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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Liberal Arts Schools in Arizona

15 Colleges in the United States
6,638 Liberal Arts Degrees Awarded
$40,400 Avg Early-Career Salary

Liberal Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 24 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 Arizona

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

Leading the list is Northern Arizona University, our #1 school for liberal arts. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 344 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Northern Arizona University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $43,752 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,600. Get the full liberal arts details for Northern Arizona University

2

Arizona State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 79 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $44,173 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000. Read more about the liberal arts program at Arizona State University

3

Chandler Gilbert Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public institution. About 284 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Chandler Gilbert Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Chandler Gilbert Community College earn around $33,709 in the first couple years of their career. Chandler Gilbert Community College graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. See the full liberal arts program report for Chandler Gilbert Community College

4

Mesa Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. About 420 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Mesa Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $46,084 early in their careers. Mesa Community College graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Read more about the liberal arts program at Mesa Community College

5

Students looking for a strong liberal arts program will find one at Glendale Community College Glendale Az, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glendale. There were roughly 368 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn around $27,548 in the first couple years of their career. Glendale Community College Glendale Az graduates carry a median of $7,250 in student loans. Get the full liberal arts details for Glendale Community College Glendale Az

6

Scottsdale Community College earned the #6 position for liberal arts this year. Scottsdale Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Scottsdale. Scottsdale Community College awarded about 130 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Scottsdale Community College earn a median of $31,759 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the liberal arts program at Scottsdale Community College

7

Estrella Mountain Community College placed #7 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public institution. About 298 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Estrella Mountain Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Estrella Mountain Community College earn around $78,359 in the first couple years of their career. Estrella Mountain Community College graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Read more about the liberal arts program at Estrella Mountain Community College

8

Gateway Community College Phoenix placed #8 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Phoenix is a moderately-sized public institution. About 84 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Gateway Community College Phoenix in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Gateway Community College Phoenix generally make around $50,350. Gateway Community College Phoenix graduates carry a median of $15,736 in student loans. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Gateway Community College Phoenix

9
Phoenix College crest
Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix College earned the #9 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public university. There were roughly 231 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Phoenix College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Phoenix College generally make around $31,709. Phoenix College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Phoenix College

10

Arizona State University Skysong ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Scottsdale. There were roughly 334 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Arizona State University Skysong earn around $44,173 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Arizona State University Skysong

11

Pima Community College came in at #11 for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. Pima Community College awarded about 2,712 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $31,002. Pima Community College graduates carry a median of $8,939 in student loans. Read more about the liberal arts program at Pima Community College

12

Rio Salado College placed #12 among the best liberal arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. There were roughly 238 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Rio Salado College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $48,564 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,750. See the full liberal arts program report for Rio Salado College

13

Paradise Valley Community College came in at #13 for liberal arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Phoenix. About 190 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Paradise Valley Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Paradise Valley Community College earn around $71,136 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,986 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Paradise Valley Community College

14

Central Arizona College placed #14 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public institution. Central Arizona College awarded about 409 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Central Arizona College earn around $29,819 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,680. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Central Arizona College

15
Cochise College crest
Cochise College
Sierra Vista, AZ

Cochise College came in at #15 for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a moderately-sized public university. About 248 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Cochise College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Cochise College earn a median of $22,982 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,957 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Cochise College

16

South Mountain Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Phoenix. There were roughly 128 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at South Mountain Community College in the most recent data year. Get the full liberal arts details for South Mountain Community College

17

Northland Pioneer College earned the #17 position for liberal arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Holbrook. About 43 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Northland Pioneer College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Northland Pioneer College earn a median of $17,129 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,759 to complete this degree. Get the full liberal arts details for Northland Pioneer College

18

Mohave Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the rural area of Kingman, Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Mohave Community College awarded about 58 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Mohave Community College earn a median of $34,557 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree. See the full liberal arts program report for Mohave Community College

19

Tohono Oodham Community College landed the #19 spot for liberal arts this year. This small public university is located in the rural area of Sells. Tohono Oodham Community College awarded about 11 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. See the full liberal arts program report for Tohono Oodham Community College

20

Community Christian College came in at #20 for liberal arts this year. Community Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Quartzsite. Community Christian College awarded about 29 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the liberal arts program at Community Christian College

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Notes and References

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 · 24 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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