Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 91 schools to find the best for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in Illinois
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 72 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $59,139. Students borrow a median of $19,312 to complete this degree.
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Loyola University Chicago came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 38 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $58,568 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,761 to complete this degree.
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Harper College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Palatine. Harper College awarded about 1,962 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $27,619 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,500.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at University Of Chicago, which ranked #4. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school 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.
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College Of Dupage came in at #5 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. About 729 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at College Of Dupage in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $28,678 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500.
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Eastern Illinois University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This large public university is located in the town of Charleston. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. 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. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
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College Of Lake County came in at #7 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. College Of Lake County is a very large public school 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. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $33,413. Students borrow a median of $6,687 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from College Of Lake County
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #8 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 13 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn around $54,302 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,917.
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Aurora University earned the #9 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Joliet Junior College landed the #10 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. There were roughly 621 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Joliet Junior College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $27,296. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete this degree.
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Rock Valley College landed the #11 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 502 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Rock Valley College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Rock Valley College earn around $27,601 in the first couple years of their career. Rock Valley College graduates carry a median of $7,035 in student loans.
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Illinois State University placed #12 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students 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. Students borrow a median of $23,621 to complete this degree.
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Elgin Community College earned the #13 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Elgin Community College awarded about 1,223 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $25,377 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,380 to complete this degree.
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Kankakee Community College landed the #14 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 176 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Kankakee Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $60,509 in their early career. Kankakee Community College graduates carry a median of $5,900 in student loans.
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Waubonsee Community College earned the #15 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Waubonsee Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Sugar Grove. About 495 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Waubonsee Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Waubonsee Community College earn a median of $27,597 early in their careers. Waubonsee Community College graduates carry a median of $7,250 in student loans.
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Lincoln Land Community College placed #16 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 383 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Lincoln Land Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $34,164. Students borrow a median of $11,022 to complete this degree.
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Northern Illinois University landed the #17 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 93 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $29,426 early in their careers. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $30,839 in student loans.
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City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College placed #18 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. About 767 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earn a median of $31,322 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,348.
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Oakton Community College earned the #19 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Oakton Community College is a large public school located in the city of Des Plaines. There were roughly 1,011 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Oakton Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $24,918. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
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Northeastern Illinois University earned the #20 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. About 22% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 77 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $42,976. Northeastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
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Morton College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Cicero, Morton College is a moderately-sized public university. Morton College awarded about 183 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Morton College earn around $31,829 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
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Depaul University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Depaul University awarded about 47 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $73,200 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $42,350 to complete this degree.
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Illinois Central College earned the #23 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of East Peoria. Illinois Central College awarded about 2,272 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Illinois Central College earn around $29,845 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,656 to complete this degree.
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Heartland Community College placed #24 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 626 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Heartland Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Heartland Community College earn around $31,250 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
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Triton College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public institution. Triton College awarded about 546 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Triton College earn around $27,342 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,500.
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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 · 91 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).
