Williams, Amherst & Union College produce nearly identical fellowship rates per capita despite different selectivity. The Watson tie (4-4-4) reveals how institutional design trumps prestige.

In American higher education, the two-semester academic calendar has become nearly universal among liberal arts colleges. Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, and most peer institutions divide the academic year into two 15-week terms, a structure that has remained largely unchanged for decades

The Williams-Amherst rivalry represents American higher education's most consequential and least understood competition. Twenty miles apart, nearly identical in size and selectivity, these institutions compete continuously for faculty, students, and outcomes in ways that rival or exceed Ivy League dynamics.

This analysis uses STEM capacity, graduate outcomes, and network strength to rank America's top 18 liberal arts colleges. The results? Union College's engineering model lands it at #7. Amherst dominates at #1. And several prestigious names fall short when measured by actual career outcomes rather than historical reputation.

When evaluating the 18 colleges known as the "Little Ivies," conventional wisdom focuses on acceptance rates and U.S. News rankings. But ask a simple question—"Which Little Ivy can I study engineering at?"—and the landscape changes dramatically.

Union College’s expansion in engineering and computer science isn’t cosmetic—it’s structural. While most elite liberal arts colleges avoid full engineering programs, Union is investing heavily in accredited degrees, new facilities, and faculty growth. With STEM majors now comprising over a fifth of the student body and a $60 million engineering and computer science complex underway, Union has quietly positioned itself as one of the most outcomes-driven institutions in the liberal arts category. The result is a rare blend: a small-college academic environment paired with the career leverage and graduate-school credibility typically associated with much larger technical universities.

Union College consistently delivers strong career outcomes and ROI, combining liberal arts rigor with internships, engineering pathways, and early career placement.

Union College is quietly redefining what elite liberal arts success looks like—pairing engineering, career outcomes, and ROI with a traditional Little Ivy education.

A controversial Amherst College orientation performance sparked backlash over explicit content, raising questions about campus culture, tradition, and student boundaries.

Middlebury College’s inauguration of Ian Baucom marks more than a leadership change. It signals a strategic redefinition of purpose, priorities, and the future direction of the Little Ivies.