Liberal Arts General Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 2221 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best liberal arts general studies schools.
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Choosing a Great Liberal Arts General Studies School
The school you choose for liberal arts general studies can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Liberal Arts General Studies School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Liberal Arts General Studies Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
No school ranked higher than University Of Virginia Main Campus this year for liberal arts general studies. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 705 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from University Of Virginia Main Campus
Students looking for a strong liberal arts general studies program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 72 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $59,139 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,312.
Get the full liberal arts general studies details for Northwestern University
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the top schools for liberal arts general studies. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 389 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $69,994 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $19,052 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
A rank of #4 makes Stanford University one of the top schools for liberal arts general studies. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts general studies program will find one at Cornell University, which ranked #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 18 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $46,072 early in their careers. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
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Dartmouth College placed #6 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 36 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $81,992 in their early career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts general studies program at Dartmouth College
Georgetown University came in at #7 for liberal arts general studies this year. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 64 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $66,719 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Georgetown University
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #8 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 73 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $59,877 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Stony Brook University came in at #9 for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Stony Brook University awarded about 52 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $74,387. Typical student debt for the program is $20,537.
Read more about the liberal arts general studies program at Stony Brook University
Loyola Marymount University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $52,935 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,248 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts general studies program at Loyola Marymount University
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. About 100 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $35,056 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
Read more about the liberal arts general studies program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Wake Forest University earned the #12 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Wake Forest University awarded about 11 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $67,369 in their early career. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Wake Forest University
James Madison University earned the #13 position for liberal arts general studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 134 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $49,408. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for James Madison University
University Of Georgia placed #14 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 13 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from University Of Georgia earn around $53,546 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,792.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for University Of Georgia
Yale University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $61,133 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Yale University
University Of San Diego placed #16 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 15 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of San Diego in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $68,281 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete this degree.
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George Mason University came in at #17 for liberal arts general studies this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 390 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies 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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Duke University placed #18 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. About 24 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Duke University earn a median of $51,346 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Duke University
University Of Florida placed #19 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 106 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,669.
Read more about the liberal arts general studies program at University Of Florida
Southern Methodist University came in at #20 for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Southern Methodist University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 80 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $57,967. Typical student debt for the program is $20,712.
Read more about the liberal arts general studies program at Southern Methodist University
Seattle Pacific University placed #21 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Seattle. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 37 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Seattle Pacific University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Seattle Pacific University earn around $52,713 in the first couple years of their career. Seattle Pacific University graduates carry a median of $25,188 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Seattle Pacific University
Harvard University came in at #22 for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $54,555. Students borrow a median of $20,126 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Harvard University
San Diego State University landed the #23 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. San Diego State University awarded about 273 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $23,190 early in their careers. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $12,496 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for San Diego State University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. About 15 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $37,709. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts general studies program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #25 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $55,861. Students borrow a median of $20,373 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts general studies program report for University Of Colorado Boulder
Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for liberal arts general studies this year:
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 · 2221 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).
