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $23,349

26. Adrian College

Adrian

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1098 in the United States

#1176 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1007
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $25,922

27. Aquinas College

Grand Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1193 in the United States

#1271 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1025
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $18,018

28. Lake Superior State University

Sault Ste. Marie

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1304 in the United States

#1384 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $14,632
Enrollment: 1,567

29. Davenport University

Grand Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1337 in the United States

#1418 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Net Price: $18,538
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $18,803

30. Western Theological Seminary

Holland

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1351 in the United States

#1432 in North America

Enrollment: 397
Male:Female: 51:49

31. Siena Heights University

Adrian

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1357 in the United States

#1438 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 940
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $17,520

32. Calvin Theological Seminary

Grand Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1373 in the United States

#1455 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 367
Male:Female: 68:32

33. Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1375 in the United States

#1457 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1125
Net Price: $21,067
Receiving Aid: 100%

34. Madonna University

Livonia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1388 in the United States

#1470 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 980
Net Price: $18,373
Receiving Aid: 98%

35. Sacred Heart Major Seminary

Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1393 in the United States

#1476 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $6,928
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $34,987

36. Rochester College

Rochester Hills

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1398 in the United States

#1481 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Net Price: $21,611
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $19,674

37. Baker College

Flint

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1432 in the United States

#1518 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1060
Net Price: $13,616
Receiving Aid: 93%

38. Cornerstone University

Grand Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1436 in the United States

#1522 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Net Price: $21,335
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $20,439

39. Western Michigan University - Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Lansing

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1473 in the United States

#1559 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Enrollment: 420
Male:Female: 44:56

40. Marygrove College

Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1520 in the United States

#1609 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $12,340
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,162

41. Henry Ford College

Dearborn

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1647 in the United States

#1738 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $9,428
Enrollment: 11,410

42. College for Creative Studies

Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1685 in the United States

#1776 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Net Price: $36,055
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $30,108

43. Finlandia University

Hancock

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1687 in the United States

#1778 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Net Price: $20,539
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $15,722

44. Schoolcraft College

Livonia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1698 in the United States

#1789 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $5,951
Enrollment: 8,587

45. Walsh College

Troy

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1722 in the United States

#1813 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Enrollment: 908
Male:Female: 47:53
Founded: 1922

46. Olivet College

Olivet

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1731 in the United States

#1822 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Net Price: $19,362
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $27,858

47. Northwestern Michigan College

Traverse

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1747 in the United States

#1838 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $7,926
Enrollment: 3,253

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Wisconsin	36	14
Indiana	38	39
Ohio	67	19
Illinois	79	12
Iowa	32	44
Minnesota	30	18
West Virginia	20	120
Pennsylvania	114	9
Kentucky	29	60
New York	146	6
Missouri	44	40
Tennessee	39	46
District of Columbia	13	48
Virginia	42	37
Maryland	28	8
Delaware	4	97
Vermont	12	124
New Jersey	29	22
Connecticut	22	10
North Carolina	50	20
New Hampshire	13	84
Massachusetts	75	1
South Dakota	12	331
Rhode Island	9	56
Arkansas	18	146
North Dakota	9	216
Nebraska	15	87
South Carolina	32	68
Kansas	22	74
Georgia	52	42
Alabama	30	82
Maine	16	199
Mississippi	15	177
Oklahoma	22	103
Louisiana	27	79
Colorado	24	52
Florida	70	31
Montana	9	166
Texas	89	21
New Mexico	9	100
Utah	11	45
Idaho	7	193
Arizona	10	29
Nevada	8	149
Washington	39	5
Oregon	21	96
California	147	2
Puerto Rico	15	414
Alaska	4	233
Hawaii	7	106