Liberal Arts General Studies 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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 91 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for liberal arts general studies students pursuing a degree.
Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 72 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $59,139. Students borrow a median of $19,312 to complete this degree.
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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. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,761.
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Harper College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Palatine. Harper College awarded about 1,962 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $27,619. Typical student debt for the program is $7,500.
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University Of Chicago came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Chicago awarded about 142 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $26,094 early in their careers. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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College Of Dupage is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is 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. 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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Eastern Illinois University earned the #6 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. There were roughly 88 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $40,273 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
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College Of Lake County placed #7 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. College Of Lake County awarded about 1,596 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. College Of Lake County graduates carry a median of $6,687 in student loans.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #8 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 13 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $54,302 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete this degree.
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Aurora University placed #9 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Aurora University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $44,614 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Joliet Junior College placed #10 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Joliet Junior College awarded about 621 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Joliet Junior College earn around $27,296 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete this degree.
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Rock Valley College came in at #11 for liberal arts general studies this year. Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rockford. About 502 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Rock Valley College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Rock Valley College earn a median of $27,601 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $7,035 to complete this degree.
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Illinois State University landed the #12 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 121 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $31,745. Students borrow a median of $23,621 to complete this degree.
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Elgin Community College earned the #13 position for liberal arts general studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Elgin. Elgin Community College awarded about 1,223 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $25,377 early in their careers. Elgin Community College graduates carry a median of $8,380 in student loans.
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Kankakee Community College earned the #14 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Kankakee. There were roughly 176 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Kankakee Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Kankakee Community College earn a median of $60,509 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $5,900.
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Waubonsee Community College earned the #15 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public institution. About 495 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Waubonsee Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Waubonsee Community College earn around $27,597 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,250.
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Lincoln Land Community College placed #16 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 383 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Lincoln Land Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $34,164 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,022.
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Northern Illinois University placed #17 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 93 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $29,426. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $30,839 in student loans.
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City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College came in at #18 for liberal arts general studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Chicago. There were roughly 767 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College generally make around $31,322. Typical student debt for the program is $9,348.
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Oakton Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Oakton Community College is a large public school located in the city of Des Plaines. Oakton Community College awarded about 1,011 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $24,918 in their early career. Oakton Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
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Northeastern Illinois University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northeastern Illinois University awarded about 77 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Northeastern Illinois University earn around $42,976 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000.
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Morton College landed the #21 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Cicero. There were roughly 183 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Morton College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Morton College generally make around $31,829. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
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Depaul University placed #22 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. Depaul University awarded about 47 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $73,200 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $42,350.
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Illinois Central College came in at #23 for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. About 2,272 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Illinois Central College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Illinois Central College generally make around $29,845. Typical student debt for the program is $9,656.
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Heartland Community College earned the #24 position for liberal arts general studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Normal. There were roughly 626 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Heartland Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $31,250 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
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Triton College earned the #25 position for liberal arts general studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of River Grove. There were roughly 546 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Triton College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Triton College earn a median of $27,342 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,500 to complete this degree.
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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 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 · 91 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).
