Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. 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 124 schools to find the best for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in New York
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. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Cornell University earn around $46,072 in the first couple years of their career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Cornell University
Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at Stony Brook University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 52 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Stony Brook University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $74,387 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at New York University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 762 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from New York University earn around $39,652 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,787.
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Suny At Binghamton is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #4 spot this year. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 25 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $51,766. Typical student debt for the program is $20,691.
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Syracuse University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, ranking #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 19 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $54,785 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,130 to complete this degree.
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Saint John Fisher College placed #6 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Saint John Fisher College generally make around $55,630. Students borrow a median of $25,086 to complete this degree.
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Yeshiva University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 10 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Yeshiva University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Yeshiva University earn around $52,838 in the first couple years of their career. Yeshiva University graduates carry a median of $20,625 in student loans.
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Cuny City College placed #8 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This large public university is located in the city of New York. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 77 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Cuny City College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $43,059 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,985.
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Daemen College earned the #9 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Amherst, Daemen College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Daemen College graduates 59% of students within six years. Daemen College awarded about 83 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Daemen College earn a median of $63,542 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,358 to complete this degree.
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State University Of New York At New Paltz ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of New Paltz. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 40 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at State University Of New York At New Paltz in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from State University Of New York At New Paltz earn around $41,000 in the first couple years of their career. State University Of New York At New Paltz graduates carry a median of $21,530 in student loans.
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Niagara University came in at #11 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Niagara University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Niagara University earn around $51,918 in the first couple years of their career. Niagara University graduates carry a median of $26,208 in student loans.
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Adelphi University landed the #12 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Adelphi University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 32 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Adelphi University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Adelphi University generally make around $51,037. Typical student debt for the program is $25,487.
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Suffolk County Community College landed the #13 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. Suffolk County Community College awarded about 1,084 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $26,874 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Suffolk County Community College
Union College New York came in at #14 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Schenectady, Union College New York is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Union College New York graduates 80% of students within six years. About 32 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Union College New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Union College New York earn around $45,516 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
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Farmingdale State College placed #15 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Farmingdale. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 166 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Farmingdale State College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Farmingdale State College earn a median of $22,443 early in their careers. Farmingdale State College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
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St Johns University New York came in at #16 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. St Johns University New York awarded about 25 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $57,686 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities program report for St Johns University New York
Excelsior College came in at #17 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Albany, Excelsior College is a large private not-for-profit university. Excelsior College awarded about 1,344 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $51,447 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,536.
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Dyouville College earned the #18 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Buffalo. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 136 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Dyouville College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $70,550 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,232.
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Suny College At Oswego earned the #19 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 11 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Suny College At Oswego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Suny College At Oswego generally make around $41,899. Students borrow a median of $25,163 to complete this degree.
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Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earned the #20 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $43,545 early in their careers. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $12,678 in student loans.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center landed the #21 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public university. There were roughly 97 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of $59,752 early in their careers. Cuny Graduate School And University Center graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans.
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Suny College At Cortland came in at #22 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suny College At Cortland awarded about 41 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $37,940 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,150 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Suny College At Cortland
Utica College earned the #23 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Utica. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 13 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Utica College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Utica College earn around $53,602 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,220.
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Suny College At Brockport ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public institution. Suny College At Brockport graduates 55% of students within six years. Suny College At Brockport awarded about 15 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Suny College At Brockport earn around $39,724 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,757 to complete this degree.
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Rochester Institute Of Technology came in at #25 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 121 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $36,318 early in their careers. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $28,000 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 · 124 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).
