Humanities degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 484 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best humanities schools.
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Choosing a Great Humanities School
The school you choose for humanities can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Humanities Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Humanities School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Humanities Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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The University Of Texas At Austin is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in humanities. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 24 humanities degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their humanities degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $69,994 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,052.
More information about a degree in humanities from The University Of Texas At Austin
Students looking for a strong humanities program will find one at Georgetown University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 14 humanities degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $66,719. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the humanities program at Georgetown University
A rank of #3 makes Yale University one of the top schools for humanities. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 humanities degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Students who receive their humanities degree from Yale University earn around $61,133 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the humanities program at Yale University
Students looking for a strong humanities program will find one at Harvard University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 humanities students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the humanities program make about $54,555 in their early career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $20,126 in student loans.
Get the full humanities details for Harvard University
University Of Colorado Boulder is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in humanities, ranking #5. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 humanities degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $55,861. Typical student debt for the program is $20,373.
Read more about the humanities program at University Of Colorado Boulder
New York University landed the #6 spot for humanities this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 64 humanities degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the humanities program make about $39,652 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,787 to complete this degree.
Get the full humanities details for New York University
University Of Arizona placed #7 among the best humanities schools. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 59 humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Students who receive their humanities degree from University Of Arizona earn around $50,834 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete this degree.
See the full humanities program report for University Of Arizona
University Of Central Florida came in at #8 for humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. University Of Central Florida awarded about 12 humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Humanities graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $48,391 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,135 to complete this degree.
Read more about the humanities program at University Of Central Florida
Seton Hall University earned the #9 position for humanities this year. Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Orange. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 62 humanities students who graduated with this degree at Seton Hall University in the most recent data year. Humanities graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of $36,993 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in humanities from Seton Hall University
Santa Rosa Junior College placed #10 among the best humanities schools. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. About 130 humanities degrees were awarded at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Typical student debt for the program is $14,692.
More information about a degree in humanities from Santa Rosa Junior College
Florida State University landed the #11 spot for humanities this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 62 humanities students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the humanities program make about $35,361 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,349 to complete this degree.
Get the full humanities details for Florida State University
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #12 among the best humanities schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 17 humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their humanities degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $37,632 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans.
Get the full humanities details for Ohio State University Main Campus
California State University Northridge landed the #13 spot for humanities this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 humanities degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Humanities graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $37,941 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
More information about a degree in humanities from California State University Northridge
University Of Chicago placed #14 among the best humanities schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Chicago awarded about 104 humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their humanities degree from University Of Chicago earn around $26,094 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
See the full humanities program report for University Of Chicago
California State University Sacramento ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best humanities schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 humanities students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $30,286. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
Get the full humanities details for California State University Sacramento
University Of Dallas ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best humanities schools. Located in the city of Irving, University Of Dallas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Dallas awarded about 42 humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their humanities degree from University Of Dallas earn around $58,396 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Dallas graduates carry a median of $23,411 in student loans.
Get the full humanities details for University Of Dallas
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #17 spot for humanities this year. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 43 humanities students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $79,921. Typical student debt for the program is $17,917.
More information about a degree in humanities from Purdue University Main Campus
Irvine Valley College placed #18 among the best humanities schools. Irvine Valley College is a large public school located in the city of Irvine. About 165 humanities degrees were awarded at Irvine Valley College in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete this degree.
Read more about the humanities program at Irvine Valley College
California State University Monterey Bay earned the #19 position for humanities this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Seaside. California State University Monterey Bay graduates 59% of students within six years. California State University Monterey Bay awarded about 107 humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the humanities program make about $30,413 in their early career. California State University Monterey Bay graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
See the full humanities program report for California State University Monterey Bay
The University Of Texas At Dallas landed the #20 spot for humanities this year. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 humanities students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Dallas generally make around $64,534. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates carry a median of $20,531 in student loans.
More information about a degree in humanities from The University Of Texas At Dallas
Santiago Canyon College placed #21 among the best humanities schools. This large public university is located in the city of Orange. There were roughly 456 humanities students who graduated with this degree at Santiago Canyon College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Santiago Canyon College generally make around $34,100. Santiago Canyon College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in humanities from Santiago Canyon College
San Francisco State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best humanities schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 11 humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their humanities degree from San Francisco State University earn around $32,112 in the first couple years of their career. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $15,467 in student loans.
Get the full humanities details for San Francisco State University
University Of Denver came in at #23 for humanities this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of Denver graduates 76% of students within six years. University Of Denver awarded about 31 humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Humanities graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $56,999 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete this degree.
See the full humanities program report for University Of Denver
Salve Regina University placed #24 among the best humanities schools. Salve Regina University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Newport. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 10 humanities students who graduated with this degree at Salve Regina University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their humanities degree from Salve Regina University earn around $56,636 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the humanities program at Salve Regina University
University Of California Merced ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best humanities schools. University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Merced. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 18 humanities degrees were awarded at University Of California Merced in the most recent year. Graduates of the humanities program make about $42,071 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,318 to complete this degree.
Read more about the humanities program at University Of California Merced
Rest of the Top 50 Humanities Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s humanities ranking:
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The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 484 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).