Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts / sciences & humanities programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 589 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in the Southeast 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
Our analysis ranked University Of Virginia Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 705 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $69,126 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
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A rank of #2 makes Wake Forest University one of the top schools for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wake Forest 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 $67,369 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes James Madison University one of the top schools for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. About 80% of students finish within six years. James Madison University awarded about 134 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $49,408. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Georgia came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 13 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $53,546 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,792.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at George Mason University, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 390 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $41,398. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
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Duke University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. There were roughly 24 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Duke University earn around $51,346 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete this degree.
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University Of Florida placed #7 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Florida awarded about 106 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of Florida earn around $58,388 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #8 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 15 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $37,709 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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University Of Miami landed the #9 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% 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 Miami in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $50,614 early in their careers. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $28,590 in student loans.
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Auburn University came in at #10 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Auburn 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 $55,422 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,803.
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University Of Central Florida placed #11 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. About 78% of students finish within six years. About 417 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at University Of Central Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of Central Florida earn around $48,391 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,135.
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University Of Richmond landed the #12 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. University Of Richmond graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Richmond awarded about 21 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of Richmond generally make around $53,815. University Of Richmond graduates carry a median of $21,634 in student loans.
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Florida State University placed #13 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 216 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Florida State University earn around $35,361 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,349 to complete this degree.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #14 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 63 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $45,181. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $25,993 in student loans.
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University Of Mary Washington placed #15 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public university. University Of Mary Washington graduates 66% of students within six years. About 45 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at University Of Mary Washington in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from University Of Mary Washington earn around $37,677 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,354 to complete this degree.
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Tennessee Technological University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Tennessee Technological University awarded about 58 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $48,808 early in their careers. Tennessee Technological University graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans.
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Longwood University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public institution. Longwood University graduates 61% of students within six years. Longwood University awarded about 35 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $46,714 early in their careers. Longwood University graduates carry a median of $25,375 in student loans.
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Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #18 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. Florida Gulf Coast University graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 333 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Florida Gulf Coast University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $50,726 in their early career. Florida Gulf Coast University graduates carry a median of $20,015 in student loans.
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University Of North Florida earned the #19 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 198 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $49,208 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,523 to complete this degree.
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Edison State College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Edison State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. About 1,506 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Edison State College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Edison State College earn around $27,740 in the first couple years of their career. Edison State College graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans.
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University Of The Cumberlands came in at #21 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of The Cumberlands graduates 50% of students within six years. University Of The Cumberlands awarded about 278 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of The Cumberlands generally make around $50,547. Typical student debt for the program is $22,868.
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Broward College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Broward College is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. There were roughly 3,513 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Broward College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $28,775 in their early career. Broward College graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #23 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. About 77% of students finish within six years. University Of South Florida Main Campus awarded about 421 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $45,230 early in their careers. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $30,676 in student loans.
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Palm Beach State College came in at #24 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. About 2,802 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Palm Beach State College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Palm Beach State College generally make around $29,805. Palm Beach State College graduates carry a median of $8,125 in student loans.
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Bellarmine University landed the #25 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Louisville. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bellarmine University awarded about 22 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Bellarmine University earn a median of $46,024 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,766.
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Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities education:
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 · 589 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).
