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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Liberal Arts

1,585 Ranked Colleges
366,996 Degrees Awarded
$20,400 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 366,996 liberal arts students received their degree, making the major the 2nd most popular in the country.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major” ranking analyzed 1,585 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their liberal arts program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Liberal Arts

1
Chatfield College crest
Chatfield College
Saint Martin, Ohio

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Chatfield College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major list. Located in Saint Martin, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 25 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Chatfield College

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of South Carolina - Sumter. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major list. Sumter, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal studies degrees to 159 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Liberal Arts at University of South Carolina - Sumter

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of South Carolina - Salkehatchie. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major. This small school is located in Allendale, South Carolina, and it awarded 91 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at USC Salkehatchie

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major. This small school is located in Warner, New Hampshire, and it awarded 12 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts

1

Out of the 1,585 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Oxford College of Emory University landed the #1 spot on the list. Oxford College of Emory University is a small school located in Oxford, Georgia that handed out 452 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Oxford College of Emory University Liberal Arts Report

1
Providence Christian College crest
Providence Christian College
Pasadena, California

Out of the 1,585 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Providence Christian College landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 28 degrees to qualified ’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Providence Christian College Liberal Arts Report

1
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Thomas Aquinas College
Santa Paula, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Thomas Aquinas College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major. Thomas Aquinas College is a small school located in Santa Paula, California that handed out 79 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts at TAC

1
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Community Christian College
Redlands, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Community Christian College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major list. Community Christian College is a small school located in Redlands, California that handed out 14 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at CCC

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of South Carolina - Union. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major. USC Union is a small public school situated in Union, South Carolina. It awarded 117 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Liberal Arts at USC Union

1
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New Mexico Military Institute
Roswell, New Mexico

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New Mexico Military Institute. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major list. Located in Roswell, New Mexico, this small public school handed out 109 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.

Full NMMI Liberal Arts Report

11
St. John's Annapolis crest
St John's College
Annapolis, Maryland

With a ranking of #11, St John’s College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major list. St John’s College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Annapolis, Maryland. The school has a small population, and it awarded 101 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts at St John’s College

12
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Rainy River Community College
International Falls, Minnesota

Rainy River Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major list. Rainy River Community College is a public institution located in International Falls, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Rainy River Community College

13

Georgia State University-Perimeter College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major ranking. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this fairly large public school awarded 2,419 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Georgia State University-Perimeter College

14

With a ranking of #14, Southwestern Christian College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major list. Southwestern Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Terrell, Texas. It awarded 17 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Southwestern Christian College Liberal Arts Report

15
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Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, California

With a ranking of #15, Soka University of America did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major list. Soka University of America is a small school located in Aliso Viejo, California that handed out 85 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Soka University Liberal Arts Report

16
Louisburg College crest
Louisburg College
Louisburg, North Carolina

Louisburg College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major ranking, coming in at #16. Louisburg, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s liberal studies degrees to 74 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Louisburg College

17
Bergen Community College crest
Bergen Community College
Paramus, New Jersey

Bergen Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major ranking. Bergen Community College is a fairly large school located in Paramus, New Jersey that handed out 1,876 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Bergen Community College

18

New Saint Andrews College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major ranking. This small school is located in Moscow, Idaho, and it awarded 28 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at New Saint Andrews College

18

Pacific Islands University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major list. Pacific Islands University is a small school located in Mangilao, that handed out 8 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Pacific Islands University

20

Georgia Highlands College ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major list. Georgia Highlands College is a medium-sized school located in Rome, Georgia that handed out 782 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Georgia Highlands College

21
Sarah Lawrence crest
Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, New York

Sarah Lawrence College ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major list. Sarah Lawrence College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bronxville, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 295 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Sarah Lawrence College

22
OHIO Eastern crest
Ohio University - Eastern Campus
Saint Clairsville, Ohio

Ohio University - Eastern Campus came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major ranking. OHIO Eastern is a public institution located in Saint Clairsville, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Ohio University - Eastern Campus

23

Moberly Area Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major ranking. Moberly Area Community College is a small school located in Moberly, Missouri that handed out 652 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at MACC

24
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Assumption College for Sisters
Denville, New Jersey

Assumption College for Sisters landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major ranking. Assumption College for Sisters is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Denville, New Jersey. It awarded 10 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Assumption College for Sisters Liberal Arts Report

25
Evergreen crest
The Evergreen State College
Olympia, Washington

The Evergreen State College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major ranking, coming in at #25. Evergreen is a small public school situated in Olympia, Washington. It awarded 541 ’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Full The Evergreen State College Liberal Arts Report

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

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27
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Lake-Sumter State College
Leesburg, Florida
28
Tallahassee Community College crest
Tallahassee Community College
Tallahassee, Florida
29
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Motlow State Community College
Tullahoma, Tennessee
30
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St. John's College
Santa Fe, New Mexico
31
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Florida College
Temple Terrace, Florida
32
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Spartanburg Methodist College
Spartanburg, South Carolina
33
34
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Bard College at Simon's Rock
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
35
36
37
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Rowan College at Burlington County
Mount Laurel, New Jersey
38
39
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Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
40
41
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Warren County Community College
Washington, New Jersey
42
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Cascadia College
Bothell, Washington
43
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Santa Fe College
Gainesville, Florida
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45
46
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Columbia Basin College
Pasco, Washington
47
Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom crest
Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom
Lakewood, Washington
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49
50
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Wenatchee Valley College
Wenatchee, Washington

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Spokane Falls Community College Spokane, WA
52 Tri-County Community College Murphy, NC
53 Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids, MN
54 Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL
55 Pasco-Hernando State College New Port Richey, FL
56 Bowling Green State University - Firelands Huron, OH
57 St Clair County Community College Port Huron, MI
58 Bellevue College Bellevue, WA
59 Saint Louis Community College Saint Louis, MO
60 St Charles Community College Cottleville, MO
61 Miami Dade College Miami, FL
62 Lone Star College System The Woodlands, TX
63 Hillsborough Community College Tampa, FL
64 State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota Bradenton, FL
65 South Puget Sound Community College Olympia, WA
Rank College Location
66 Saint Johns River State College Palatka, FL
67 Southwest Tennessee Community College Memphis, TN
68 Leeward Community College Pearl City, HI
69 Clark College Vancouver, WA
70 Lower Columbia College Longview, WA
71 Blue Mountain Community College Pendleton, OR
72 Nashville State Community College Nashville, TN
73 Holy Cross College Notre Dame, IN
74 Normandale Community College Bloomington, MN
75 South Seattle College Seattle, WA
76 Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OH
77 Trinity Valley Community College Athens, TX
78 Wayne County Community College District Detroit, MI
79 State Fair Community College Sedalia, MO
80 Northwest Florida State College Niceville, FL
81 Little Priest Tribal College Winnebago, NE
82 Volunteer State Community College Gallatin, TN
83 Roane State Community College Harriman, TN
84 Donnelly College Kansas City, KS
85 Peninsula College Port Angeles, WA
86 Hesston College Hesston, KS
87 Polk State College Winter Haven, FL
88 Highline College Des Moines, WA
89 Coffeyville Community College Coffeyville, KS
90 Mineral Area College Park Hills, MO
Rank College Location
91 Carroll Community College Westminster, MD
92 College of Coastal Georgia Brunswick, GA
93 Johnson County Community College Overland Park, KS
94 Ellsworth Community College Iowa Falls, IA
95 Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville, TN
96 Yakima Valley College Yakima, WA
97 Cowley County Community College Arkansas City, KS
98 Muskegon Community College Muskegon, MI
99 Cloud County Community College Concordia, KS
100 Everett Community College Everett, WA
101 Monroe County Community College Monroe, MI
102 Daytona State College Daytona Beach, FL
103 Whitworth University - Adult Degree Programs Spokane, WA
104 Pearl River Community College Poplarville, MS
105 Pensacola State College Pensacola, FL
106 Jones County Junior College Ellisville, MS
107 Jackson State Community College Jackson, TN
108 Walters State Community College Morristown, TN
109 Lincoln Trail College Robinson, IL
110 Southwest Mississippi Community College Summit, MS
111 Cottey College Nevada, MO
112 St Petersburg College Clearwater, FL
113 Los Angeles Southwest College Los Angeles, CA
114 Williston State College Williston, ND
115 Stella and Charles Guttman Community College New York, NY
Rank College Location
116 Central Oregon Community College Bend, OR
117 Brunswick Community College Bolivia, NC
118 Lakeland Community College Kirtland, OH
119 Valencia College Orlando, FL
120 Mid-Plains Community College North Platte, NE
121 Southern State Community College Hillsboro, OH
122 Iowa Lakes Community College Estherville, IA
123 Eastern Florida State College Cocoa, FL
124 Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport, IA
125 East Georgia State College Swainsboro, GA
126 Heartland Community College Normal, IL
127 Northeast State Community College Blountville, TN
128 Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Cloquet, MN
129 Whatcom Community College Bellingham, WA
130 Jefferson College Hillsboro, MO
131 Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL
132 North Florida College Madison, FL
133 Colby Community College Colby, KS
134 Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga, TN
135 Centralia College Centralia, WA
136 McLennan Community College Waco, TX
137 West Shore Community College Scottville, MI
138 Grays Harbor College Aberdeen, WA
139 Treasure Valley Community College Ontario, OR
140 Kapiolani Community College Honolulu, HI
Rank College Location
141 New River Community College Dublin, VA
142 John Wood Community College Quincy, IL
143 Illinois Central College East Peoria, IL
144 North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IA
145 Big Bend Community College Moses Lake, WA
146 Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL
147 Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge, IA
148 Rock Valley College Rockford, IL
149 Frontier Community College Fairfield, IL
150 City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Chicago, IL
151 Columbia Gorge Community College The Dalles, OR
152 Mesabi Range College Virginia, MN
153 Vance-Granville Community College Henderson, NC
154 Germanna Community College Locust Grove, VA
155 Lorain County Community College Elyria, OH
156 University of Hawaii Maui College Kahului, HI
157 Potomac State College of West Virginia University Keyser, WV
158 College of the Albemarle Elizabeth City, NC
159 Shoreline Community College Shoreline, WA
160 Inver Hills Community College Inver Grove Heights, MN
161 Chemeketa Community College Salem, OR
162 West Valley College Saratoga, CA
163 Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn, NY
164 Itasca Community College Grand Rapids, MN
165 Central Lakes College - Brainerd Brainerd, MN
Rank College Location
166 Tacoma Community College Tacoma, WA
167 Gulf Coast State College Panama City, FL
168 Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC
169 Florida Gateway College Lake City, FL
170 Green River College Auburn, WA
171 Glenville State College Glenville, WV
172 Southside Virginia Community College Alberta, VA
173 Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA
174 Southeastern Community College West Burlington, IA
175 Bronx Community College Bronx, NY
176 Sussex County Community College Newton, NJ
177 Clatsop Community College Astoria, OR
178 Cape Fear Community College Wilmington, NC
179 Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA
180 Hawaii Community College Hilo, HI
181 Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
182 Butler Community College El Dorado, KS
183 Charter Oak State College New Britain, CT
184 Collin County Community College District McKinney, TX
185 Hibbing Community College Hibbing, MN
186 Marshalltown Community College Marshalltown, IA
187 Southeastern Community College Whiteville, NC
188 Northern Marianas College Saipan, MP
189 Hostos Community College Bronx, NY
190 Portland Community College Portland, OR
Rank College Location
191 Lake Superior College Duluth, MN
192 Roanoke-Chowan Community College Ahoskie, NC
193 Patrick Henry Community College Martinsville, VA
194 Southwestern Community College Creston, IA
195 Chipola College Marianna, FL
196 Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City, MO
197 Skagit Valley College Mount Vernon, WA
198 Paul D Camp Community College Franklin, VA
199 Southwestern Oregon Community College Coos Bay, OR
200 Prairie State College Chicago Heights, IL
201 Seattle Central College Seattle, WA
202 Bismarck State College Bismarck, ND
203 Middlesex County College Edison, NJ
204 Excelsior College Albany, NY
205 Western Piedmont Community College Morganton, NC
206 Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI
207 St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN
208 Lord Fairfax Community College Middletown, VA
209 Barton County Community College Great Bend, KS
210 South Florida State College Avon Park, FL
211 El Paso Community College El Paso, TX
212 Western Texas College Snyder, TX
213 Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, IL
214 Hutchinson Community College Hutchinson, KS
215 Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa, IA
Rank College Location
216 Mitchell Community College Statesville, NC
217 Southwest Virginia Community College Richlands, VA
218 Garden City Community College Garden City, KS
219 Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FL
220 Los Angeles Harbor College Wilmington, CA
221 Ocean County College Toms River, NJ
222 Oakton Community College Des Plaines, IL
223 Western Nevada College Carson City, NV
224 Camden County College Blackwood, NJ
225 Seward County Community College Liberal, KS
226 Sandhills Community College Pinehurst, NC
227 Fort Scott Community College Fort Scott, KS
228 North Central Missouri College Trenton, MO
229 McDowell Technical Community College Marion, NC
230 Labette Community College Parsons, KS
231 Elgin Community College Elgin, IL
232 Riverland Community College Austin, MN
233 American Samoa Community College PagoPago, AS
234 James Sprunt Community College Kenansville, NC
235 Eastern Shore Community College Melfa, VA
235 Ohio University - Lancaster Campus Lancaster, OH
237 Bakersfield College Bakersfield, CA
238 Hawkeye Community College Waterloo, IA

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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