Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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.
College Factual analyzed 307 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools.
Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at Loyola Marymount University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. 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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Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, which ranked #3. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 100 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $35,056 early in their careers. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
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University Of San Diego is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #4 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 84% 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 San Diego in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $68,281 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,795.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at Seattle Pacific University, which ranked #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Seattle. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 37 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Seattle Pacific University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Seattle Pacific University earn a median of $52,713 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,188.
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San Diego State University placed #6 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 273 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees 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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Sonoma State University earned the #7 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 102 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Sonoma State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Sonoma State University earn around $39,758 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
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California State University Fullerton ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 154 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $24,706 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,535 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University earned the #9 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 53 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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California State University Long Beach earned the #10 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 293 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $31,802 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500.
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Highline Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the suburb of Des Moines, Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 393 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Highline Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Highline Community College earn a median of $31,291 early in their careers. Highline Community College graduates carry a median of $6,678 in student loans.
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Santa Rosa Junior College placed #12 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 1,688 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Typical student debt for the program is $14,692.
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University Of California Riverside placed #13 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Riverside. University Of California Riverside graduates 76% of students within six years. University Of California Riverside awarded about 83 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of California Riverside earn around $23,203 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,436 to complete this degree.
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Saint Marys College Of California placed #14 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Marys College Of California awarded about 14 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $56,094 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Westmont College landed the #15 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, Westmont College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Westmont College graduates 70% of students within six years. Westmont College awarded about 13 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Westmont College generally make around $44,240. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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California State University Fresno landed the #16 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. California State University Fresno graduates 57% of students within six years. California State University Fresno awarded about 481 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $25,349 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,662 to complete this degree.
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Seattle Community College South Campus placed #17 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College South Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Seattle Community College South Campus awarded about 202 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year.
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California State University Bakersfield came in at #18 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 325 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at California State University Bakersfield in the most recent data year.
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Orange Coast College came in at #19 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Costa Mesa. Orange Coast College awarded about 2,059 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $24,128 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,955 to complete this degree.
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California State University Chico placed #20 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 203 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from California State University Chico earn around $27,196 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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California State University Northridge landed the #21 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Northridge awarded about 267 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $37,941 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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California State University San Bernardino ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Bernardino. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 269 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from California State University San Bernardino earn around $24,979 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,295.
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California State University Sacramento earned the #23 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 149 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $30,286 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #24 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 139 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $25,168. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
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Fresno Pacific University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fresno. About 50% of students finish within six years. Fresno Pacific University awarded about 136 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $60,890 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,596 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts / sciences & humanities ranking:
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 · 307 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).
