What does a liberal arts education offer students?

A liberal arts education teaches students how to learn. Upon graduation from a small, liberal arts college, such as Grinnell, students are incredibly well-rounded thinkers and problem solvers. During their four years, students take courses in all the academic divisions (arts and humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences) and subsequently learn how to infer the relations among these divisions. Students are taught to think analytically, construct persuasive arguments, and communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Therefore, students are prepared to pursue a variety of post-graduate opportunities after gaining a liberal arts educational background.

A small campus provides students with a personalized academic and social experience. One is not just "a face in the crowd." Each individual student's interests are recognized and respected. Professors know students by name and students can easily access professors. The sense of community is strengthened on a small college campus. People see familiar faces daily and greet one another. With over 85% of our students from out of state, students tend to stay on campus during the weekends. There are an abundant number of terrific extracurricular and social activities in which to participate.

• The College Handbook, published by The College Board
• The Fiske Guide to Colleges
• Harvard Schmarvard: Getting Beyond the Ivy League to the College that is Best for You by Jay Mathews
• Looking Beyond the Ivy League: Finding the College That's Right for You by Loren Pope
• Smart Parents' Guide to College: The 10 Most Important Factors for Students and Parents to Know when Choosing a College by Ernest Boyer and Paul Boyer
• Letting Go: A Parents' Guide to Understanding the College Years by Karen Levin Coburn and Madge Lawrence Treeger
• What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles