Like research universities, both public and private, the category of small liberal arts colleges covers a wide variation of academic rigor and financial support. Overall, biology is a mainstay major, and most if not all colleges with rigorous academic programs will have well funded biology departments. The points of differentiation will lie mostly in the cultural and environmental differences from school to school.
Aside from functioning on different tiers of academic strength and selectivity, small LACs can have significantly different personalities. Often if you’re able to identify an appealing environment on one level of selectivity, you’ll be able to find others with the same culture on varying levels of selectivity, so that you have reach/match/safety options with overlaps in personality.
The common thread across small LACs is a focus on undergraduate education: small classes, nurturing and accessible professions and lots of individual attention. Many have excellent track records for medical school admissions, science/math PhD programs and health professional advising. Professors know their students personally and advising relationships and alumni/ae networks continue to offer support long after graduation.
Again it’s the focus on undergraduate education that categorizes research opportunities at LACs. For example, his page is a link to biology research opportunities at Williams: https://biology.williams.edu/research/
And to their health profession counseling: https://careers.williams.edu/healthstem/pre-health/
Other LACs in Williams academic cohort would offer similar programs, though the overarching cultural experience may vary.
Since it’s still early in your daughter’s college search and application process, spend some time on a few LAC websites. Look at the courses offered, the faculty backgrounds, the career counseling centers and where graduates have ended up. If you can, visit. This is the best way to get a feeling for the cultural differences from LAC to LAC.
Selective LACs can be very generous with need-based aid. Some that are somewhat less selective (but still academically strong) offer merit scholarships as well. Run a few net price calculators based on “what if” scenarios to see how you do.