Best Liberal Arts Colleges In Oregon

Fresh out of high school or a high school senior compiling a list of colleges to apply for? Then you should equally check out the best liberal arts colleges in Oregon to see if they are a good fit for you. Also, in this article, you will understand why most students prefer liberal arts colleges.

My guess is you just finished high school or are in your senior year and already compiling a list of colleges to attend. Wise decision. It is important that you make research on schools that you’d like to attend. Although it can be a daunting task thanks to blogs like Study Abroad Nations you can find helpful resources to guide you.

Whether you have already started your search or are about to, bear in mind that when it comes to higher institutions, there are different types and the one you finally enter can determine your future. There are vocational/trade/career/technical colleges, community colleges, junior colleges, public universities, tribal colleges and universities, private universities, and liberal colleges – which is the main reason for the article.

Whichever of these institutions you graduate from will determine how potential employers see you. All of these institutions are good in their own way depending on what you want to pursue after graduation. If you want a college that is completely practical in all of its teachings then you should consider a technical college or a community college.

And if you want an education that is focused on developing soft skills like critical thinking, communication, leadership abilities, etc. then a university, specifically liberal art colleges are the best. To back this up, liberal art colleges focus solely on liberal arts education and this means that you will gain the following:

  • Develop a strong sense of social responsibility
  • Get equipped with strong and transferable intellectual and practical skills such as communication, analytical, and problem-solving abilities
  • Ability to apply your knowledge and skillset to solve real-world problems.
  • A liberal art degree prepares you for diverse career paths.

To back this up further, a study by the Association of American Colleges and Universities reveals that four out of five employers prefer new college graduates who have an education grounded in the liberal arts.

It may also interest you to know that some of the best universities in the US are liberal art colleges such as the Ivy League Schools, and those that don’t combine liberal arts education into their curriculum like MIT for example.

Well, that is that, and in this article, we will be looking into the fully-accredited liberal arts colleges in Oregon and how they operate. With all the info you need in a single place, this presents you with the opportunity to compare and contrast between schools till you find one that suits you best.

And we also have other helpful guides on our site for those who want to study abroad or get earn a degree online like an online MBA degree for example. You can also earn a widely recognized degree from online colleges or enroll in a free online course like computer science, banking, fashion design, etc. and get an in-demand skill for free.

Now, let’s get into the main topic…

liberal arts colleges in Oregon

Best Liberal Arts Colleges In Oregon

Forgive me for not defining what a liberal art college is earlier so, here goes.

A liberal art college is a 4-year college that focuses solely on programs in natural sciences, arts, humanities, and social sciences. They are also known for their small class sizes which is a huge advantage for students because you will have better interaction with faculty and use of facilities.

Having said that, let’s look at the best liberal arts colleges in Oregon…

  • Reed College
  • Willamette University
  • Lewis & Clark College
  • Warner Pacific University

1.     Reed College

First on our list of best liberal arts colleges in Oregon is Reed College, founded over a century ago in Portland. The college has one of the lowest student populations in Oregon with approximately 1,566 undergraduates enrolled in the Fall of 2021. So, if you are looking for colleges with a small student body, you may want to add Reed College to the list.

Reed College is organized into five Divisions of Arts, History and Social Science, Literature and Languages, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and Philosophy, Religion, Psychology, and Linguistics. It also has a Humanities Program, so, overall, the college offers 5 humanities courses, 26 department majors, 12 interdisciplinary majors, 6 dual-degree programs, and programs for pre-med and pre-veterinary students.

Reed is a private liberal arts college, therefore expect the tuition to be high. However, there are scholarship opportunities to help students offset their tuition.

2.     Willamette University

Willamette University is a private liberal arts college offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs, of which, of course, the former is the main focus. It is a leading university in Pacific Northwest and is nationally recognized for being a good value school and preparing students for successful careers to show leadership in sustainability and public service.

The institution has campuses in Salem and Portland with over 75 academic programs combined to choose from. Some of the popular programs are economics, biology, environmental science, political science, mathematics, and psychology. The tuition is on the high side but with over $42 million in scholarships offered annually to students, you won’t have to worry about that.

27 governors, senators, and reps, 11 Oregon supreme court judges, and one Nobel Prize are alumni of Willamette University.

3.     Lewis & Clark College

Lewis & Clark College has been operating for over a century and still stands out as one of the most recognized liberal arts colleges in the country. Out of 210 liberal arts colleges in the nation, Lewis & Clark College shines brightly at the 94th position and at no. 70 for best value schools according to the US News & World Report.

The college is divided into a College of Arts & Sciences, a School of Law, and a Graduate School of Education and Counseling. Both undergraduate and graduate degree programs are offered and in total, there are barely 4,000 students enrolled at the college. It is a private liberal arts college, so the tuition is on the high side but scholarships are available to students. The acceptance rate at Lewis & Clark College is 78%.

4.     Warner Pacific University

Last on the list is Warner Pacific University, a private Christian liberal arts college in Portland, Oregon. It is recognized as the most diverse university in the Pacific Northwest and is ranked among the top 10 best value universities and no.9 best colleges in the West by the US News & World Report. The student population is really small at barely 1,500 making the student-to-faculty ratio 14:1.

Academic programs at Warner Pacific University are designed to meet the needs of all kinds of individuals, whether you are a working adult, commuter, graduate student, or professional. The programs are flexible and they also offer accelerated and distance programs. The acceptance rate into the school is 100% and scholarships are provided to support your education.

And there you have the full details of all the liberal arts colleges in Oregon and how they operate. This way, you can easily find a suitable liberal art college for you. Be sure to check the recommendations below for more useful guides.

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