Special Report

The Most Liberal Colleges in America

24/7 Wall St. Staff

Published: February 7, 2024 9:29 am

In the continuous U.S. culture war, higher education continues to be a complicated battleground. Conservatives assert that liberal viewpoints dominate college campuses, a claim backed by studies consistently showing a higher number of professors identifying as either moderate or liberal.

This trend can partly be explained by the tendency of individuals with college and postgraduate degrees to favor liberal perspectives. In a 2016 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 54% of postgraduate degree holders identify as “consistently” or “mostly” liberal, while only 26% of those with a high school diploma or lower education level did so. However, it is important to recognize that not all institutions of higher learning adhere to a strictly liberal ideology, with variations in the perceived level of liberalism among them.

In order to identify the 25 most liberal colleges in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2023 Most Liberal Colleges in America from education data clearinghouse Niche. Niche’s ranking is based on student assessments of the political leanings within the campus community, primarily consisting of self-reported personal political leanings, along with campus political preferences. 

Data on acceptance rate in fall 2021 and net price in the 2020-2021 academic year came from Niche, based on the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Net price refers to total cost of attendance (sum of tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses) minus any aid (federal, state/local, institutional grant, and scholarship). Data on median earnings 10 years after entry and are for the 2019-2020 academic year, the degree most awarded for undergraduates as first major in 2020-2021, and enrollment of full-time undergraduate students in fall 2021 also came from IPEDS.

In terms of students, the political inclinations evident on college campuses may also be influenced by their ages. Sam Peltzman, an economics professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, who investigated the correlation between age and political beliefs, stated in a 2020 interview published by the Chicago Booth Review, “We can say, with a great deal of confidence, that people get more conservative when they get older — and a lot more.”

This observation may shed light on why the 25 most liberal colleges and universities in the country typically have larger student populations than the 25 most conservative institutions. In fall of 2021, the median full-time enrollment at the conservative institutions was around 3,000, while their liberal counterparts had almost 11,000 students.

Additional factors contributing to the popularity of the most liberal universities and colleges compared to conservative ones include the higher likelihood of liberal schools being public institutions, with lower tuition fees. The emphasis on a Christian-focused education at many conservative institutions could deter nonreligious students or students of other faiths from applying, even if they have conservative views.

Of the 25 most liberal colleges and universities, eight are located in New York, while five are in California. In the fall of 2021, acceptance rates ranged from 7% at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, to 100% at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. For students admitted to these institutions in fall 2021, SAT scores ranged from 800 at California State University-East Bay in Hayward, to 1470 at Northwestern University. The highest possible SAT score is 1600.

Similarly, the out-of-pocket cost to attend these institutions in the 2020-2021 school year varied significantly. Costs ranged from as low as $4,856 at CUNY Hunter College to nearly $51,000 at New York University. 

The top two most popular undergraduate majors at these top 25 liberal universities and colleges were social sciences and business. 

Here are the most liberal colleges in America:

25. Northeastern University

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• Location: Boston, MA
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 18%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $38,927
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $88,842
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Business management marketing and related support services
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 15,711

24. University of Houston-Downtown

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• Location: Houston, TX
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 95%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $13,460
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $52,929
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Business management marketing and related support services
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 6,584

23. CUNY New York City College of Technology

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• Location: Brooklyn, NY
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 82%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $5,457
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $47,242
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Engineering/engineering-related technologies/technicians
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 8,969

22. Pace University

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• Location: New York, NY
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 88%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $30,632
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $69,137
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Business management marketing and related support services
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 7,483

21. CUNY Hunter College

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• Location: New York, NY
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 46%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $4,586
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $58,822
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Psychology
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 13,706

20. St. John Fisher University

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Location: Rochester, NY
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 71%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $27,325
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $58,703
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Health professions and related programs
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 2,491

19. Central Connecticut State University

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• Location: New Britain, CT
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 75%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $14,425
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $56,799
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Business management marketing and related support services
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 6,071

18. Ramapo College of New Jersey

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• Location: Mahwah, NJ
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 70%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $12,251
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $62,810
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Business management marketing and related support services
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 4,459

17. University at Albany, SUNY

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• Location: Albany, NY
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 68%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $17,350
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $63,760
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Social sciences
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 11,792

16. Northwestern University

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• Location: Evanston, IL
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 7%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $29,999
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $85,796
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Communication journalism and related programs
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 8,438

15. California State University-East Bay

Source: Jennifer Williams / Wikimedia Commons

• Location: Hayward, CA
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 82%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $12,631
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $64,188
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Business management marketing and related support services
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 9,447

14. West Chester University of Pennsylvania

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• Location: West Chester, PA
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 89%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $14,133
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $56,602
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Business management marketing and related support services
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 12,686

13. Adelphi University

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• Location: Garden City, NY
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 78%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $28,261
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $70,089
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Health professions and related programs
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 4,939

12. Stony Brook University, SUNY

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• Location: Stony Brook, NY
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 48%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $16,445
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $70,686
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Health professions and related programs
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 16,698

11. University of Oregon

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• Location: Eugene, OR
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 93%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $18,556
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $57,157
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Social sciences
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 17,168

10. New York University

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• Location: New York, NY
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 13%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $50,991
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $79,812
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Visual and performing arts
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 27,642

9. University of California-Riverside

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• Location: Riverside, CA
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 65%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $13,502
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $63,645
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Social sciences
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 22,071

8. University of Washington

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• Location: Seattle, WA
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 53%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $8,701
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $74,063
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Social sciences
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 29,626

7. Boston University

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• Location: Boston, MA
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 19%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $25,852
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $80,582
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Business management marketing and related support services
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 17,460

6. San Jose State University

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• Location: San Jose, CA
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 84%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $14,603
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $72,635
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Business management marketing and related support services
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 23,015

5. Northeastern Illinois University

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• Location: Chicago, IL
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 62%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $14,133
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $50,312
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Business management marketing and related support services
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 2,657

4. University of Vermont

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• Location: Burlington, VT
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 64%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $19,873
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $62,778
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Biological and biomedical sciences
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 10,842

3. Academy of Art University

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• Location: San Francisco, CA
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 100%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $32,593
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $39,739
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Visual and performing arts
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 2,639

2. University of California-Santa Cruz

Source: Courtesy of UC Santa Cruz via Facebook

• Location: Santa Cruz, CA
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 59%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $19,615
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $64,166
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Biological and biomedical sciences
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 17,087

1. American University

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Location: Washington, DC
• Acceptance rate, fall 2021: 64%
• Avg. net price, 2020-2021: $28,622
• Median earnings 10 yrs. after starting school, 2019-2020: $75,354
• Most common undergrad degree awarded, 1st major, 2020-2021: Social sciences
• Full-time undergrad enrollment, fall 2021: 8,124