Best Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Universities in North America [2026 Rankings]

1

United States | Massachusetts

Harvard University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in United States #1 in the World

4% Acceptance

1,489 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1636 Founded

2

United States | California

Stanford University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in United States #2 in the World

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

3

United States | Michigan

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in United States #3 in the World

16% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1445 Avg SAT

1817 Founded

4

United States | California

University of California – Berkeley

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in United States #4 in the World

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

5

Canada | Ontario

University of Toronto

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Canada #5 in the World

54% Acceptance

102,431 Enrollment

1827 Founded

6

United States | Washington

University of Washington – Seattle

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#5 in United States #7 in the World

39% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1315 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

7

United States | New York State

Columbia University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#6 in United States #11 in the World

4% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1754 Founded

8

United States | New York State

Cornell University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#7 in United States #12 in the World

9% Acceptance

16,128 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1865 Founded

9

United States | Maryland

Johns Hopkins University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#8 in United States #13 in the World

6% Acceptance

6,636 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

10

United States | Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#9 in United States #14 in the World

5% Acceptance

1,947 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1740 Founded

11

United States | Connecticut

Yale University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#10 in United States #15 in the World

4% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1520 Avg SAT

1701 Founded

12

United States | California

University of California – Los Angeles

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#11 in United States #16 in the World

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

13

United States | Illinois

University of Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#12 in United States #17 in the World

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

14

United States | Massachusetts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#13 in United States #18 in the World

5% Acceptance

4,535 Enrollment

1550 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

15

United States | Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin – Madison

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#14 in United States #19 in the World

45% Acceptance

38,040 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1848 Founded

16

Canada | British Columbia

University of British Columbia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in Canada #20 in the World

52% Acceptance

71,201 Enrollment

1908 Founded

17

United States | New York State

New York University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#15 in United States #21 in the World

9% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1520 Avg SAT

1831 Founded

18

United States | Illinois

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#16 in United States #22 in the World

42% Acceptance

37,140 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

19

United States | Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#17 in United States #23 in the World

61% Acceptance

42,604 Enrollment

1330 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

20

United States | Minnesota

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#18 in United States #24 in the World

80% Acceptance

15,019 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

21

United States | Ohio

Ohio State University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#19 in United States #25 in the World

61% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1395 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

22

United States | North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#20 in United States #26 in the World

15% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1460 Avg SAT

1789 Founded

23

United States | Texas

University of Texas at Austin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#21 in United States #27 in the World

27% Acceptance

43,165 Enrollment

1380 Avg SAT

1883 Founded

24

United States | New Jersey

Princeton University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#22 in United States #31 in the World

5% Acceptance

5,813 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1746 Founded

25

United States | California

University of California-San Diego

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#23 in United States #33 in the World

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

26

United States | California

University of Southern California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#24 in United States #35 in the World

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

27

United States | Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#25 in United States #39 in the World

58% Acceptance

25,900 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1787 Founded

28

United States | Maryland

University of Maryland – College Park

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#26 in United States #40 in the World

45% Acceptance

31,133 Enrollment

1465 Avg SAT

1856 Founded

29

United States | North Carolina

Duke University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#27 in United States #41 in the World

6% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1838 Founded

30

United States | New Jersey

Rutgers University – New Brunswick

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#28 in United States #42 in the World

58% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1405 Avg SAT

1766 Founded

31

Canada | Quebec State

McGill University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in Canada #43 in the World

46% Acceptance

37,888 Enrollment

1821 Founded

32

United States | Arizona

Arizona State University – Tempe

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#29 in United States #44 in the World

90% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

970 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

33

Canada | Quebec State

University of Montreal

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in Canada #45 in the World

41% Acceptance

66,972 Enrollment

1878 Founded

34

United States | Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#30 in United States #46 in the World

12% Acceptance

7,377 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1900 Founded

35

United States | Florida

University of Florida

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#31 in United States #47 in the World

24% Acceptance

36,573 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

36

United States | Michigan

Michigan State University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#32 in United States #49 in the World

85% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

37

United States | California

University of California – San Francisco

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#33 in United States #51 in the World

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

38

United States | Illinois

Northwestern University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#34 in United States #52 in the World

8% Acceptance

9,399 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

39

United States | California

University of California – Davis

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#35 in United States #53 in the World

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

40

United States | Arizona

University of Arizona

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#36 in United States #55 in the World

86% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

41

Canada | Alberta

University of Alberta

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#5 in Canada #59 in the World

53% Acceptance

31,185 Enrollment

1908 Founded

42

United States | Virginia

University of Virginia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#37 in United States #67 in the World

17% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1819 Founded

43

United States | Massachusetts

Boston University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#38 in United States #68 in the World

11% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

44

United States | Indiana

Purdue University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#39 in United States #72 in the World

50% Acceptance

44,819 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

45

United States | Missouri

Washington University in St Louis

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#40 in United States #74 in the World

12% Acceptance

2,256 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

46

Canada | Ontario

University of Ottawa

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#6 in Canada #75 in the World

47% Acceptance

42,027 Enrollment

1848 Founded

47

United States | Texas

Texas A&M University – College Station

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#41 in United States #76 in the World

57% Acceptance

60,710 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

48

United States | Georgia, US

Emory University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#42 in United States #79 in the World

11% Acceptance

967 Enrollment

1510 Avg SAT

1836 Founded

49

United States | California

University of California – Irvine

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#43 in United States #81 in the World

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

50

United States | Iowa State

University of Iowa

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#44 in United States #87 in the World

84% Acceptance

22,738 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1847 Founded

51

Canada | Ontario

McMaster University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#7 in Canada #91 in the World

49% Acceptance

27,965 Enrollment

1887 Founded

52

United States | Utah

University of Utah

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#45 in United States #98 in the World

86% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

53

Canada | Alberta

University of Calgary

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#8 in Canada #99 in the World

55% Acceptance

33,000 Enrollment

1966 Founded

54

Canada | Ontario

Western University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#9 in Canada #103 in the World

31% Acceptance

21,836 Enrollment

1878 Founded

55

United States | Tennessee

Vanderbilt University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#46 in United States #104 in the World

6% Acceptance

7,221 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1873 Founded

56

Canada | Quebec State

Laval University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#10 in Canada #105 in the World

49% Acceptance

56,000 Enrollment

1852 Founded

57

United States | Illinois

University of Illinois at Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#47 in United States #108 in the World

77% Acceptance

22,495 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1858 Founded

58

United States | District of Columbia

Georgetown University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#48 in United States #115 in the World

13% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1789 Founded

59

United States | California

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#49 in United States #116 in the World

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

60

United States | New York State

University of Rochester

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#50 in United States #118 in the World

40% Acceptance

6,580 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

61

United States | Georgia, US

Georgia Institute of Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#51 in United States #121 in the World

14% Acceptance

1,070 Enrollment

1455 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

62

United States | Colorado

University of Colorado Boulder

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#52 in United States #124 in the World

78% Acceptance

34,096 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

63

United States | Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts – Amherst

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#53 in United States #128 in the World

60% Acceptance

17,560 Enrollment

1405 Avg SAT

1863 Founded

64

United States | Iowa State

Iowa State University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#54 in United States #132 in the World

89% Acceptance

25,628 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1858 Founded

65

Canada | Ontario

University of Waterloo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#11 in Canada #135 in the World

54% Acceptance

16,092 Enrollment

1957 Founded

66

Canada | Ontario

York University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#12 in Canada #137 in the World

32% Acceptance

53,000 Enrollment

1959 Founded

67

United States | Georgia, US

University of Georgia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#55 in United States #144 in the World

38% Acceptance

3,177 Enrollment

1375 Avg SAT

1785 Founded

68

United States | Rhode Island

Brown University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#56 in United States #149 in the World

5% Acceptance

7,910 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1764 Founded

69

United States | Florida

University of Miami

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#57 in United States #153 in the World

19% Acceptance

2,986 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

70

United States | Virginia

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#58 in United States #154 in the World

55% Acceptance

31,035 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

1872 Founded

71

United States | Florida

Florida State University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#59 in United States #155 in the World

24% Acceptance

6,768 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

72

United States | Kentucky

University of Kentucky

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#60 in United States #156 in the World

93% Acceptance

25,534 Enrollment

1180 Avg SAT

1865 Founded

73

United States | District of Columbia

George Washington University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#61 in United States #158 in the World

47% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1425 Avg SAT

1821 Founded

74

United States | Missouri

University of Missouri – Columbia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#62 in United States #159 in the World

78% Acceptance

24,449 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1839 Founded

75

Canada | Ontario

Queen’s University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#13 in Canada #160 in the World

64% Acceptance

35,612 Enrollment

1841 Founded

76

United States | Ohio

Case Western Reserve University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#63 in United States #163 in the World

37% Acceptance

6,636 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT

1826 Founded

77

United States | Indiana

University of Notre Dame

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#64 in United States #165 in the World

11% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1508 Avg SAT

1844 Founded

78

United States | North Carolina

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#65 in United States #169 in the World

42% Acceptance

28,422 Enrollment

1385 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

79

Canada | Quebec State

University of Quebec in Montreal

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#14 in Canada #172 in the World

63% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1969 Founded

80

United States | Florida

University of South Florida

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#66 in United States #174 in the World

43% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1225 Avg SAT

1956 Founded

81

United States | New York State

University at Buffalo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#67 in United States #177 in the World

74% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1295 Avg SAT

1846 Founded

82

United States | South Carolina

University of South Carolina – Columbia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#68 in United States #178 in the World

60% Acceptance

6,768 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1801 Founded

83

United States | Indiana

Indiana University – Bloomington

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#69 in United States #180 in the World

78% Acceptance

6,885 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1820 Founded

84

United States | Tennessee

University of Tennessee – Knoxville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#70 in United States #183 in the World

42% Acceptance

30,564 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1794 Founded

85

United States | Connecticut

University of Connecticut

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#71 in United States #187 in the World

52% Acceptance

20,056 Enrollment

1325 Avg SAT

1881 Founded

86

United States | Minnesota

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#72 in United States #189 in the World

39% Acceptance

1,677 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

1972 Founded

87

United States | California

California Institute of Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#73 in United States #190 in the World

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

88

United States | Kansas State

University of Kansas

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#74 in United States #192 in the World

93% Acceptance

15,019 Enrollment

1185 Avg SAT

1865 Founded

89

United States | Colorado

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#75 in United States #196 in the World

75% Acceptance

2,256 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1912 Founded

90

Canada | British Columbia

Simon Fraser University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#15 in Canada #197 in the World

77% Acceptance

15,999 Enrollment

1965 Founded

91

United States | Virginia

George Mason University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#76 in United States #199 in the World

87% Acceptance

6,353 Enrollment

1260 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

92

United States | Massachusetts

Tufts University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#77 in United States #209 in the World

11% Acceptance

7,126 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

93

United States | Ohio

University of Cincinnati

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#78 in United States #210 in the World

85% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1819 Founded

94

United States | Louisiana

Tulane University of Louisiana

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#79 in United States #218 in the World

14% Acceptance

8,192 Enrollment

1460 Avg SAT

1834 Founded

95

United States | Pennsylvania

Temple University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#80 in United States #220 in the World

80% Acceptance

21,457 Enrollment

1520 Avg SAT

1884 Founded

96

United States | New York State

Stony Brook University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#81 in United States #224 in the World

49% Acceptance

18,263 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

97

Canada | Nova Scotia

Dalhousie University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#16 in Canada #226 in the World

82% Acceptance

30,867 Enrollment

1818 Founded

98

United States | Alabama

University of Alabama at Birmingham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#82 in United States #230 in the World

88% Acceptance

3,485 Enrollment

1330 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

99

United States | Colorado

Colorado State University – Fort Collins

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#83 in United States #232 in the World

89% Acceptance

10,813 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

100

United States | New Hampshire

Dartmouth College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#84 in United States #233 in the World

5% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1769 Founded

100 Best Universities in North America for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

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