45 Best colleges for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences in Michigan

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 10.9M citations received by 363K academic papers made by 45 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: 74%

2. Michigan State University

East Lansing

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#31 in the United States

#34 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

3. Wayne State University

Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#86 in the United States

#100 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

4. Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#169 in the United States

#193 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

5. Oakland University

Rochester Hills

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#230 in the United States

#262 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1130
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,755

6. Michigan Technological University

Houghton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#250 in the United States

#283 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 100%

7. Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#260 in the United States

#293 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 99%

8. Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#296 in the United States

#333 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1055
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 96%

9. Grand Valley State University

Allendale

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#304 in the United States

#342 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

10. Andrews University

Berrien Springs

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#415 in the United States

#463 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $24,194

11. Hope College

Holland

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#431 in the United States

#480 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $25,800

12. Calvin College

Grand Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#487 in the United States

#538 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $25,775

13. Kettering University

Flint

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#514 in the United States

#565 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $34,486

14. University of Detroit Mercy

Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#527 in the United States

#581 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1084
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $18,197

15. Northern Michigan University

Marquette

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#696 in the United States

#761 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,385
Enrollment: 6,970

16. Hillsdale College

Hillsdale

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#710 in the United States

#775 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $24,196

17. Saginaw Valley State University

University Center

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#717 in the United States

#782 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

18. Albion College

Albion

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#752 in the United States

#818 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Net Price: $19,351
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $47,406

19. Ferris State University

Big Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#788 in the United States

#856 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 97%

20. Kalamazoo College

Kalamazoo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#800 in the United States

#869 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $26,981

21. Michigan School of Psychology

Farmington Hills

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#824 in the United States

#893 in North America

Enrollment: 178
Male:Female: 23:77

22. Alma College

Alma

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#880 in the United States

#951 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Net Price: $23,995
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $34,736

23. Lawrence Technological University

Southfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#892 in the United States

#963 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Net Price: $32,641
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $19,658

24. Adrian College

Adrian

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1029 in the United States

#1103 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1050
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $24,870

25. Northwood University

Midland

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1106 in the United States

#1182 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1055
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $24,616

26. Aquinas College

Grand Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1176 in the United States

#1252 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1090
Net Price: $18,605
Receiving Aid: 100%

27. Jackson College

Jackson

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1233 in the United States

#1311 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $10,764
Enrollment: 4,244

28. Madonna University

Livonia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1243 in the United States

#1321 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Net Price: $18,344
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $19,840

29. Davenport University

Grand Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1252 in the United States

#1330 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Net Price: $18,350
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $17,124

30. Lake Superior State University

Sault Ste. Marie

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1277 in the United States

#1356 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1113
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 96%

31. Western Theological Seminary

Holland

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1291 in the United States

#1370 in North America

Enrollment: 433
Male:Female: 60:40

32. Rochester College

Rochester Hills

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1327 in the United States

#1407 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Net Price: $18,665
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $15,899

33. Sacred Heart Major Seminary

Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1390 in the United States

#1472 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $19,140
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $17,742

34. Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1391 in the United States

#1473 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1053
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $22,375

35. Siena Heights University

Adrian

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1394 in the United States

#1476 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1032
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $20,074

36. Calvin Theological Seminary

Grand Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1397 in the United States

#1479 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 239
Male:Female: 70:30

37. Marygrove College

Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1473 in the United States

#1560 in North America

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

38. Baker College

Flint

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1495 in the United States

#1582 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Net Price: $13,719
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,110

39. Cornerstone University

Grand Rapids

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1499 in the United States

#1587 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Net Price: $20,935
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $18,502

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

Lansing

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1553 in the United States

#1642 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Enrollment: 564
Male:Female: 42:58

41. Henry Ford College

Dearborn

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1623 in the United States

#1713 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 84%
Average Aid: $7,311
Enrollment: 11,204

42. Schoolcraft College

Livonia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1687 in the United States

#1778 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $2,567
Enrollment: 7,650

43. Olivet College

Olivet

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1694 in the United States

#1785 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Net Price: $21,394
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,361

44. College for Creative Studies

Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1697 in the United States

#1788 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Net Price: $34,906
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $24,307

45. Walsh College

Troy

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1699 in the United States

#1790 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Enrollment: 1,218
Male:Female: 49:51
Founded: 1922

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Wisconsin	35	13
Indiana	36	54
Ohio	66	19
Illinois	79	14
Iowa	33	43
Minnesota	30	18
West Virginia	20	121
Pennsylvania	113	11
Kentucky	29	57
New York	144	6
Missouri	41	39
Tennessee	39	45
District of Columbia	13	52
Virginia	42	38
Maryland	27	9
Delaware	4	97
Vermont	12	123
New Jersey	29	24
Connecticut	22	10
North Carolina	49	21
New Hampshire	13	90
Massachusetts	74	1
South Dakota	10	324
Rhode Island	9	60
Arkansas	18	143
North Dakota	9	211
Nebraska	14	88
South Carolina	32	66
Kansas	20	75
Georgia	51	41
Alabama	28	82
Maine	16	200
Mississippi	15	180
Oklahoma	22	108
Louisiana	26	76
Colorado	24	53
Florida	69	29
Montana	9	165
Texas	85	20
New Mexico	9	95
Utah	11	44
Idaho	7	192
Arizona	10	28
Nevada	8	148
Washington	37	5
Oregon	20	96
California	143	2
Puerto Rico	15	406
Alaska	4	227
Hawaii	7	107