Sep 09, 2014 10:56 AM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

U.S. News and World Report has released its annual college rankings and the Top Liberal Arts Colleges were among them.

Most of the nation's best liberal arts schools were in the northeast, Mass. and Penn. specifically and while their tuitions were north of $45,000, they retained their freshmen and saw students graduate within six years.

CLICK HERE to see the full list and HERE for U.S. News' full methodology.

Below is the top 10.

1. Williams College

Location: Williamstown, Mass.

Acceptance rate: 17.5 percent

Freshman retention rate: 97 percent

6-year graduation rate: 95 percent

2. Amherst College

Location: Amherst, Mass.

Acceptance rate: 14.3 percent

Freshman retention rate: 98 percent

6-year graduation rate: 96 percent

3. Swarthmore College

Location: Swarthmore, Penn.

Acceptance rate: 14.3 percent

Freshman retention rate: 96 percent

6-year graduation rate: 93 percent

4. Wellesley College

Location: Wellesley, Mass.

Acceptance rate: 29.1 percent

Freshman retention rate: 96 percent

6-year graduation rate: 91 percent

5. Bowdoin College

Location: Brunswick, Maine

Acceptance rate: 15 percent

Freshman retention rate: 96 percent

6-year graduation rate: 93 percent

6. Pomona College (tie for fifth)

Location: Claremont, Calif.

Acceptance rate: 13.9 percent

Freshman retention rate: 98 percent

6-year graduation rate: 96 percent

7. Middlebury College

Location: Middlebury, Vt.

Acceptance rate: 17.5 percent

Freshman retention rate: 96 percent

6-year graduation rate: 94 percent

8. Carleton College

Location: Northfield, Minn.

Acceptance rate: 21 percent

Freshman retention rate: 97 percent

6-year graduation rate: 92 percent

9. Claremont McKenna College (tied for eighth)

Location: Claremont, Calif.

Acceptance rate: 11.7 percent

Freshman retention rate: 96 percent

6-year graduation rate: 93 percent

10. Haverford College (tied for eighth)

Location: Haverford, Penn.

Acceptance rate: 23.5 percent

Freshman retention rate: 97 percent

6-year graduation rate: 93 percent

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