47 Best colleges for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences in Michigan

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 15.5M citations received by 416K 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

#4 in the United States

#4 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

2. Michigan State University

East Lansing

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#32 in the United States

#36 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

3. Wayne State University

Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#91 in the United States

#107 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

4. Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#163 in the United States

#188 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

5. Oakland University

Rochester Hills

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#228 in the United States

#260 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1090
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $9,641

6. Michigan Technological University

Houghton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#255 in the United States

#288 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

7. Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#258 in the United States

#291 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 97%

8. Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#286 in the United States

#321 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1040
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 96%

9. Grand Valley State University

Allendale

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#299 in the United States

#337 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1065
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 93%

10. Andrews University

Berrien Springs

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#383 in the United States

#430 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $24,874

11. Hope College

Holland

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#424 in the United States

#474 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $28,643

12. Calvin College

Grand Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#476 in the United States

#527 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $26,374

13. Kettering University

Flint

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#518 in the United States

#572 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $33,616

14. University of Detroit Mercy

Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#535 in the United States

#589 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $17,987

15. Northern Michigan University

Marquette

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#707 in the United States

#773 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $9,008
Enrollment: 7,197

16. Saginaw Valley State University

University Center

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#728 in the United States

#794 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1050
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 99%

17. Albion College

Albion

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#754 in the United States

#822 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Net Price: $18,470
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $50,344

18. Hillsdale College

Hillsdale

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#776 in the United States

#845 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $26,030

19. Kalamazoo College

Kalamazoo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#812 in the United States

#881 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1281
Net Price: $26,050
Receiving Aid: 100%

20. Ferris State University

Big Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#831 in the United States

#901 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1005
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 98%

21. Michigan School of Psychology

Farmington Hills

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#846 in the United States

#916 in North America

Enrollment: 176
Male:Female: 20:80

22. Lawrence Technological University

Southfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#865 in the United States

#935 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Net Price: $33,807
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $20,526

23. Alma College

Alma

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#922 in the United States

#994 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Net Price: $24,862
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $36,447

24. Jackson College

Jackson

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1065 in the United States

#1142 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $7,553
Enrollment: 4,975

25. Northwood University

Midland

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1079 in the United States

#1156 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Net Price: $26,429
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $20,685

26. Adrian College

Adrian

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1095 in the United States

#1173 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1000
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $22,053

27. Aquinas College

Grand Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1189 in the United States

#1267 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $19,890

28. Lake Superior State University

Sault Ste. Marie

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1301 in the United States

#1380 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $11,464
Enrollment: 1,669

29. Davenport University

Grand Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1337 in the United States

#1418 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Net Price: $19,799
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $16,041

30. Western Theological Seminary

Holland

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1348 in the United States

#1429 in North America

Enrollment: 424
Male:Female: 55:45

31. Siena Heights University

Adrian

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1353 in the United States

#1435 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1015
Average ACT: 18
Net Price: $17,740

32. Calvin Theological Seminary

Grand Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1371 in the United States

#1453 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 307
Male:Female: 70:30

33. Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1374 in the United States

#1456 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1050
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $21,720

34. Rochester College

Rochester Hills

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1388 in the United States

#1470 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Net Price: $19,660
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $16,548

35. Madonna University

Livonia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1389 in the United States

#1471 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1005
Net Price: $18,583
Receiving Aid: 97%

36. Sacred Heart Major Seminary

Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1399 in the United States

#1481 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $10,371
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,095

37. Baker College

Flint

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1423 in the United States

#1507 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1065
Net Price: $14,743
Receiving Aid: 90%

38. Cornerstone University

Grand Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1456 in the United States

#1542 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Net Price: $23,147
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $17,372

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

Lansing

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1477 in the United States

#1564 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Enrollment: 451
Male:Female: 44:56

40. Marygrove College

Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1511 in the United States

#1598 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

#1644 in the United States

#1735 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $8,407
Enrollment: 11,239

42. College for Creative Studies

Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1682 in the United States

#1773 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $34,436
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $26,983

43. Finlandia University

Hancock

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1685 in the United States

#1776 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

#1690 in the United States

#1781 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $3,768
Enrollment: 7,596

45. Walsh College

Troy

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1713 in the United States

#1804 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Enrollment: 1,134
Male:Female: 48:52
Founded: 1922

46. Olivet College

Olivet

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1730 in the United States

#1821 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Net Price: $23,533
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $22,602

47. Northwestern Michigan College

Traverse

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1745 in the United States

#1836 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $6,385
Enrollment: 3,146

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	21	119
Pennsylvania	114	8
Kentucky	29	59
New York	146	6
Missouri	44	40
Tennessee	39	46
District of Columbia	13	50
Virginia	42	37
Maryland	28	10
Delaware	4	96
Vermont	12	122
New Jersey	29	22
Connecticut	22	9
North Carolina	50	20
New Hampshire	13	82
Massachusetts	75	1
South Dakota	11	330
Rhode Island	9	56
Arkansas	18	146
North Dakota	9	215
Nebraska	15	87
South Carolina	32	69
Kansas	22	74
Georgia	52	42
Alabama	29	84
Maine	16	200
Mississippi	15	178
Oklahoma	22	104
Louisiana	27	79
Colorado	24	52
Florida	70	31
Montana	9	166
Texas	89	21
New Mexico	9	100
Utah	11	45
Idaho	7	194
Arizona	10	30
Nevada	8	152
Washington	39	5
Oregon	21	97
California	146	2
Puerto Rico	15	415
Alaska	4	233
Hawaii	7	107