Liberal Arts General Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts general studies programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 334 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for liberal arts general studies students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts General Studies in the Great Lakes Region
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 general studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 72 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $59,139 in their early career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $19,312 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 73 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Typical student debt for the program is $21,813.
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Loyola University Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 38 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $58,568 in their early career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $7,761 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts general studies program will find one at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 6,020 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $52,655 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,671 to complete this degree.
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University Of Notre Dame is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies, ranking #5. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 29 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $45,579 in their early career. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $18,800 in student loans.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #6 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 58 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $38,065. Typical student debt for the program is $20,728.
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Harper College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. There were roughly 1,962 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $27,619 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 17 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $37,632 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,625.
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University Of Chicago came in at #9 for liberal arts general studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 142 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $26,094 in their early career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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College Of Dupage ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. About 729 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at College Of Dupage in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $28,678 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
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Xavier University came in at #11 for liberal arts general studies this year. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. Xavier University graduates 68% of students within six years. Xavier University awarded about 62 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Xavier University generally make around $47,064. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Purdue University Main Campus placed #12 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 78 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $79,921 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,917.
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Eastern Illinois University earned the #13 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Eastern Illinois University graduates 47% of students within six years. About 88 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $40,273 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
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University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #14 for liberal arts general studies this year. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 117 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn around $49,223 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,551 to complete this degree.
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College Of Lake County came in at #15 for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. About 1,596 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at College Of Lake County in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $33,413 early in their careers. College Of Lake County graduates carry a median of $6,687 in student loans.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #16 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $54,302 early in their careers. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans.
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Aurora University earned the #17 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $44,614. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Joliet Junior College placed #18 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Joliet. Joliet Junior College awarded about 621 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $27,296. Typical student debt for the program is $8,250.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $32,604 in their early career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,784 in student loans.
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Rock Valley College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 502 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Rock Valley College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Rock Valley College earn around $27,601 in the first couple years of their career. Rock Valley College graduates carry a median of $7,035 in student loans.
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Illinois State University came in at #21 for liberal arts general studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 121 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $31,745 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,621.
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Elgin Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Elgin. There were roughly 1,223 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Elgin Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $25,377. Students borrow a median of $8,380 to complete this degree.
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Ball State University placed #23 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. Ball State University graduates 62% of students within six years. Ball State University awarded about 241 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $27,724. Typical student debt for the program is $26,965.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Ball State University
Lawrence Technological University landed the #24 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lawrence Technological University awarded about 18 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Lawrence Technological University earn a median of $74,924 early in their careers. Lawrence Technological University graduates carry a median of $27,799 in student loans.
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Ashland University placed #25 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ashland. About 60% of students finish within six years. Ashland University awarded about 50 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Ashland University earn a median of $48,852 early in their careers. Ashland University graduates carry a median of $3,008 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts general studies ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 334 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).
