Liberal Arts General Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 318 schools to find the best for liberal arts general studies students.
No school ranked higher than Cornell University this year for liberal arts general studies. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell University awarded about 18 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $46,072. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts general studies program will find one at Georgetown University, which ranked #2. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 64 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Georgetown University earn around $66,719 in the first couple years of their career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Stony Brook University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Stony Brook University graduates 76% of students within six years. About 52 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Stony Brook University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $74,387 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,537.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts general studies program will find one at New York University, which ranked #4. 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 762 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $39,652 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,787.
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Rowan University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glassboro. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 183 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Rowan University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Rowan University generally make around $43,486. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #6 for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 39 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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Suny At Binghamton landed the #7 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 25 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Suny At Binghamton earn around $51,766 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,691.
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Towson University landed the #8 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $50,370. Towson University graduates carry a median of $21,241 in student loans.
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Wilkes University earned the #9 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Wilkes University graduates 63% of students within six years. About 57 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Wilkes University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Wilkes University earn around $64,004 in the first couple years of their career. Wilkes University graduates carry a median of $26,601 in student loans.
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Syracuse University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Syracuse University awarded about 19 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,130.
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Carnegie Mellon University placed #11 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 36 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $89,327 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,515 to complete this degree.
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Seton Hall University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Seton Hall University graduates 70% of students within six years. About 68 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Seton Hall University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $36,993 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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George Washington University earned the #13 position for liberal arts general studies this year. 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. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from George Washington University earn around $73,749 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,910.
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Rider University landed the #14 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Rider University graduates 61% of students within six years. Rider University awarded about 28 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Rider University generally make around $41,315. Students borrow a median of $22,233 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania placed #15 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 122 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $68,293. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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University Of Delaware landed the #16 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 194 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $13,833 early in their careers. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans.
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West Chester University Of Pennsylvania placed #17 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 117 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
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Saint John Fisher College placed #18 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Rochester. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Saint John Fisher College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $55,630 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,086 to complete this degree.
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Yeshiva University placed #19 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Yeshiva University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Yeshiva University generally make around $52,838. Typical student debt for the program is $20,625.
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Salisbury University placed #20 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salisbury. Salisbury University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 45 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Salisbury University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Salisbury University earn a median of $38,478 early in their careers. Salisbury University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Villanova University earned the #21 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 32 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $52,183 in their early career. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Johns Hopkins University earned the #22 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 33 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $45,147. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
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Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania earned the #23 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the town of Bloomsburg. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 45 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
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The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the rural area of Galloway. About 68% of students finish within six years. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey awarded about 193 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey earn around $42,209 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Cuny City College came in at #25 for liberal arts general studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny City College awarded about 77 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $43,059 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,985 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for liberal arts general studies this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 318 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).