Liberal Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 401 schools to find the best for liberal arts students.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in liberal arts. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 705 liberal arts degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
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Wake Forest University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Wake Forest University earn around $67,369 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts program will find one at James Madison University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. James Madison University awarded about 134 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $49,408. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Georgia one of the top schools for liberal arts. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 13 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts 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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Students looking for a strong liberal arts program will find one at George Mason University, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 101 liberal arts degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from George Mason University earn around $41,398 in the first couple years of their career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans.
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University Of Florida came in at #6 for liberal arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 106 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from University Of Florida earn around $58,388 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #7 position for liberal arts this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 15 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $37,709 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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University Of Miami came in at #8 for liberal arts this year. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 11 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Miami in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $50,614. Typical student debt for the program is $28,590.
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University Of Central Florida came in at #9 for liberal arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Orlando. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. University Of Central Florida awarded about 405 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $48,391 early in their careers. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $15,135 in student loans.
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University Of Richmond ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of University of Richmond. University Of Richmond graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Richmond in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from University Of Richmond earn around $53,815 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,634.
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Florida State University placed #11 among the best liberal arts schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. About 86% of students finish within six years. Florida State University awarded about 154 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $35,361. Students borrow a median of $21,349 to complete this degree.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #12 position for liberal arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 liberal arts degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $45,181 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,993.
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University Of Mary Washington placed #13 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mary Washington in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Mary Washington earn a median of $37,677 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,354.
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Longwood University came in at #14 for liberal arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Farmville. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Longwood University awarded about 35 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Longwood University earn around $46,714 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,375.
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Florida Gulf Coast University placed #15 among the best liberal arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Fort Myers. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 333 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Florida Gulf Coast University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $50,726. Students borrow a median of $20,015 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Florida came in at #16 for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 198 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $49,208. Students borrow a median of $18,523 to complete this degree.
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Edison State College came in at #17 for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Edison State College is a large public institution. There were roughly 1,506 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Edison State College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Edison State College generally make around $27,740. Typical student debt for the program is $8,000.
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Broward College earned the #18 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public university. Broward College awarded about 3,513 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Broward College earn a median of $28,775 early in their careers. Broward College graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #19 spot for liberal arts this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. University Of South Florida Main Campus awarded about 407 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $45,230 early in their careers. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $30,676 in student loans.
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Palm Beach State College placed #20 among the best liberal arts schools. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. There were roughly 2,802 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Palm Beach State College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Palm Beach State College generally make around $29,805. Students borrow a median of $8,125 to complete this degree.
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Bellarmine University earned the #21 position for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Bellarmine University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $46,024 in their early career. Bellarmine University graduates carry a median of $26,766 in student loans.
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Seminole State College Of Florida ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Sanford. Seminole State College Of Florida awarded about 1,785 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Seminole State College Of Florida earn a median of $27,926 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree.
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The University Of West Florida ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. This large public university is located in the rural area of Pensacola. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of West Florida awarded about 531 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from The University Of West Florida earn around $31,140 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,125.
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University Of Florida Online landed the #24 spot for liberal arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 liberal arts degrees were awarded at University Of Florida Online in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Florida Online generally make around $43,822. University Of Florida Online graduates carry a median of $17,779 in student loans.
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Miami Dade College placed #25 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. Miami Dade College awarded about 6,449 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $25,905 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,500.
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Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for liberal arts this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 401 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).