Although colleges are generally expected to remain neutral on political issues, nearly half of Americans believe that higher education is biased toward liberal ideals. In a September 2025 poll conducted by Vanderbilt University, 43% of survey respondents agreed with the statement that colleges tend to favor left-leaning viewpoints over conservative sentiments.
This belief led right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk to form the "Professor Watchlist," an online platform launched in 2016 that lists college professors thought to be aligned with liberal causes. Use of the watchlist has accelerated significantly since Kirk was killed on a college campus while participating in a political event in September 2025. However, his death didn't occur at a particularly liberal school, but instead at Utah Valley University, part of America's network of conservative colleges.
Typically religiously affiliated and conservative, these schools distinguish themselves through a codified sense of religious identity, strong conservative ideologies, or deep-rooted connections to conservative politicians and organizations. Some schools inherit a conservative vibe from their communities, while others develop a conservative culture on their own. Some are inherently conservative because of their professional or business-friendly nature, while others are steeped in a deeply held history of conservatism.
Stacker examined the nation's colleges and universities and compiled a list of the 50 most conservative colleges in the United States. For this list, we consulted Niche's 2026 rankings, which ranked schools' conservatism based on students' own reviews of the schools' campus communities. These reviews consider the reviewer's political leanings, whether the reviewer has attended or is attending the school, and the reviewer's opinion of it. Details on Niche's methodology explain the site's rankings. Read on to find out which colleges are the most conservative in the country.
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Kostiantyn Voitenko // Shutterstock
1 / 50- Location: Cedar City, UT
- Overall Niche grade: B-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 8,498
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 23:1
- Acceptance rate: 81%
- Typical SAT range: 1030-1240
Chad Robertson Media // Shutterstock
2 / 50- Location: Fort Worth, TX
- Overall Niche grade: A
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 11,049
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
- Acceptance rate: 43%
- Typical SAT range: 1150-1380
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 50- Location: Seward, NE
- Overall Niche grade: B-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,216
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1
- Acceptance rate: 90%
- Typical SAT range: 1040-1240
GSPhotography // Shutterstock
4 / 50- Location: Belton, TX
- Overall Niche grade: C+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,814
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1
- Acceptance rate: 95%
- Typical SAT range: 970-1200
J. Michael Jones // Shutterstock
5 / 50- Location: High Point, NC
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 4,949
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
- Acceptance rate: 77%
- Typical SAT range: 1110-1300
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6 / 50- Location: Angola, IN
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,341
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
- Acceptance rate: 85%
- Typical SAT range: 1030-1240
JBai_photo // Shutterstock
7 / 50- Location: Riverside, CA
- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 7,459
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Acceptance rate: 74%
- Typical SAT range: 960-1150
Victoria Ditkovsky // Shutterstock
8 / 50- Location: Newberg, OR
- Overall Niche grade: B-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,339
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
- Acceptance rate: 96%
- Typical SAT range: 1070-1330
Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
9 / 50- Location: Laramie, WY
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 6,851
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
- Acceptance rate: 98%
- Typical SAT range: 1040-1240
Kit Leong // Shutterstock
10 / 50- Location: Shawnee, OK
- Overall Niche grade: B-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,272
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
- Acceptance rate: 63%
- Typical SAT range: 1000-1190
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AnnaStills // Shutterstock
11 / 50- Location: Lakeland, FL
- Overall Niche grade: B-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 4,256
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 16:1
- Acceptance rate: 74%
- Typical SAT range: not available
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
12 / 50- Location: Grand Forks, ND
- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 7,714
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
- Acceptance rate: 77%
- Typical SAT range: 1110-1290
ChicagoPhotographer // Shutterstock
13 / 50- Location: Chicago, IL
- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,270
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
- Acceptance rate: 98%
- Typical SAT range: 990-1200
BongkarnGraphic // Shutterstock
14 / 50- Location: Grand Rapids, MI
- Overall Niche grade: B-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,109
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1
- Acceptance rate: 73%
- Typical SAT range: 970-1220
Philip Lange // Shutterstock
15 / 50- Location: Dallas, TX
- Overall Niche grade: C+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,066
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 17:1
- Acceptance rate: 91%
- Typical SAT range: 960-1220
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16 / 50- Location: Anderson, SC
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,841
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
- Acceptance rate: 53%
- Typical SAT range: 1090-1290
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
17 / 50- Location: Colorado Springs, CO
- Overall Niche grade: C+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 15,668
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 42:1
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Typical SAT range: not available
KelseyBailey // Shutterstock
18 / 50- Location: Lisle, IL
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 11,077
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 47:1
- Acceptance rate: 43%
- Typical SAT range: 1000-1130
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19 / 50- Location: Searcy, AR
- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 3,134
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
- Acceptance rate: 45%
- Typical SAT range: 1050-1280
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20 / 50- Location: Irving, TX
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,376
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
- Acceptance rate: 54%
- Typical SAT range: 1170-1370
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University of College // Shutterstock
21 / 50- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 25,141
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 16:1
- Acceptance rate: 60%
- Typical SAT range: 1060-1180
University of College // Shutterstock
22 / 50- Location: Tuscaloosa, AL
- Overall Niche grade: A
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 30,984
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 18:1
- Acceptance rate: 76%
- Typical SAT range: 1170-1400
Grindstone Media Group // Shutterstock
23 / 50- Location: College Station, TX
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 52,906
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 16:1
- Acceptance rate: 63%
- Typical SAT range: 1140-1380
Wileydoc // Shutterstock
24 / 50- Location: Buies Creek, NC
- Overall Niche grade: C+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,375
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
- Acceptance rate: 94%
- Typical SAT range: 1030-1230
Mr.Nikon // Shutterstock
25 / 50- Location: Arkadelphia, AR
- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,586
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
- Acceptance rate: 69%
- Typical SAT range: 1060-1290
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26 / 50- Location: Fayetteville, AR
- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 26,337
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 19:1
- Acceptance rate: 72%
- Typical SAT range: 1050-1220
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27 / 50- Location: La Mirada, CA
- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 3,126
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
- Acceptance rate: 60%
- Typical SAT range: 1130-1360
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
28 / 50- Location: Orange City, IA
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,020
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
- Acceptance rate: 87%
- Typical SAT range: 940-1240
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29 / 50- Location: Auburn, AL
- Overall Niche grade: A
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 25,204
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 17:1
- Acceptance rate: 50%
- Typical SAT range: 1240-1380
Daniel K. Driskill // Shutterstock
30 / 50- Location: Orem, UT
- Overall Niche grade: B-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 19,658
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 28:1
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Typical SAT range: not available
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ALPhotoCentral // Shutterstock
31 / 50- Location: Birmingham, AL
- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 4,210
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
- Acceptance rate: 82%
- Typical SAT range: 1070-1260
Felix Mizioznikov // Shutterstock
32 / 50- Location: Waco, TX
- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 14,566
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
- Acceptance rate: 51%
- Typical SAT range: 1210-1400
Wirestock Creators // Shutterstock
33 / 50- Location: Ephraim, UT
- Overall Niche grade: B-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 3,201
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 19:1
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Typical SAT range: not available
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34 / 50- Location: Cleveland, TN
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,433
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
- Acceptance rate: 72%
- Typical SAT range: 1020-1240
Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post // Getty Images
35 / 50- Location: Bismarck, ND
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,991
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
- Acceptance rate: 78%
- Typical SAT range: 1000-1320
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36 / 50- Location: Clinton, MS
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,321
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
- Acceptance rate: 49%
- Typical SAT range: 1140-1260
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37 / 50- Location: Tigerville, SC
- Overall Niche grade: B-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,640
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
- Acceptance rate: 63%
- Typical SAT range: 1010-1250
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38 / 50- Location: Tulsa, OK
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,833
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Acceptance rate: 99%
- Typical SAT range: 1080-1250
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39 / 50- Location: Winona Lake, IN
- Overall Niche grade: B-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,533
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 20:1
- Acceptance rate: 81%
- Typical SAT range: 950-1200
PeopleImages // Shutterstock
40 / 50- Location: Springfield, MO
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,201
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
- Acceptance rate: 69%
- Typical SAT range: 960-1200
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41 / 50- Location: Virginia Beach, VA
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,481
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 20:1
- Acceptance rate: 41%
- Typical SAT range: 1050-1250
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42 / 50- Location: Provo, UT
- Overall Niche grade: A
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 29,261
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 20:1
- Acceptance rate: 69%
- Typical SAT range: 1290-1450
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
43 / 50- Location: Saint Paul, MN
- Overall Niche grade: B-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,847
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 17:1
- Acceptance rate: 92%
- Typical SAT range: 980-1290
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44 / 50- Location: Pensacola, FL
- Overall Niche grade: not available
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 4,712
- Student-to-faculty ratio: not available
- Acceptance rate: not available
- Typical SAT range: not available
Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times // Getty Images
45 / 50- Location: Cedarville, OH
- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 3,789
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1
- Acceptance rate: 63%
- Typical SAT range: 1110-1360
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46 / 50- Location: Greenville, SC
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,116
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Typical SAT range: not available
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47 / 50- Location: Lakewood, CO
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 1,889
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Typical SAT range: not available
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48 / 50- Location: Rexburg, ID
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 12,978
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
- Acceptance rate: 97%
- Typical SAT range: 980-1200
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
49 / 50- Location: Grove City, PA
- Overall Niche grade: B-
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 2,197
- Student-to-faculty ratio: not available
- Acceptance rate: 73%
- Typical SAT range: 1130-1370
The Old Major // Shutterstock
50 / 50- Location: Lynchburg, VA
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Full-time undergraduate enrollment: 32,378
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 20:1
- Acceptance rate: 99%
- Typical SAT range: 1040-1250
Data reporting by Rob Powell. Story editing by Cu Fleshman. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire.
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