Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 318 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in the Middle Atlantic Region
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 Cornell University, our #1 school for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 18 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $46,072 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Cornell University
Georgetown University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #2 spot this year. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 64 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Georgetown University earn around $66,719 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes Stony Brook University one of the top schools for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Stony Brook University graduates 76% of students within six years. Stony Brook University awarded about 52 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data 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. Stony Brook University graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities program report for Stony Brook University
New York University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 762 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of New York University earn a median of $39,652 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,787 to complete this degree.
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Rowan University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Rowan University awarded about 183 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $43,486 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities program report for Rowan University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #6 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 39 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
See the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Suny At Binghamton came in at #7 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. Suny At Binghamton graduates 82% of students within six years. Suny At Binghamton awarded about 25 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Suny At Binghamton earn around $51,766 in the first couple years of their career. Suny At Binghamton graduates carry a median of $20,691 in student loans.
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Towson University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. Towson University graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Towson University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $50,370 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,241 to complete this degree.
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Wilkes University landed the #9 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Wilkes University awarded about 57 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Wilkes University generally make around $64,004. Wilkes University graduates carry a median of $26,601 in student loans.
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Syracuse University earned the #10 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 19 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Syracuse University earn around $54,785 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,130.
See the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities program report for Syracuse University
Carnegie Mellon University placed #11 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 36 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Students borrow a median of $25,515 to complete this degree.
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Seton Hall University landed the #12 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Seton Hall University awarded about 68 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Seton Hall University generally make around $36,993. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Seton Hall University
George Washington University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. George Washington University awarded about 11 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $73,749 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from George Washington University
Rider University placed #14 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. Rider University graduates 61% of students within six years. About 28 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Rider University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Rider University generally make around $41,315. Typical student debt for the program is $22,233.
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University Of Pennsylvania came in at #15 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 122 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $68,293 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
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University Of Delaware came in at #16 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. University Of Delaware awarded about 194 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $13,833 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete this degree.
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West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #17 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania graduates 70% of students within six years. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 117 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year.
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Saint John Fisher College came in at #18 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 20 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Saint John Fisher College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Saint John Fisher College earn a median of $55,630 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,086.
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Yeshiva University landed the #19 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Yeshiva University graduates 85% of students within six years. Yeshiva University awarded about 10 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $52,838 in their early career. Yeshiva University graduates carry a median of $20,625 in student loans.
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Salisbury University came in at #20 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salisbury. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 45 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Salisbury University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $38,478 in their early career. Salisbury University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Villanova University came in at #21 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. Villanova University awarded about 32 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $52,183 in their early career. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Villanova University
Johns Hopkins University landed the #22 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $45,147 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
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Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania placed #23 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This large public university is located in the town of Bloomsburg. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
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The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey came in at #24 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the rural area of Galloway. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey graduates 68% of students within six years. About 193 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey earn a median of $42,209 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey
Cuny City College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This large public university is located in the city of New York. Cuny City College graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 77 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Cuny City College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $43,059 in their early career. Cuny City College graduates carry a median of $12,985 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. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 318 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).
