Meaning & use
liberal arts college
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountableAmerican
A college, mainly in the United States, that offers a four-year degree focused on broad study of subjects like literature, science and history rather than job training.
Grammar: Use 'a' or 'the': she goes to a liberal arts college.
Patterns
- attend a liberal arts college
- at a liberal arts college
She chose a small liberal arts college in Vermont.
A liberal arts college often has smaller classes than a large university.
He studied history and music at a liberal arts college.
Word forms
| plural | liberal arts colleges |
|---|
Common combinations
- attend a liberal arts college
- Many top students attend a liberal arts college.
- a small liberal arts college
- He taught at a small liberal arts college.
- a private liberal arts college
- She applied to a private liberal arts college.
- graduate from a liberal arts college
- He graduated from a liberal arts college with honors.
Synonyms and how they differ
- university
- A university is usually larger and offers graduate degrees and research, while a liberal arts college focuses on undergraduates.
- community college
- A community college offers two-year programs, whereas a liberal arts college offers four-year degrees.
Word family
Commonly confused: liberal arts college or liberal college?
liberal arts college vs liberal college
People sometimes think 'liberal' means political. Here it means a broad general education, not a political view.
Practice
What is a liberal arts college most known for?
Choose one answer.
These colleges teach a wide range of subjects. Trade training and two-year technical courses belong to other school types.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “liberal arts college”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.