Liberal Arts 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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 268 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for liberal arts students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Stanford University the best school in the country for a degree in liberal arts. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Stanford University
Students looking for a strong liberal arts program will find one at Loyola Marymount University, which ranked #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $52,935 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,248.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Loyola Marymount University
A rank of #3 makes California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo one of the top schools for liberal arts. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 82 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $35,056. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts details for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
A rank of #4 makes University Of San Diego one of the top schools for liberal arts. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 13 liberal arts degrees were awarded at University Of San Diego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $68,281. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from University Of San Diego
Students looking for a strong liberal arts program will find one at Seattle Pacific University, which ranked #5. Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 34 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Seattle Pacific University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Seattle Pacific University earn a median of $52,713 early in their careers. Seattle Pacific University graduates carry a median of $25,188 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Seattle Pacific University
San Diego State University landed the #6 spot for liberal arts this year. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 265 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from San Diego State University earn around $23,190 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,496 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts program at San Diego State University
Sonoma State University landed the #7 spot for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Sonoma State University awarded about 102 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts 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.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Sonoma State University
California State University Fullerton placed #8 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 154 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $24,706 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,535.
Get the full liberal arts details for California State University Fullerton
San Jose State University earned the #9 position for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 47 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from San Jose State University
California State University Long Beach placed #10 among the best liberal arts schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. About 293 liberal arts degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $31,802 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for California State University Long Beach
Highline Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Des Moines. Highline Community College awarded about 393 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Highline Community College earn around $31,291 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,678 to complete this degree.
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Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 1,558 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Riverside placed #13 among the best liberal arts schools. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 83 liberal arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Riverside in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $23,203 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,436.
See the full liberal arts program report for University Of California Riverside
Saint Marys College Of California earned the #14 position for liberal arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Moraga. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Saint Marys College Of California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $56,094 in their early career. Saint Marys College Of California graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Saint Marys College Of California
Westmont College came in at #15 for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, Westmont College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Westmont College awarded about 13 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Westmont College earn around $44,240 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Westmont College
California State University Fresno placed #16 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 481 liberal arts degrees were awarded at California State University Fresno in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $25,349 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,662 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from California State University Fresno
Seattle Community College South Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Seattle. Seattle Community College South Campus awarded about 202 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Seattle Community College South Campus
California State University Bakersfield came in at #18 for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public institution. California State University Bakersfield graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 325 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Bakersfield in the most recent data year.
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Orange Coast College came in at #19 for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. About 2,059 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Orange Coast College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $24,128 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,955 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Orange Coast College
California State University Chico placed #20 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. California State University Chico awarded about 198 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $27,196 in their early career. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for California State University Chico
California State University Northridge landed the #21 spot for liberal arts this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 255 liberal arts degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Liberal Arts 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.
See the full liberal arts program report for California State University Northridge
California State University San Bernardino landed the #22 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. California State University San Bernardino awarded about 269 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $24,979 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,295 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for California State University San Bernardino
California State University Sacramento ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 136 liberal arts degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $30,286 in their early career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts details for California State University Sacramento
California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 139 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn around $25,168 in the first couple years of their career. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Fresno Pacific University placed #25 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Fresno Pacific University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 136 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Fresno Pacific University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Fresno Pacific University generally make around $60,890. Typical student debt for the program is $24,596.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Fresno Pacific University
Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong liberal arts education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 268 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).
