Avoid These Colleges If You're Conservative

A new survey found that up to 25% of students applying to college will avoid certain schools based on political beliefs or affiliations. The Art & Science Group, the consulting and research firm which ran the study, shared that many conservative students tend to avoid colleges in states like California and New York with more liberal LGBTQ+ policies and stricter gun laws. On the other side, liberal students tend to reject colleges in states with strict abortion rules or more lenient gun control policies, such as Indiana, Texas, or Florida. The growing divide signals a shift in how students may choose their future schools, but also how college campuses are increasingly becoming sites of political discussion and polarization. (These are the top colleges and universities in the U.S., ranked.)

For students and families who are beginning to look at colleges, how can you make sure you have all the facts? Here, 24/7 reviewed 2023 Most Liberal Colleges in America from education data clearinghouse Niche to identify the 25 most liberal American colleges. Niche ranks schools based on student assessments of the community’s political leanings, 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 the 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 a first major in 2020-2021, and enrollment of full-time undergraduate students in fall 2021 also came from IPEDS.

Why This Matters

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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 and students identifying as either moderate or liberal. It’s important to know which schools line up with your ideals (or don’t) so you don’t waste all your hard-earned money on loans at a college that doesn’t match your needs.

Here are the most liberal colleges in America:

25. Northeastern University

Located in: Boston, MA
Avg. cost per year: $38,927
Median earnings after 10 years: $88,842
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 18%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 15,711
Graduation rate: 89%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Business management marketing and related support services

24. University of Houston-Downtown

Located in: Houston, TX
Avg. cost per year: $13,460
Median earnings after 10 years: $52,929
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 95%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 6,584
Graduation rate: 46%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Business management marketing and related support services

23. CUNY New York City College of Technology

Located in: Brooklyn, NY
Avg. cost per year: $5,457
Median earnings after 10 years: $47,242
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 82%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 8,969
Graduation rate: 23%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Engineering/engineering-related technologies/technicians

22. Pace University

Located in: New York, NY
Avg. cost per year: $30,632
Median earnings after 10 years: $69,137
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 88%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 7,483
Graduation rate: 57%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Business management marketing and related support services

21. CUNY Hunter College

Located in: New York, NY
Avg. cost per year: $4,586
Median earnings after 10 years: $58,822
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 46%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 13,700
Graduation rate: 57%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Psychology

20. St. John Fisher University

Located in: Rochester, NY
Avg. cost per year: $27,300
Median earnings after 10 years: $58,703
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 71%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 2,500
Graduation rate: 81%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Health professions and related programs

19. Central Connecticut State University

Located in: New Britain, CT
Avg. cost per year: $14,425
Median earnings after 10 years: $56,799
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 75%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 6,000
Graduation rate: 57%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Business management marketing and related support services

18. Ramapo College of New Jersey

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Located in: Mahwah, NJ
Avg. cost per year: $12,251
Median earnings after 10 years: $62,810
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 70%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 4,460
Graduation rate: 71%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Business management marketing and related support services

17. University at Albany, SUNY

Located in: Albany, NY
Avg. cost per year: $17,350
Median earnings after 10 years: $63,760
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 68%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 11,792
Graduation rate: 63%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Social sciences

16. Northwestern University

Located in: Evanston, IL
Avg. cost per year: $29,999
Median earnings after 10 years: $85,800
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 7%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 8,400
Graduation rate: 94%
Most common undergrad degree awarded in 2021: Communication journalism and related programs

15. California State University-East Bay

Located in: Hayward, CA
Avg. cost per year: $12,631
Median earnings after 10 years: $64,188
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 82%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 9,500
Graduation rate: 79%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Business management marketing and related support services

14. West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Located in: West Chester, PA
Avg. cost per year: $14,133
Median earnings after 10 years: $56,602
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 89%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 12,000
Graduation rate: 73%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Business management marketing and related support services

13. Adelphi University

Located in: Garden City, NY
Avg. cost per year: $28,261
Median earnings after 10 years: $70,000
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 78%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 5,000
Graduation rate: 72%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Health professions and related programs

12. Stony Brook University, SUNY

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Located in: Stony Brook, NY
Avg. cost per year: $16,445
Median earnings after 10 years: $70,686
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 48%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 16,500
Graduation rate: 76%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Health professions and related programs

11. University of Oregon

Located in: Eugene, OR
Avg. cost per year: $18,556
Median earnings after 10 years: $57,157
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 93%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 17,100
Graduation rate: 74%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Social sciences

10. New York University

Located in: New York, NY
Avg. cost per year: $50,991
Median earnings after 10 years: $79,812
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 13%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 12,500
Graduation rate: 85%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Visual and performing arts

9. University of California-Riverside

Located in: Riverside, CA
Avg. cost per year: $13,502
Median earnings after 10 years: $63,645
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 65%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 22,000
Graduation rate: 76%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Social sciences

8. University of Washington

Located in: Seattle, WA
Avg. cost per year: $8,701
Median earnings after 10 years: $74,063
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 53%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 30,000
Graduation rate: 83%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Social sciences

7. Boston University

Located in: Boston, MA
Avg. cost per year: $25,800
Median earnings after 10 years: $580,600
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 19%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 17,500
Graduation rate: 89%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Business management marketing and related support services

6. San Jose State University

Located in: San Jose, CA
Avg. cost per year: $14,600
Median income after 10 years: $72,635
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 84%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 23,000
Graduation rate: 64%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Business management marketing and related support services

5. Northeastern Illinois University

Located in: Chicago, IL
Avg. cost per year: $14,133
Median earnings after 10 years: $50,312
Acceptance rate as of fall 2021: 62%
Undergraduate enrollment in 2021: 2,600
Graduation rate: 62%
Most common undergrad degree in 2021: Business management marketing and related support services