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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina

60 Colleges in the United States
16,084 Liberal Arts Degrees Awarded
$32,082 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

College Factual analyzed 81 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best liberal arts schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Liberal Arts in North Carolina

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.

Top Schools in Liberal Arts

1
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest University tops our 2026 ranking of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Wake Forest University earn around $67,369 in the first couple years of their career. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Read more about the liberal arts program at Wake Forest University

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top schools for liberal arts. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. 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. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the liberal arts program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

3

Students looking for a strong liberal arts program will find one at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #3. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 44 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $45,181. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $25,993 in student loans. Get the full liberal arts details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh

4

Students looking for a strong liberal arts program will find one at Randolph Community College, which ranked #4. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Asheboro. There were roughly 162 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Randolph Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $40,145 in their early career. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Randolph Community College

5

Wake Technical Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. Wake Technical Community College awarded about 1,458 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $30,373. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000. Get the full liberal arts details for Wake Technical Community College

6

Central Piedmont Community College landed the #6 spot for liberal arts this year. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. There were roughly 1,822 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $24,056 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $7,104 to complete this degree. See the full liberal arts program report for Central Piedmont Community College

7

East Carolina University placed #7 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 233 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $36,809 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full liberal arts details for East Carolina University

8

Catawba Valley Community College placed #8 among the best liberal arts schools. Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Hickory. There were roughly 443 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Catawba Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Catawba Valley Community College generally make around $23,951. Students borrow a median of $6,429 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Catawba Valley Community College

9

Cape Fear Community College landed the #9 spot for liberal arts this year. Cape Fear Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. About 747 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Cape Fear Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $30,056 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,734. Read more about the liberal arts program at Cape Fear Community College

10
Gaston College crest
Gaston College
Dallas, NC

Gaston College placed #10 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public university. About 432 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Gaston College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $26,838 in their early career. Gaston College graduates carry a median of $6,334 in student loans. See the full liberal arts program report for Gaston College

11

Alamance Community College came in at #11 for liberal arts this year. Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Graham. About 335 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Alamance Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Alamance Community College earn around $26,855 in the first couple years of their career. Alamance Community College graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Read more about the liberal arts program at Alamance Community College

12
Pitt Community College crest
Pitt Community College
Winterville, NC

Pitt Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Winterville, Pitt Community College is a large public university. About 301 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Pitt Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Pitt Community College earn a median of $43,022 early in their careers. Pitt Community College graduates carry a median of $14,550 in student loans. Get the full liberal arts details for Pitt Community College

13

Wayne Community College placed #13 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 209 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Wayne Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Wayne Community College generally make around $26,028. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Wayne Community College

14

Rowan Cabarrus Community College earned the #14 position for liberal arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Salisbury. Rowan Cabarrus Community College awarded about 377 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Rowan Cabarrus Community College earn around $27,726 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,719 to complete this degree. Get the full liberal arts details for Rowan Cabarrus Community College

15

Western Piedmont Community College earned the #15 position for liberal arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Morganton. There were roughly 155 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Western Piedmont Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $29,365 in their early career. Western Piedmont Community College graduates carry a median of $11,999 in student loans. Get the full liberal arts details for Western Piedmont Community College

16

Stanly Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 157 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Stanly Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Stanly Community College earn a median of $28,120 early in their careers. Get the full liberal arts details for Stanly Community College

17

Wilkes Community College landed the #17 spot for liberal arts this year. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 157 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Wilkes Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Wilkes Community College earn a median of $25,681 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,250. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Wilkes Community College

18

Durham Technical Community College placed #18 among the best liberal arts schools. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. There were roughly 237 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Durham Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College generally make around $23,876. Durham Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $11,321 in student loans. See the full liberal arts program report for Durham Technical Community College

19

Johnston Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 314 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Johnston Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Johnston Community College earn around $25,872 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,812. Read more about the liberal arts program at Johnston Community College

20

Fayetteville Technical Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Fayetteville. There were roughly 326 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Fayetteville Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $36,276 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,037. Get the full liberal arts details for Fayetteville Technical Community College

21

Southwestern Community College Sylva landed the #21 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Sylva, Southwestern Community College Sylva is a mid-sized public university. Southwestern Community College Sylva awarded about 112 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Southwestern Community College Sylva earn around $25,973 in the first couple years of their career. Southwestern Community College Sylva graduates carry a median of $8,500 in student loans. See the full liberal arts program report for Southwestern Community College Sylva

22

Rockingham Community College came in at #22 for liberal arts this year. Located in the rural area of Wentworth, Rockingham Community College is a mid-sized public university. Rockingham Community College awarded about 150 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $30,865 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. Get the full liberal arts details for Rockingham Community College

23

Vance Granville Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the town of Henderson, Vance Granville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Vance Granville Community College awarded about 280 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Vance Granville Community College generally make around $34,109. Typical student debt for the program is $14,833. Read more about the liberal arts program at Vance Granville Community College

24

Surry Community College earned the #24 position for liberal arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Dobson. There were roughly 201 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Surry Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Surry Community College earn a median of $24,635 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500. Get the full liberal arts details for Surry Community College

25

Forsyth Technical Community College landed the #25 spot for liberal arts this year. Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. There were roughly 489 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Forsyth Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $25,355 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500. Get the full liberal arts details for Forsyth Technical Community College

Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts ranking:

26
27
28
Carteret Community College crest
Carteret Community College
Morehead City, NC
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
Mount Olive College crest
Mount Olive College
Mount Olive, NC
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
College Of The Albemarle crest
College Of The Albemarle
Elizabeth City, NC

Honorable Mentions

These schools earned honorable mentions for liberal arts:

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View All Liberal Arts Rankings >

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 81 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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