Liberal Arts Colleges vs. Research Universities

Choosing between a liberal arts college vs. a research university after high school can be a daunting task, especially with the myriad options available in the U.S. alone. In general, there are two types of 4-year institutions one can choose between: liberal arts colleges and research universities. Here we will outline some key differences to help you navigate the higher education landscape. To learn more about choosing a college that’s right for you, read this blog post.

LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES

Liberal arts colleges "emphasize undergraduate education and award at least half of their degrees in the liberal arts fields of study” states US News & World Report. They primarily offer bachelor’s degrees and are smaller in size, with many averaging under 5,000 undergraduate students. Because of their small size, liberal arts colleges foster a very friendly environment for undergraduates and excellence in teaching is emphasized over cutting-edge research for professors. That is, class sizes are small and with a student-faculty ratio like 7:1, professors are likely to know your name. With more personalized attention, undergraduate students may find that research opportunities at liberal arts colleges tend to be more accessible to them than at larger research universities. On the other hand, at smaller schools, students may also find that faculty research scholarship and science/engineering laboratories are not as state-of-the-art as at research universities. And, because of their smaller size, liberal arts colleges may not have as robust an offering of clubs and organizations as a school with a larger student body.

RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES

Research universities typically offer a wider range of degrees–bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional. They tend to be larger in size, with upwards of 30,000 undergraduate students alone, like at University of Michigan. Research universities also typically have higher student to faculty ratios. Berkeley, for example, has a student to faculty ratio of 20:1, which means it can be more challenging getting to know professors on a more personal level. While there are plenty of research opportunities at research universities, there is also more competition. Students may simply need to take more initiative to find a professor and lab willing to take on an assistant. Because these universities are larger in size, they offer a wider range of student clubs and organizations.

A QUICK GUIDE

Liberal Arts Colleges

Size: Liberal arts colleges tend to be smaller in size, with most averaging less than 5,000 undergraduate students.

Structure: The liberal arts college offers degrees in the same fundamental academics that are found in a college of arts and sciences within a research university, from literature and philosophy to chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics. Instead of being one of many schools within a large research university, a liberal arts college has its own, often large beautiful, campus — with the same features as a larger university, such as a library, student housing, athletic facilities, and student union.

Academics: Focus is on undergraduates. Excellence in teaching is emphasized over cutting-edge research. Research opportunities tend to be easier to access. Smaller class sizes.

Degrees: Usually a bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.)

Professors: Small student-faculty ratio; easier to get to know professors.

Research Universities

Size: Research universities tend to be much larger, with some schools reaching up to 50,000 undergraduate students.

Structure: Every research university has a liberal arts college as part of their set of schools. A university, however, also includes additional schools that offer applied degrees in fields such as engineering, business, nursing and education.

Academics: Focus is on graduate and doctoral students performing research. Well funded research universities have state-of-the-art labs and research accomplishments. Harder for undergraduates to get involved in research opportunities (it may just take more initiative). Larger class sizes.

Degrees: A mix of bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees.

Professors: Larger student-faculty ratio; may be harder to get to know/access professors (requires more initiative).

While these differences highlight trends, they do not speak for ALL schools. Some of the most prestigious research universities–like MIT and Caltech–regularly enroll fewer than 5,000 undergraduate students. In fact, Caltech’s total enrollment hovers around 2,000 students. Liberal arts colleges don't just include those subjects that most people would think of as "liberal arts"--like the humanities. They also include the hard sciences, math, and social sciences. The main difference is that they tend to be limited to fundamental disciplines, and do not have applied professional programs like business or engineering.

That said, there are specialized undergraduate colleges that fall under the "liberal arts college" category but are geared towards business or engineering (e.g., Babson, Rose-Hulman, etc.).  In fact, because of their small size, liberal arts colleges can provide an incredibly enriching experience for students wanting to get individualized, hands-on research experience. Similarly, research universities also offer robust programs in subjects like comparative literature and history.

It is important to understand the full breadth of what a college or university offers, not just in terms of your intended major, but campus culture, values, core curriculum, and the overall student experience. In your search for the perfect fit school, it is worth keeping an open mind to all that higher education has to offer. You may have been dreaming of a research university like Stanford your entire life, but maybe you’ll find that your intellectual curiosities come alive in Amherst’s Science Center or that you want to join the majority of Pomona students conducting impactful research as undergraduates. Either way, do your due diligence to understand the options available to you. Whether it be a small liberal arts college or large research university, the perfect opportunity is waiting for you.