Irma Said:

I go/will graduate from a top ranked liberal arts college...will employers know or care?

We Answered:

Yes, they will...no worries...especially if you're planning on staying around the area where your small lib arts school is. If you want to get into a company with smart people, then they will know where the colleges are that contain the smart kids.

Suzanne Said:

Going to a top 20 liberal arts college, will employers know about it or care?

We Answered:

You could state the ranking of the school in your resume, but if you have to do that, your degree having been from that particular school (I don't know which one) would not help you anyway. The only liberal arts colleges whose degrees may help employment in comparison with a degree from another school are probably the top three liberal arts colleges as well as the top five of the "seven-sisters".

On the other hand, the name of school is a much less important factor in finding employment than is the alumni/ae network of the school and the professors' connections.

Most employers care little about the name of the school in any event, with the exception of the top 16 universities and in that case the name counts only slightly.

See payscale.com for mean starting salaries listed by colleges. The top salaries go to graduates of the Ivies, and to majors in engineering and nursing.

Marian Said:

Premed at Knox, Calvin, or other liberal arts colleges?

We Answered:

Grinnell College, Iowa
Oberlin College, Ohio
De Pauw University, Indiana

Alma Said:

big pre-professional school or small liberal arts college? in the city or in a rural area?

We Answered:

Never underestimate the invisible benefits of a theoretical degree. I have a BA in criminology and learning to think critically has had intangible benefits. Small colleges are the unsung heros of education. Many people combine a theoretical BA and an applied graduate degree in Medicine, Law, Business, Journalism, etc.
On the other hand, I would be very reluctant to go into debt for a degree that might not be marketable. My parents paid the colleges high tuition so I am bias.

Dennis Said:

I will graduate from a top 20 liberal arts college - will employers know or care?

We Answered:

nobody cares what your GPA was in college. if you come out with a degree from a respectable school then you're fine. good luck with a job in today's crappy economy though!