The most impactful colleges of arts and sciences in the US

There’s more than one good reason why a degree in the arts or sciences is worth it. But the biggest one of them all is how it expands your world. There is no better feeling than seeing your loved ones, understanding you are bound by DNA and knowing medicine today can prolong their lives and keep them healthy. Even everyday routines take on a new meaning, like going to the grocers and knowing the many rules and regulations surrounding the most ordinary of things, like an orange and carton of milk. 

Your world broadens and you see controversies miring almost everything and every one. But you also see greater possibilities of what can be done and especially what you can do to make things better. That’s empowering — and the best universities give you this.

To do college to the fullest, head to the University of Memphis. It’s affordable, prepares you for careers, and is filled with experiences, within and beyond the classroom. Source: University of Memphis

University of Memphis

The University of Memphis is a Carnegie R1 public research institution in Tennessee. Founded in 1912, the UofM has an enrolment of nearly 22,000 students representing 84 countries and awards more than 3,000 degrees annually. Located in a quiet residential neighbourhood in the heart of Memphis, the UofM offers all the amenities of a major urban research university in a walkable, safe, and welcoming small-campus environment.

The College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) is the largest school at the UofM, with over 4,000 undergraduate students majoring in degree programmes across 24 academic units spanning the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Each programme within CAS provides exceptional pathways to careers and graduate or professional studies.

Choose an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s track with five-year plans to complete two degrees. Embark on a 3+3 programme with the UofM’s School of Law. Pursue a 3+4 programme with pharmacy schools at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), the UT Health Science Centre (UTHSC), or Union University. The UofM has even partnered with UTHSC College of Medicine to offer pre-health students the chance for a guaranteed interview!

Flexible academic options let you tailor your education to your needs. You can choose from different degree paths and select the electives and concentrations that best serve your interests or career goals. Don’t worry about being too specialised to get hired, though. UofM degrees ensure you hone transferable skills that would be in demand in various roles and industries.

But the best part is the opportunity to learn by doing both in and out of the classroom. CAS contains multiple research centres and institutes, including the Centre for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI), the Centre for Applied Psychological Research (CAPR), and the Institute for Intelligent Systems. There are also countless opportunities for experiential learning in the community and in the classroom through project-based learning. Whether through research, internships, practicum placements, or projects, you can gain practical experience and apply your knowledge and skills in real-world or simulated settings.

And with Memphis being home to extensive healthcare, industrial, and commercial industries and multiple Fortune 500 companies — think St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, FedEx, AutoZone and International Paper — students can take advantage of accessible professional opportunities all around them.
For all its advantages, a UofM education remains within reach for all. The home of the Tigers offers a high-quality education that prioritises affordability. It’s located in a vibrant city with a low cost of living and, like the city itself, the UofM has something for everyone. Whatever your passion, you’ll discover endless paths toward pursuing it at UofM.

Find your path. Discover Memphis.

In the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of San Diego, 76% of students receive financial aid to get their desired education. Source: University of San Diego / Facebook

University of San Diego

Through a landscape of scenic beaches, mountains, and deserts in the distance, the University of San Diego — part of the top 50 list of green colleges — has been up and running for 75 years now. It’s a Catholic university fostering a relevant study of liberal arts and sciences, shaped to suit the way the world works in the 21st century.

At least, that’s the core of the College of Arts and Sciences.

They’ve got over 57 fields of study, yet a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio to tie together a close-knit community where you’re connecting with award-winning faculty members. If you’ve got a knack for arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, the school has plenty of majors for you to choose from. 

The Core Curriculum in the College of Arts and Science is structured off four areas to challenge students to step out of their comfort zone, and grow: competencies, explorations, foundations, and integration. The curriculum itself is highly customisable so that each student gets an experience tailored to their specific needs, interests, and passions.

This flexible approach pays off. Amongst their graduates, 87% of them are employed full-time, onto graduate school, in the military, or in full-time service projects within six months of graduating. Think NASA, Illumina, Harvard Medical School, or the Stanford Law School. These graduates are working across 20 countries with a US$45,753 average starting salary.

This is partly thanks to the Career Readiness programme at CAS. They host Torero Treks where students get insight into the behind-the-scenes of some of the top companies across the country. They engage their students in internship and undergraduate research experiences, community engagement, and connect them to alumni mentors. 

Being located in a vibrant, lively city that’s known as the Silicon Valley of biotechnology helps. There’s a wealth of science and technology companies here, with opportunities that students and graduates can access. 

If all of this sounds up your alley, then check out the USD College of Arts and Sciences.

The Black Bear alumni network at The University of Maine has over 100,000 members. Source: The University of Maine / Facebook

The University of Maine

The University of Maine started with 13 students in 1868. Through a long history in pioneering research and education, today they’re home to over 11,500 students. The school has lived through plenty of shifts in the world’s landscape; they’re well-aware it’s ever changing.

That’s what the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) prepares you for: to adapt.

Here, there are lots of programmes to choose from, depending on your interest or passion, in disciplines like communication and journalism, mathematics & statistics, and more niche areas like modern languages & classics, or physics and astronomy. There is a whole list of minors to dabble in too, including interdisciplinary ones, as well as interdisciplinary degrees and concentrations.

With a 16:1 student-faculty ratio, students get to learn and communicate in a close-knit community with their peers and distinguished professors. If you’re looking to one up your credibility right away, instead of doing a typical bachelor’s programme, you can opt for the CLAS accelerated programmes. It’s a way for students to graduate with both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and save a year’s worth of extra tuition.

The university is a R1 top-tier research institution with over 150 research institutes, centres, and labs. Research at the university exists in every country, and every continent. On campus, there are facilities like the Psychological Services Center, the Versant Power Astronomy Center, the School of Performing Arts, and the list goes on.

As awe-inspiring as these are the nature-filled views of the state of Maine. The University of Maine is located in a small college town called Orono, and it’s chock-full of outdoor activities and entertainment for students to experience. Many students fall in love with the state that they end up staying. According to the university, 84% of all 2022 graduates are working in a field related to their major, and 72% of in-state graduates are now working in Maine. 

Check out the University of Maine College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International