Liberal Arts General Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts general studies programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 589 schools to find the best for liberal arts general studies students.
No school ranked higher than University Of Virginia Main Campus this year for liberal arts general studies. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 705 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
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Wake Forest University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wake Forest University awarded about 11 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes James Madison University one of the top schools for liberal arts general studies. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 134 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $49,408. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Georgia one of the top schools for liberal arts general studies. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 13 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from University Of Georgia earn around $53,546 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,792.
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George Mason University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 390 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $41,398 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
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Duke University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 97% of students finish within six years. About 24 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Duke University earn a median of $51,346 early in their careers. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans.
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University Of Florida earned the #7 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 106 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 15 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $37,709. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
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University Of Miami landed the #9 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Coral Gables. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 40 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Miami in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $50,614. Students borrow a median of $28,590 to complete this degree.
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Auburn University earned the #10 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $55,422 in their early career. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans.
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University Of Central Florida came in at #11 for liberal arts general studies this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $15,135 in student loans.
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University Of Richmond placed #12 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 21 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Richmond in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of Richmond generally make around $53,815. Students borrow a median of $21,634 to complete this degree.
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Florida State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. 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. There were roughly 216 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $35,361. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $21,349 in student loans.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #14 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 63 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $45,181 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,993 to complete this degree.
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University Of Mary Washington landed the #15 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 45 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of Mary Washington in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $37,677 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,354 to complete this degree.
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Tennessee Technological University came in at #16 for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. Tennessee Technological University graduates 58% of students within six years. Tennessee Technological University awarded about 58 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Tennessee Technological University earn around $48,808 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
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Longwood University earned the #17 position for liberal arts general studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Farmville. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Longwood University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $46,714 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,375.
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Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #18 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 333 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Florida Gulf Coast University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $50,726. Students borrow a median of $20,015 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Florida earned the #19 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. University Of North Florida graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of North Florida awarded about 198 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $49,208. Students borrow a median of $18,523 to complete this degree.
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Edison State College landed the #20 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Edison State College is a large public university. There were roughly 1,506 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Edison State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Edison State College earn around $27,740 in the first couple years of their career. Edison State College graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans.
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University Of The Cumberlands ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 278 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of The Cumberlands in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of University Of The Cumberlands earn a median of $50,547 early in their careers. University Of The Cumberlands graduates carry a median of $22,868 in student loans.
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Broward College earned the #22 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Broward College is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. Broward College awarded about 3,513 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $28,775 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #23 for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 421 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $45,230 in their early career. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $30,676 in student loans.
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Palm Beach State College came in at #24 for liberal arts general studies this year. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. Palm Beach State College awarded about 2,802 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Palm Beach State College generally make around $29,805. Typical student debt for the program is $8,125.
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Bellarmine University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 22 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Bellarmine University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $46,024 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,766.
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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:
The ranking above is published 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 · 589 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).
