For the most part, is it just that LACs can provide a more well-rounded education? This can be very important for students who are interested in both science and music for example. Also, the school environment and increased feeling of community could convince some students to choose a LAC. Are there any other upsides of a liberal arts education for people interested in STEM? Is there anyone here who would share their experience?
Science is a liberal art, as is math.
Whether a school is strong in the desired science and music is independent of whether it is a LAC.
More professor focus on undergrads than you find at a research university with grad students. Smaller class sizes, so potentially easier to get help if a student is struggling with something. There are schools that are both – Harvey Mudd, for example. One of my kids attends there. And while it is an intense STEM school, this semester she is also taking a Shakespeare class at one of the other colleges and a psychology course at Mudd.
I’ve attended both a liberal arts college and a large research university. Here are some of the benefits of being a science major at a LAC:
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No grad students which means that should a professor do research and needs assistants the professor must employ undergraduates to work along side him. Many professors at doctoral universities use grad students for the same function.
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Smaller class sizes, especially at the intro level. An intro biology class at UCLA might have over 500 people in it, with TAs (often grad students) leading the discussion sections. At nearby Occidental College, the intro bio class will likely have less than 33 students with the professor leading the labs.
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More opportunities for independent classes. At my LAC, students interested in a particular topic which wasn’t usually offered occasionally created independent study classes with the professor supervising them and grading them on their progress. This allowed for far more one on one work than the a class on the same topic at a larger university. The professors get to know the students incredibly well and can thus write extremely specific letters of recommendation.
For pre-meds, there is the additional advantage which is that social norms at most LACs prevent some of the competitive dynamics that you might find in a large impersonal 400+ weeder org chem or bio class. If you are sick or your lab blows up, someone will always lend you their notes and help you catch up - because you will be seeing the same people in all the other pre-med req courses - and around campus and in your dorm. In other words, a reputation for behaving like a jerk will follow you more closely at a LAC - so most people try to avoid that.
LOL @ if your lab blows up!
I actually don’t think the well-rounded education is a particular advantage of liberal arts colleges in and of itself. Most universities in the U.S. are liberal arts and sciences universities. An individual student at a large research university could pursue a well-rounded, broad liberal arts education - in fact, probably would have to, since most of these colleges have GE requirements in a variety of fields.
Rather, I think it’s the emphasis at LACs that changes the game. LACs encourage the integration of a variety of fields and the importance of all fields, as well as how they work together. Thus, biology and chemistry and physics majors may, for example, learn about the human/social impact on their fields; or learn about the importance of writing and communication and public science education. It’s important to have scientists and people who use the sciences (health professionals) understand the humanistic and social dimensions of their field. (E.g., what good is it reminding your patient repeatedly to take her meds on time if you know that she doesn’t have transportation to get to the pharmacy? But if you consider that, you might recommend that access-a-ride program or point out to her that the hospital has a pharmacy that fills her meds, which she can get before she leaves. Or the more deep ethical issues like right-to-die and nourishment in PVS, which have roots in philosophy.)
I also second all of the other above reasons. The biggest thing is probably the personal attention from professors and small class sizes. Professors at liberal arts colleges - especially the top ones - are there because they love teaching and they want to work with undergraduates. The professors in my field at the very top LACs are generally competitive for positions at large research universities, too; they choose to teach at places like Swarthmore and Haverford because they love to teach and work with undergrads. These places get their pick of applicants and can narrow it down to those who have a passion for teaching and mentoring.
My kid at Mudd got to research summer after freshman year on campus (paid) in her probable major. Then the professor she researched for has recommended her for an internship this next summer at a company she was targeting and where one of his former students worked. So he emailed this former student, touted my kid’s great qualities – even some she doesn’t have, IMHO, but hey… if that his opinion, who am I to correct him? 
She hasn’t landed the internship yet, but that is an example of how a small class/close relationship/undergrad focused college can help. You MIGHT be able to get those same benefits in a bigger university, but you would have to be really putting yourself out there and possibly somewhat sharp elbowed due to the larger number of students and grad students competing for research spots and the prof’s attention.
You can get an excellent education at any type of school – it is really a matter of what environment you prefer. My D is a STEM major at a LAC and loves it – she enjoys the small classes and knowing her professors well, she is a lead student researcher on one project and helps out with two others, and she still somehow finds time to be involved in other activities she enjoys such as theater and playing in the school orchestra. She has great friends in all types of majors and likes that as well.