1. Pomona College, Claremont, Cal.

Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,522
Admission Rate: 16%
SAT: 96% scored 600 or higher on Verbal/Math. ACT: 93% scored 24 or higher
Student/Faculty Ratio: 8
Graduation Rate 4-yr./5-yr.: 86%/93%
Total Cost: $46,580
Average Debt at Graduation: $11,300

Stringent admission standards, a low student-to-faculty ratio and generous financial aid make Pomona a first-time winner among liberal-arts colleges, up from fifth place last year. Studded with palm trees and framed by the San Gabriel Mountains, Pomona also boasts a 99% freshman retention rate.

2008-2009 Top Ten Private Universities

2008-2009 Best Values in Public Colleges and Universities