Liberal Arts General Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2221 schools to find the best for liberal arts general studies students.
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 school for liberal arts general studies. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 106 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent 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.
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Loyola University Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 33 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $58,568 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,761 to complete this degree.
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University Of Central Florida is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. There were roughly 417 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $48,391 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,135.
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George Washington University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies, ranking #4. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $73,749 in their early career. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes Irvine Valley College one of the top schools for liberal arts general studies. Located in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public university. Irvine Valley College awarded about 1,273 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $5,754.
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Highline Community College earned the #6 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Des Moines. There were roughly 393 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Highline Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Highline Community College earn around $31,291 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,678.
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Harper College came in at #7 for liberal arts general studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Palatine. About 930 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Harper College earn around $27,619 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Delaware placed #8 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Newark. University Of Delaware graduates 82% of students within six years. University Of Delaware awarded about 194 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $13,833 in their early career. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans.
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Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #9 for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. There were roughly 130 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,692.
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Seattle Community College South Campus placed #10 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Seattle Community College South Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Seattle. Seattle Community College South Campus awarded about 202 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year.
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Santiago Canyon College placed #11 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Orange. There were roughly 675 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Santiago Canyon College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Santiago Canyon College earn around $37,149 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
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Florida State University earned the #12 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 216 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Florida State University earn around $35,361 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,349.
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College Of Lake County landed the #13 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. College Of Lake County awarded about 766 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $33,413. Students borrow a median of $6,687 to complete this degree.
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New York University landed the #14 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 87 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of New York University earn a median of $39,652 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,787 to complete this degree.
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Yeshiva University earned the #15 position for liberal arts general studies this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Yeshiva University graduates 85% of students within six years. About 10 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Yeshiva University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Yeshiva University earn a median of $52,838 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,625.
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College Of Dupage earned the #16 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. College Of Dupage awarded about 729 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $28,678. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
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Columbia Basin College landed the #17 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Columbia Basin College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Pasco. Columbia Basin College awarded about 781 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $63,976 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,170.
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Bellevue College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Bellevue, Bellevue College is a large public institution. There were roughly 982 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Bellevue College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Bellevue College earn a median of $29,666 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,598.
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Elgin Community College earned the #19 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. About 574 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Elgin Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $25,377. Elgin Community College graduates carry a median of $8,380 in student loans.
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Adelphi University placed #20 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Garden City. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Adelphi University awarded about 26 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $51,037 in their early career. Adelphi University graduates carry a median of $25,487 in student loans.
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City College Of San Francisco earned the #21 position for liberal arts general studies this year. City College Of San Francisco is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. City College Of San Francisco awarded about 348 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of City College Of San Francisco earn a median of $100,031 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete this degree.
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Salt Lake Community College came in at #22 for liberal arts general studies this year. Salt Lake Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. About 1,921 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Salt Lake Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Salt Lake Community College generally make around $35,804. Salt Lake Community College graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans.
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Oxnard College landed the #23 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. About 544 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Oxnard College in the most recent year.
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Everett Community College came in at #24 for liberal arts general studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Everett. About 677 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Everett Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Everett Community College generally make around $30,993. Typical student debt for the program is $8,125.
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Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #25 for liberal arts general studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida Gulf Coast University awarded about 333 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Florida Gulf Coast University earn around $50,726 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,015 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong liberal arts general studies education:
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 · 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).
