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.
College Factual analyzed 124 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best liberal arts general studies schools.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts General Studies in New York
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.
Leading the list is Cornell University, our #1 school for liberal arts general studies. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school 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. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Cornell University
Stony Brook University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. 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 #3. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. 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. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,787 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Suny At Binghamton one of the top schools for liberal arts general studies. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public university. Suny At Binghamton graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent data 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. Students borrow a median of $20,691 to complete this degree.
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Syracuse University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies, ranking #5. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 19 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $54,785. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans.
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Saint John Fisher College earned the #6 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Saint John Fisher College earn a median of $55,630 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,086 to complete this degree.
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Yeshiva University earned the #7 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. 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. 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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Cuny City College earned the #8 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 77 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Cuny City College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $43,059. Students borrow a median of $12,985 to complete this degree.
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Daemen College placed #9 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Amherst. About 59% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 83 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Daemen College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Daemen College earn around $63,542 in the first couple years of their career. Daemen College graduates carry a median of $28,358 in student loans.
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State University Of New York At New Paltz came in at #10 for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public university. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at State University Of New York At New Paltz in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from State University Of New York At New Paltz earn around $41,000 in the first couple years of their career. State University Of New York At New Paltz graduates carry a median of $21,530 in student loans.
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Niagara University landed the #11 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Niagara University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Niagara University. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Niagara University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Niagara University earn around $51,918 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,208.
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Adelphi University earned the #12 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 67% of students finish within six years. Adelphi University awarded about 32 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Adelphi University earn around $51,037 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,487.
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Suffolk County Community College earned the #13 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. Suffolk County Community College awarded about 1,084 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $26,874 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete this degree.
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Union College New York earned the #14 position for liberal arts general studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Schenectady. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 32 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Union College New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Union College New York earn around $45,516 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete this degree.
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Farmingdale State College earned the #15 position for liberal arts general studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Farmingdale. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 166 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Farmingdale State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $22,443 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
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St Johns University New York placed #16 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Queens. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at St Johns University New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from St Johns University New York earn around $57,686 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete this degree.
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Excelsior College landed the #17 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Albany, Excelsior College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Excelsior College awarded about 1,344 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Excelsior College generally make around $51,447. Students borrow a median of $10,536 to complete this degree.
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Dyouville College came in at #18 for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Dyouville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 136 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Dyouville College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Dyouville College earn around $70,550 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,232 to complete this degree.
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Suny College At Oswego landed the #19 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suny College At Oswego awarded about 11 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Suny College At Oswego earn a median of $41,899 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,163.
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Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice placed #20 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $43,545 early in their careers. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $12,678 in student loans.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public school located in the city of New York. Cuny Graduate School And University Center awarded about 97 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of $59,752 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete this degree.
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Suny College At Cortland came in at #22 for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public institution. Suny College At Cortland graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 41 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Cortland in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $37,940 in their early career. Suny College At Cortland graduates carry a median of $28,150 in student loans.
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Utica College placed #23 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Utica. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Utica College awarded about 13 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Utica College generally make around $53,602. Utica College graduates carry a median of $27,220 in student loans.
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Suny College At Brockport placed #24 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public university. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Brockport in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $39,724 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,757.
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Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #25 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 121 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $36,318 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000.
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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 ranking is produced 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 · 124 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).
