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Most liberal colleges in America

Written by

Cynthia Rebolledo

University students across Washington protest with signs.

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Most liberal colleges in America

There is no concrete proof that liberals outnumber conservatives in academia. That said, despite the likelihood that critiques of political bias have more to do with ideological challenges than oppression, the perception persists that higher education is overwhelmingly liberal.

Beyond being merely persistent, this perception has also led to political showdowns with far-reaching ramifications. Since taking office in January 2025, President Donald Trump has launched attacks on universities across the United States over allegations of liberal bias. In May 2025, Trump’s administration prevented Harvard from enrolling international students, claiming that the nation’s oldest university is “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” according to a statement issued by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. A month later, in July 2025, Columbia University paid a $200 million fine to the federal government to settle other discrimination claims from Trump and restore federal funding.

Some schools have a longstanding history of liberalism or progressive ideology. In many cases, these schools exist in more liberal regions of the country or are progressive by design. They are among the most prestigious, largest, and best-endowed schools in the United States.

To determine the 50 most liberal universities and colleges in America, Stacker used 2026 rankings from Niche. Niche considered students’ self-reported political leanings as well as the results of student surveys regarding on-campus political preferences, specifically liberal students’ opinions about overall political leanings among the student body. (You can read the full methodology here.)

Keep reading to find out which schools are the country’s most liberal.

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Savannah College of Art and Design building with banner for film festival.

Darryl Brooks // Shutterstock

#50. Savannah College of Art and Design

– Location: Savannah, GA
– Overall Niche grade: C+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 12,642
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 17:1
– Acceptance rate: 84%
– Typical SAT range: 1050-1280

Aerial view of the University of Minnesota in Duluth.

Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

#49. University of Minnesota Duluth

– Location: Duluth, MN
– Overall Niche grade: B+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 7,249
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
– Acceptance rate: 82%
– Typical SAT range: 1130-1340

The campus at State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz.

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#48. SUNY New Paltz

– Location: New Paltz, NY
– Overall Niche grade: B
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 5,564
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1
– Acceptance rate: 59%
– Typical SAT range: 1170-1340

Saint Ignatius Church on the University of San Francisco.

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#47. University of San Francisco

– Location: San Francisco
– Overall Niche grade: B+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 5,527
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
– Acceptance rate: 51%
– Typical SAT range: 1210-1390

Entrance gate to University of Southern California campus.

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#46. University of Southern California

– Location: Los Angeles
– Overall Niche grade: A+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 20,502
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
– Acceptance rate: 10%
– Typical SAT range: 1440-1550

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Group of students working on a project together at table.

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#45. Point Park University

– Location: Pittsburgh
– Overall Niche grade: C
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,110
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
– Acceptance rate: 98%
– Typical SAT range: 1040-1240

Brick building on Bowdoin College campus.

EQRoy // Shutterstock

#44. Bowdoin College

– Location: Brunswick, ME
– Overall Niche grade: A+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,873
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
– Acceptance rate: 8%
– Typical SAT range: 1480-1550

Brandeis University entrance sign and campus logo.

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#43. Brandeis University

– Location: Waltham, MA
– Overall Niche grade: A
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 3,615
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
– Acceptance rate: 35%
– Typical SAT range: 1390-1530

People walking by the entrance to Pace University.

Andriy Blokhin // Shutterstock

#42. Pace University

– Location: New York
– Overall Niche grade: B-
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 7,473
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
– Acceptance rate: 77%
– Typical SAT range: 1130-1330

Students are out on the Quad lawn of University of Illinois college campus.

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#41. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

– Location: Champaign, IL
– Overall Niche grade: A+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 34,468
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
– Acceptance rate: 44%
– Typical SAT range: 1270-1510

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Spelman College graduates participate in commencement activities.

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#40. Spelman College

– Location: Atlanta
– Overall Niche grade: B+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,532
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
– Acceptance rate: 34%
– Typical SAT range: 1060-1270

Kalamazoo College entrance sign and building.

Susan B Sheldon // Shutterstock

#39. Kalamazoo College

– Location: Kalamazoo, MI
– Overall Niche grade: B
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,190
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
– Acceptance rate: 76%
– Typical SAT range: 1190-1370

Bascom Hall on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#38. University of Wisconsin – Madison

– Location: Madison, WI
– Overall Niche grade: A+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 34,278
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
– Acceptance rate: 43%
– Typical SAT range: 1360-1510

Wheaton College aerial view including Cole Memorial Chapel.

Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock

#37. Wheaton College – Massachusetts

– Location: Norton, MA
– Overall Niche grade: B-
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,746
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
– Acceptance rate: 72%
– Typical SAT range: 1210-1420

View of the campus of Fordham University,

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#36. Fordham University

– Location: Bronx, NY
– Overall Niche grade: B
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 9,684
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
– Acceptance rate: 56%
– Typical SAT range: 1330-1490

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Old Main on the campus of St. Olaf College.

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#35. St. Olaf College

– Location: Northfield, MN
– Overall Niche grade: A-
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 3,044
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
– Acceptance rate: 52%
– Typical SAT range: 1260-1470

Protesters gather on steps at UCLA.

Ringo Chiu // Shutterstock

#34. University of California – Los Angeles

– Location: Los Angeles
– Overall Niche grade: A+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 32,472
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
– Acceptance rate: 9%
– Typical SAT range: not available

A stone sign for Dickinson College.

ArtByArthur // Shutterstock

#33. Dickinson College

– Location: Carlisle, PA
– Overall Niche grade: B+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,096
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
– Acceptance rate: 43%
– Typical SAT range: not available

Person walks past Columbia College in Chicago.

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#32. Columbia College Chicago

– Location: Chicago
– Overall Niche grade: C-
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 6,013
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
– Acceptance rate: 91%
– Typical SAT range: not available

Students at desks in classroom.

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

#31. College of Wooster

– Location: Wooster, OH
– Overall Niche grade: B+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,723
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
– Acceptance rate: 54%
– Typical SAT range: 1250-1450

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Northrop Mall on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#30. University of Minnesota Twin Cities

– Location: Minneapolis
– Overall Niche grade: A
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 29,124
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
– Acceptance rate: 77%
– Typical SAT range: 1310-1480

Students walking on the quad outside of The Hub Student Union Building.

VDB Photos // Shutterstock

#29. University of Washington

– Location: Seattle
– Overall Niche grade: A+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 29,863
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
– Acceptance rate: 43%
– Typical SAT range: not available

St. Catherine University entrance gate and logo.

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#28. St. Catherine University

– Location: Saint Paul, MN
– Overall Niche grade: B+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,679
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
– Acceptance rate: 94%
– Typical SAT range: 1060-1210

Old Main Hall at Hamline University in Saint Paul in springtime.

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#27. Hamline University

– Location: Saint Paul, MN
– Overall Niche grade: C+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,634
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
– Acceptance rate: 90%
– Typical SAT range: 1140-1400

Kennedy Hall at Rhodes College.

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#26. Rhodes College

– Location: Memphis, TN
– Overall Niche grade: A-
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,891
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
– Acceptance rate: 50%
– Typical SAT range: 1290-1490

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Brick Northeastern University sign at the Krentzman Quadrangle.

Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock

#25. Northeastern University

– Location: Boston
– Overall Niche grade: A+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 15,857
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
– Acceptance rate: 6%
– Typical SAT range: 1460-1550

Building and statue on the campus of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg.

William Silver // Shutterstock

#24. William & Mary

– Location: Williamsburg, VA
– Overall Niche grade: A+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 6,975
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
– Acceptance rate: 33%
– Typical SAT range: 1370-1510

University student learning in lecture hall.

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

#23. SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry

– Location: Syracuse, NY
– Overall Niche grade: B+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,640
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
– Acceptance rate: 83%
– Typical SAT range: 1130-1300

Brick building on the campus of Clark University.

Kim Willems // Shutterstock

#22. Clark University

– Location: Worcester, MA
– Overall Niche grade: B+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,322
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
– Acceptance rate: 42%
– Typical SAT range: 1240-1400

Aerial view of Simmons University campus in Boston.

Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock

#21. Simmons University

– Location: Boston
– Overall Niche grade: B
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,562
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 4:1
– Acceptance rate: 66%
– Typical SAT range: 1230-1390

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The Rotunda at the University of Virginia at dusk with Thomas Jefferson Statue in the foreground.

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#20. University of Virginia

– Location: Charlottesville, VA
– Overall Niche grade: A+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 16,829
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
– Acceptance rate: 17%
– Typical SAT range: 1410-1530

Whipple Clock Tower and Mark O. Hatfield Library on the campus of Willamette University.

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#19. Willamette University

– Location: Salem, OR
– Overall Niche grade: B
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,337
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
– Acceptance rate: 79%
– Typical SAT range: 1220-1430

Billing Hall on the campus of Wellesley College.

Yingna Cai // Shutterstock

#18. Wellesley College

– Location: Wellesley, MA
– Overall Niche grade: A+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,299
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
– Acceptance rate: 14%
– Typical SAT range: 1440-1550

Student painting on canvas in art studio.

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#17. Cleveland Institute of Art

– Location: Cleveland
– Overall Niche grade: C
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 557
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
– Acceptance rate: 56%
– Typical SAT range: 1060-1300

Iron gates and stone pillars frame the entrance to College Hall on Smith College campus.

Brian Logan Photography // Shutterstock

#16. Smith College

– Location: Northampton, MA
– Overall Niche grade: A
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,549
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
– Acceptance rate: 20%
– Typical SAT range: 1410-1540

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DeWitt Wallace Library at Macalester College.

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#15. Macalester College

– Location: Saint Paul, MN
– Overall Niche grade: A
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,106
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
– Acceptance rate: 28%
– Typical SAT range: 1350-1510

University of Santa Cruz campus entrance sign and tree.

Koeppen Photo // Shutterstock

#14. University of California – Santa Cruz

– Location: Santa Cruz, CA
– Overall Niche grade: B+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 17,227
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 20:1
– Acceptance rate: 63%
– Typical SAT range: 1160-1360

Western Washington University in Bellingham.

RonaldL // Shutterstock

#13. Western Washington University

– Location: Bellingham, WA
– Overall Niche grade: B-
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 12,558
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 16:1
– Acceptance rate: 91%
– Typical SAT range: 1110-1350

Mount Holyoke College campus building and sign.

Feng Cheng // Shutterstock

#12. Mount Holyoke College

– Location: South Hadley, MA
– Overall Niche grade: A
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,164
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
– Acceptance rate: 38%
– Typical SAT range: 1350-1500

Campus view of Portland State University during spring season.

ARTYOORAN // Shutterstock

#11. Portland State University

– Location: Portland, OR
– Overall Niche grade: B+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 9,985
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
– Acceptance rate: 91%
– Typical SAT range: 1000-1250

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Ithaca College entrance sign.

TW Farlow Media // Shutterstock

#10. Ithaca College

– Location: Ithaca, NY
– Overall Niche grade: B
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 4,285
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
– Acceptance rate: 70%
– Typical SAT range: 1190-1370

Entrance to Fashion Institute of Technology campus in Manhattan.

Ameer Mussard-Afcari // Shutterstock

#9. Fashion Institute of Technology

– Location: New York
– Overall Niche grade: B+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 6,817
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 16:1
– Acceptance rate: 58%
– Typical SAT range: not available

Boston University campus sign with people walking in background.

Jorge Salcedo // Shutterstock

#8. Boston University

– Location: Boston
– Overall Niche grade: A+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 17,899
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 5:1
– Acceptance rate: 11%
– Typical SAT range: 1400-1520

Administrative building exterior Johnson Hall on the University of Oregon campus.

Joshua Rainey Photography // Shutterstock

#7. University of Oregon

– Location: Eugene, OR
– Overall Niche grade: B+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 18,202
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 16:1
– Acceptance rate: 85%
– Typical SAT range: 1130-1360

Entrance sign to Sarah Lawrence College.

Brianna bb // Shutterstock

#6. Sarah Lawrence College

– Location: Bronxville, NY
– Overall Niche grade: C+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,498
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
– Acceptance rate: 59%
– Typical SAT range: 1270-1440

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Peters Hall at Oberlin College in autumn.

PICTOR PICTURES // Shutterstock

#5. Oberlin College

– Location: Oberlin, OH
– Overall Niche grade: B+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,978
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
– Acceptance rate: 33%
– Typical SAT range: 1370-1510

Students walking through Kogan Plaza at the center of George Washington University Campus.

Rosemarie Mosteller // Shutterstock

#4. George Washington University

– Location: Washington D.C.
– Overall Niche grade: A
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 10,386
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
– Acceptance rate: 44%
– Typical SAT range: 1350-1500

Student writing in notebook.

PeopleImages // Shutterstock

#3. SUNY Purchase College

– Location: Purchase, NY
– Overall Niche grade: C
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,918
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
– Acceptance rate: 73%
– Typical SAT range: 1180-1360

Students walking on University of Vermont’s campus.

Bob LoCicero // Shutterstock

#2. University of Vermont

– Location: Burlington, VT
– Overall Niche grade: B+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 11,410
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
– Acceptance rate: 60%
– Typical SAT range: 1250-1420

Campus of American University in Washington.

bluestork // Shutterstock

#1. American University

– Location: Washington D.C.
– Overall Niche grade: B+
– Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 7,533
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
– Acceptance rate: 47%
– Typical SAT range: 1300-1450

Copy editing by Meg Shields.

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