Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 2221 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools.
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Choosing a Great Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities School
The liberal arts / sciences & humanities program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
No school ranked higher than University Of Virginia Main Campus this year for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 705 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $69,126 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes Northwestern University one of the top schools for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 72 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Northwestern University earn around $59,139 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,312 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Northwestern University
Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 389 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $69,994 in their early career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $19,052 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from The University Of Texas At Austin
Stanford University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. Stanford University awarded about 13 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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Cornell University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, ranking #5. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $46,072 early in their careers. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities program report for Cornell University
Dartmouth College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 36 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $81,992. Typical student debt for the program is $16,989.
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Georgetown University came in at #7 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgetown University awarded about 64 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $66,719. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #8 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 73 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
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Stony Brook University earned the #9 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 52 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Stony Brook University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Stony Brook University earn around $74,387 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Stony Brook University
Loyola Marymount University landed the #10 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $52,935 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,248 to complete this degree.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 100 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $35,056. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Wake Forest University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 11 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $67,369. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Wake Forest University
James Madison University earned the #13 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. James Madison University awarded about 134 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from James Madison University earn around $49,408 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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University Of Georgia ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 13 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of Georgia earn around $53,546 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans.
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Yale University earned the #15 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $61,133. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750.
See the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities program report for Yale University
University Of San Diego ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of San Diego graduates 84% of students within six years. About 15 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at University Of San Diego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $68,281. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from University Of San Diego
George Mason University placed #17 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. George Mason University awarded about 390 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $41,398 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
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Duke University came in at #18 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. Duke University awarded about 24 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Duke University earn around $51,346 in the first couple years of their career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Duke University
University Of Florida ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of Florida awarded about 106 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. Typical student debt for the program is $17,669.
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Southern Methodist University landed the #20 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 80 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $57,967 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities program report for Southern Methodist University
Seattle Pacific University landed the #21 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 37 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Seattle Pacific University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Seattle Pacific University earn around $52,713 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,188 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $54,555 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,126 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University came in at #23 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 273 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $23,190 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,496.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #24 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $37,709 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #25 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Boulder. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $55,861. Typical student debt for the program is $20,373.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from University Of Colorado Boulder
Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities education:
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 · 2221 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).
