Liberal Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 84 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for liberal arts students pursuing a degree.
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/liberal-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: Checking offer "AA in Liberal Arts" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "AA in Liberal Arts" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in General Studies" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BA in General Studies" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "General Studies (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "General Studies (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Liberal Arts & Humanities Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Liberal Arts & Humanities Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 4
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 2 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 2
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 2 offers with relevance >= 0.9
Best Schools for Liberal Arts in Illinois
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.
Northwestern University tops our 2026 ranking of the best liberal arts schools. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 71 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $59,139. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $19,312 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Northwestern University
Loyola University Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. Typical student debt for the program is $7,761.
See the full liberal arts program report for Loyola University Chicago
Harper College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. About 1,823 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Harper College earn a median of $27,619 early in their careers. Harper College graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for Harper College
A rank of #4 makes University Of Chicago one of the top schools for liberal arts. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Chicago awarded about 16 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $26,094 in their early career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from University Of Chicago
College Of Dupage is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. College Of Dupage awarded about 626 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $28,678 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500.
See the full liberal arts program report for College Of Dupage
Eastern Illinois University landed the #6 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. About 47% of students finish within six years. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 88 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $40,273 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full liberal arts details for Eastern Illinois University
College Of Lake County came in at #7 for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. There were roughly 1,587 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at College Of Lake County in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $33,413 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,687 to complete this degree.
Get the full liberal arts details for College Of Lake County
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #8 among the best liberal arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. About 55% of students finish within six years. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 13 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn around $54,302 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Joliet Junior College landed the #9 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Joliet Junior College awarded about 509 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $27,296 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full liberal arts details for Joliet Junior College
Rock Valley College landed the #10 spot for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 501 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Rock Valley College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Rock Valley College earn around $27,601 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,035 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Rock Valley College
Illinois State University landed the #11 spot for liberal arts this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 114 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Illinois State University earn around $31,745 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,621 to complete this degree.
Get the full liberal arts details for Illinois State University
Elgin Community College placed #12 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. Elgin Community College awarded about 1,223 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $25,377. Elgin Community College graduates carry a median of $8,380 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Elgin Community College
Kankakee Community College landed the #13 spot for liberal arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Kankakee. There were roughly 141 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Kankakee Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Kankakee Community College earn a median of $60,509 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,900 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Kankakee Community College
Waubonsee Community College earned the #14 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 440 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Waubonsee Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Waubonsee Community College earn a median of $27,597 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,250.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Waubonsee Community College
Lincoln Land Community College earned the #15 position for liberal arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Springfield. About 353 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Lincoln Land Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Lincoln Land Community College earn around $34,164 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,022.
See the full liberal arts program report for Lincoln Land Community College
Northern Illinois University placed #16 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 93 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $29,426. Typical student debt for the program is $30,839.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Northern Illinois University
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College came in at #17 for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public institution. There were roughly 666 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $31,322 in their early career. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College graduates carry a median of $9,348 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College
Oakton Community College came in at #18 for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. About 997 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Oakton Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Oakton Community College earn a median of $24,918 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
Get the full liberal arts details for Oakton Community College
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #19 for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Northeastern Illinois University graduates 22% of students within six years. About 67 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Northeastern Illinois University earn around $42,976 in the first couple years of their career. Northeastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Northeastern Illinois University
Morton College came in at #20 for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Cicero, Morton College is a moderately-sized public institution. Morton College awarded about 183 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Morton College earn around $31,829 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Morton College
Illinois Central College placed #21 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. Illinois Central College awarded about 2,182 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Illinois Central College earn a median of $29,845 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,656.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Illinois Central College
Heartland Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Heartland Community College awarded about 626 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Heartland Community College earn a median of $31,250 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Heartland Community College
Triton College earned the #23 position for liberal arts this year. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. There were roughly 481 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Triton College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $27,342 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,500.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Triton College
City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 937 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College earn a median of $29,168 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,925 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College placed #25 among the best liberal arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Chicago. There were roughly 209 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College generally make around $34,644. Students borrow a median of $13,600 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College
Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts ranking:
This list is compiled 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 · 84 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).
