Liberal Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 255 schools to find the best for liberal arts students.
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Leading the list is Georgetown University, our #1 school for liberal arts. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Georgetown University earn around $66,719 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full liberal arts program report for Georgetown University
A rank of #2 makes Stony Brook University one of the top schools for liberal arts. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stony Brook University awarded about 51 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $74,387. Typical student debt for the program is $20,537.
See the full liberal arts program report for Stony Brook University
New York University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. 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 691 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of New York University earn a median of $39,652 early in their careers. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,787 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for New York University
Rowan University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glassboro. About 67% of students finish within six years. Rowan University awarded about 65 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $43,486 in their early career. Rowan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for Rowan University
Suny At Binghamton is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #5. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suny At Binghamton awarded about 25 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Suny At Binghamton earn around $51,766 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,691.
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Wilkes University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Wilkes University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 57 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Wilkes University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $64,004 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,601 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Wilkes University
Syracuse University earned the #7 position for liberal arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. About 84% of students finish within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 19 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,130.
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Carnegie Mellon University landed the #8 spot for liberal arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 29 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $89,327 in the first couple years of their career. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $25,515 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Carnegie Mellon University
Rider University earned the #9 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Rider University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Rider University earn a median of $41,315 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,233.
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University Of Pennsylvania came in at #10 for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 89 liberal arts degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $68,293 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Delaware earned the #11 position for liberal arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Newark. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 16 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Delaware in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $13,833. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for University Of Delaware
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #12 spot for liberal arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 117 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
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Saint John Fisher College landed the #13 spot for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 20 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Saint John Fisher College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $55,630 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,086 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Saint John Fisher College
Yeshiva University earned the #14 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Yeshiva University awarded about 10 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Yeshiva University earn around $52,838 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,625.
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Salisbury University earned the #15 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public university. Salisbury University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 45 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Salisbury University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Salisbury University earn around $38,478 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Villanova University earned the #16 position for liberal arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Villanova University awarded about 18 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Villanova University earn around $52,183 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Johns Hopkins University placed #17 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 26 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $45,147 in the first couple years of their career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Johns Hopkins University
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania came in at #18 for liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 45 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
See the full liberal arts program report for Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey came in at #19 for liberal arts this year. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the rural area of Galloway. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 193 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $42,209 in their early career. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey
Cuny City College placed #20 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Cuny City College graduates 57% of students within six years. About 77 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Cuny City College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $43,059 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,985.
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Daemen College came in at #21 for liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Amherst, Daemen College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Daemen College graduates 59% of students within six years. There were roughly 83 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Daemen College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Daemen College earn a median of $63,542 early in their careers. Daemen College graduates carry a median of $28,358 in student loans.
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Drexel University landed the #22 spot for liberal arts this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. Drexel University awarded about 46 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Drexel University earn around $62,470 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,154 to complete this degree.
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Niagara University landed the #23 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Niagara University graduates 74% of students within six years. About 21 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Niagara University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Niagara University generally make around $51,918. Students borrow a median of $26,208 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Niagara University
Adelphi University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Adelphi University awarded about 32 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Adelphi University generally make around $51,037. Adelphi University graduates carry a median of $25,487 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Adelphi University
Suffolk County Community College landed the #25 spot for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. Suffolk County Community College awarded about 28 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $26,874 in their early career. Suffolk County Community College graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for Suffolk County Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for liberal arts this year:
This ranking is produced 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 · 255 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).