Before the term "liberal" was corrupted to mean "socialist", "Liberal Arts" referred to the sort of education a Free Man, an upstanding citizen, would need to take his place in society. A man with a liberal education would be well grounded in classical languages, history, philosophy, natural philosophy (what we would call the natural sciences), theology, fine art, and law. Our founders, whether college educated or not, were well versed in the Liberal Arts. A Liberal Arts college was one in which these things were taught, and it was a difficult course of study.
WAS.
I'm not sure how many real Liberal Arts programs still exist. Hillsdale College and Christendom College probably provide them ... pretty sure an Ivy League university would not be as good a place to go for such an education.