Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts / sciences & humanities programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 195 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students pursuing a degree.
Leading the list is Stanford University, our #1 school for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 13 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University 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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A rank of #2 makes Loyola Marymount University one of the top schools for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount University graduates 79% of students within six years. About 13 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $52,935 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,248.
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A rank of #3 makes California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo one of the top schools for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. 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. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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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. University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. 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. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes San Diego State University one of the top schools for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 273 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $23,190 early in their careers. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $12,496 in student loans.
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Sonoma State University earned the #6 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 102 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Sonoma State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Sonoma State University generally make around $39,758. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fullerton landed the #7 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students 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 came in at #8 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Jose State University awarded about 53 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year.
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California State University Long Beach ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 293 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $31,802 in their early career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
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Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #10 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Riverside ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 83 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Riverside in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $23,203. Students borrow a median of $16,436 to complete this degree.
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Saint Marys College Of California placed #12 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. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Saint Marys College Of California awarded about 14 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Saint Marys College Of California earn around $56,094 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Marys College Of California graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Westmont College placed #13 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Westmont College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 13 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Westmont College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Westmont College earn around $44,240 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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California State University Fresno ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 481 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at California State University Fresno in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $25,349 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,662.
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California State University Bakersfield placed #15 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This large public university is located in the city of Bakersfield. 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 landed the #16 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Orange Coast College is a very large public school 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. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $24,128 early in their careers. Orange Coast College graduates carry a median of $6,955 in student loans.
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California State University Chico came in at #17 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. 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. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $27,196. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
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California State University Northridge earned the #18 position 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%. About 267 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $37,941. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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California State University San Bernardino came in at #19 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 269 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $24,979 in their early career. California State University San Bernardino graduates carry a median of $14,295 in student loans.
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California State University Sacramento earned the #20 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. 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. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona placed #21 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 139 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $25,168 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree.
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Fresno Pacific University earned the #22 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Fresno Pacific University earn a median of $60,890 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,596.
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Irvine Valley College came in at #23 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This large public university is located in the city of Irvine. Irvine Valley College awarded about 2,419 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Irvine Valley College graduates carry a median of $6,672 in student loans.
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California State University Monterey Bay came in at #24 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Seaside. California State University Monterey Bay graduates 59% of students within six years. There were roughly 238 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at California State University Monterey Bay in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $30,413 in their early career. California State University Monterey Bay graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
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California State University East Bay landed the #25 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 79 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $36,509 in their early career. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $15,944 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
These schools also placed among the best for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year:
This list is compiled 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 · 195 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).
