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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 334 schools to find the best for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. 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. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $59,139 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,312.
See the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities program report for Northwestern University
University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, ranking #2. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 73 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $59,877 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from University Of Wisconsin Madison
Loyola University Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #3 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $7,761 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Loyola University Chicago
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 6,020 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $52,655 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,671.
See the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities program report for Indiana University Bloomington
University Of Notre Dame is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of Notre Dame earn around $45,579 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $18,800 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities details for University Of Notre Dame
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #6 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 58 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $38,065 early in their careers. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $20,728 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Harper College placed #7 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. About 1,962 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Harper College earn a median of $27,619 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program at Harper College
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #8 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 17 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $37,632 in their early career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities details for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Chicago ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 142 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $26,094 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
Get the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities details for University Of Chicago
College Of Dupage ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. College Of Dupage awarded about 729 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $28,678 in their early career. College Of Dupage graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities details for College Of Dupage
Xavier University landed the #11 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Xavier University awarded about 62 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $47,064 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Xavier University
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #12 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 78 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $79,921 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,917 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities program report for Purdue University Main Campus
Eastern Illinois University earned the #13 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. About 47% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 88 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $40,273 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Eastern Illinois University
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #14 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse awarded about 117 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $49,223 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates carry a median of $23,551 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities details for University Of Wisconsin La Crosse
College Of Lake County placed #15 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Grayslake. About 1,596 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at College Of Lake County in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $33,413 early in their careers. College Of Lake County graduates carry a median of $6,687 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities program report for College Of Lake County
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 13 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $54,302 in their early career. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Aurora University earned the #17 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Aurora. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Aurora University awarded about 22 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $44,614 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Aurora University
Joliet Junior College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. About 621 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Joliet Junior College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $27,296 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,250.
Read more about the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program at Joliet Junior College
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 40 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $32,604 early in their careers. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,784 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Rock Valley College landed the #20 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. Rock Valley College awarded about 502 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $27,601 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,035 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Rock Valley College
Illinois State University placed #21 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 121 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Illinois State University earn around $31,745 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,621.
Read more about the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program at Illinois State University
Elgin Community College came in at #22 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 1,223 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Elgin Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $25,377. Elgin Community College graduates carry a median of $8,380 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Elgin Community College
Ball State University landed the #23 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. Ball State University graduates 62% of students within six years. Ball State University awarded about 241 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $27,724. Typical student debt for the program is $26,965.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Ball State University
Lawrence Technological University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 18 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Lawrence Technological University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Lawrence Technological University earn around $74,924 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,799 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program at Lawrence Technological University
Ashland University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ashland. Ashland University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 50 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Ashland University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $48,852 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $3,008 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Ashland University
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 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 · 334 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).
