Liberal Arts General Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts general studies programs.
College Factual analyzed 2221 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best liberal arts general studies schools.
No school ranked higher than University Of Virginia Main Campus this year for liberal arts general studies. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 705 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $69,126 in their early career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 316 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $45,243 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,052 to complete this degree.
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Cornell University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. Cornell University awarded about 18 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Cornell University earn around $46,072 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,005.
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A rank of #4 makes Loyola Marymount University one of the top schools for liberal arts general studies. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit university. Loyola Marymount University graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $52,935 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,248 to complete this degree.
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Southern Methodist University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southern Methodist University awarded about 80 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $57,967 in their early career. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. About 100 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $35,056 early in their careers. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
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Georgetown University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $66,719 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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James Madison University came in at #8 for liberal arts general studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 134 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $49,408 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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University Of Georgia ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $53,546. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete this degree.
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Yale University landed the #10 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Yale University awarded about 21 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Yale University earn around $61,133 in the first couple years of their career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans.
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University Of San Diego placed #11 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of San Diego awarded about 15 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $68,281 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,795.
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George Mason University came in at #12 for liberal arts general studies this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 390 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $41,398 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Delaware placed #13 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Newark. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 191 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $13,833 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,500.
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Seattle Pacific University earned the #14 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 62% of students finish within six years. Seattle Pacific University awarded about 37 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Seattle Pacific University generally make around $52,713. Seattle Pacific University graduates carry a median of $25,188 in student loans.
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Harvard University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 22 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $54,555. Typical student debt for the program is $20,126.
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San Diego State University earned the #16 position for liberal arts general studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 268 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $23,190. Typical student debt for the program is $12,496.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #17 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 15 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $37,709 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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New York University earned the #18 position for liberal arts general studies this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 656 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from New York University earn around $38,447 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,787 in student loans.
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University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #19 for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 21 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $55,861. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans.
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Sonoma State University came in at #20 for liberal arts general studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. Sonoma State University graduates 58% of students within six years. Sonoma State University awarded about 102 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Sonoma State University earn around $39,758 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
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Rowan University landed the #21 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Rowan University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glassboro. Rowan University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 183 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Rowan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Rowan University generally make around $43,486. Rowan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of Arizona ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 59 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. University Of Arizona graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans.
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California State University Fullerton landed the #23 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 154 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $24,706 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,535.
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Suny At Binghamton earned the #24 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. About 82% of students finish within six years. Suny At Binghamton awarded about 21 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Suny At Binghamton earn around $51,766 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,691 to complete this degree.
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University Of Iowa came in at #25 for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 202 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $40,791 early in their careers. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $25,269 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts general studies ranking:
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 · 2221 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).
