100 Best colleges for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. A graph of 437M citations received by 12.3M academic papers made by 1,763 universities in the United States 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

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

6. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#7 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

7. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#8 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

8. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

9. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#10 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

10. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#11 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

11. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#12 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

12. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#13 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

13. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#14 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#15 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

15. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

16. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#18 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

17. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#19 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

18. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

19. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#21 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

20. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#22 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

21. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#23 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

22. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#24 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

23. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#25 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

24. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#26 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

25. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#27 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

26. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#28 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

27. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#29 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

28. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#30 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

29. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#32 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

30. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#34 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

31. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#35 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

32. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#36 in North America

#49 in the World

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

33. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#37 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

34. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#38 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

35. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#39 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

36. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#40 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

37. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#42 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

38. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#43 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

39. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#44 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

40. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#45 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

41. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#47 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

42. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#48 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

43. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#49 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

44. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#50 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

45. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#52 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

46. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#55 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

47. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#57 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

48. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#58 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

49. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#59 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

50. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#60 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

51. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#61 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

52. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#62 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

53. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#63 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

54. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#64 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

55. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#67 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

56. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#68 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

57. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#69 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

58. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#70 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

59. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#71 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

60. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#72 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

61. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#73 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

62. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#74 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

63. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#76 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

64. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#77 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

65. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#78 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

66. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#80 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

67. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#81 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

68. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#82 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

69. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#83 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

70. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#84 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

71. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#85 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

72. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#86 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

73. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#87 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

74. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#88 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

75. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#89 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

76. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#91 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

77. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#92 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

78. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#93 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

79. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#94 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

80. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#95 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

81. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#96 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

82. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#98 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

83. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#99 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

84. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#100 in North America

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

85. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#101 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

86. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#102 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

87. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#103 in North America

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

88. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#104 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

89. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#105 in North America

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

90. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#106 in North America

#247 in the World

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

91. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#107 in North America

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

92. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#108 in North America

#253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

93. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#109 in North America

#259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

94. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#111 in North America

#269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

95. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#112 in North America

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

96. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#113 in North America

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

97. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#114 in North America

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

98. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#116 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

99. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#117 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

100. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#118 in North America

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

The best cities to study Liberal Arts & Social Sciences in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Stanford, Ann Arbor, and Berkeley.