North America's best Liberal Arts & Social Sciences universities [Rankings]

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. A graph of 466M citations received by 13.7M academic papers made by 1,852 universities in North America 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. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

2. Stanford University

United States | California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

3. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

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

5. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Canada

#5 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

6. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#5 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

7. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#6 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

8. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#7 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

9. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#8 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

10. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#9 in the United States

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

11. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#10 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

12. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#11 in the United States

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

13. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#12 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#13 in the United States

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

15. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#14 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

16. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in Canada

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

17. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#15 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

18. New York University

United States | New York State

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#16 in the United States

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

19. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#17 in the United States

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

20. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#18 in the United States

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

21. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#19 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

22. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#20 in the United States

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

23. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#21 in the United States

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

24. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#22 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

25. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#23 in the United States

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

26. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#24 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

27. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#25 in the United States

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

28. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#26 in the United States

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

29. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#27 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

30. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#28 in the United States

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

31. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#29 in the United States

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

32. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in Canada

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

33. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#30 in the United States

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

34. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in Canada

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

35. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#31 in the United States

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

36. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#32 in the United States

#46 in the World

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

37. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#33 in the United States

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

38. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#34 in the United States

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

39. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#35 in the United States

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

40. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#36 in the United States

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

41. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#5 in Canada

#55 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

42. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#37 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

43. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#38 in the United States

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

44. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#39 in the United States

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

45. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#40 in the United States

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

46. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#41 in the United States

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

47. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#6 in Canada

#76 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

48. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#42 in the United States

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

49. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#43 in the United States

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

50. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#44 in the United States

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

51. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#7 in Canada

#88 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

52. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#45 in the United States

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

53. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#8 in Canada

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

54. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#46 in the United States

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

55. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#9 in Canada

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

56. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#10 in Canada

#105 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

57. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#47 in the United States

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

58. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#48 in the United States

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

59. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#49 in the United States

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

60. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#50 in the United States

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

61. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#51 in the United States

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

62. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#52 in the United States

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

63. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#53 in the United States

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

64. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#54 in the United States

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

65. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#11 in Canada

#135 in the World

Founded: 1957

66. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#12 in Canada

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

67. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#55 in the United States

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

68. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#56 in the United States

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

69. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#57 in the United States

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

70. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#58 in the United States

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

71. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#59 in the United States

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

72. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#60 in the United States

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

73. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#61 in the United States

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

74. George Washington University

United States | District of Columbia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#62 in the United States

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

75. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#63 in the United States

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

76. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#13 in Canada

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

77. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#64 in the United States

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

78. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#65 in the United States

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

79. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#66 in the United States

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

80. University of Quebec in Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#14 in Canada

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1969

81. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#67 in the United States

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

82. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#68 in the United States

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

83. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#69 in the United States

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

84. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#70 in the United States

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

85. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#71 in the United States

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

86. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#72 in the United States

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

87. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#73 in the United States

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

88. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#74 in the United States

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

89. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

United States | Colorado

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#75 in the United States

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

90. George Mason University

United States | Virginia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#76 in the United States

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

91. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#15 in Canada

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

92. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#77 in the United States

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

93. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#78 in the United States

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

94. Tulane University of Louisiana

United States | Louisiana

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#79 in the United States

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,631

95. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#80 in the United States

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

96. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#81 in the United States

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

97. Dartmouth College

United States | New Hampshire

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#82 in the United States

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

98. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#83 in the United States

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

99. University of Alabama at Birmingham

United States | Alabama

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#84 in the United States

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

100. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#16 in Canada

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 30,867
Founded: 1818

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in North America