Liberal Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 177 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best liberal arts schools.
Stanford University tops our 2026 ranking of the best liberal arts schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Stanford University awarded about 13 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $100,827 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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Loyola Marymount University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $52,935 early in their careers. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $22,248 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo one of the top schools for liberal arts. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. About 82 liberal arts degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $35,056 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong liberal arts program will find one at University Of San Diego, which ranked #4. University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. University Of San Diego graduates 84% of students within six years. University Of San Diego awarded about 13 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $68,281. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 265 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from San Diego State University earn around $23,190 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $12,496 in student loans.
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Sonoma State University placed #6 among the best liberal arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 102 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Sonoma State University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of $39,758 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
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California State University Fullerton earned the #7 position for liberal arts this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 154 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $24,706. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $13,535 in student loans.
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San Jose State University placed #8 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 47 liberal arts degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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California State University Long Beach ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 293 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $31,802 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
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Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #10 position for liberal arts this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 1,558 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans.
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University Of California Riverside earned the #11 position for liberal arts this year. University Of California Riverside is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 83 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Riverside in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $23,203. Typical student debt for the program is $16,436.
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Saint Marys College Of California ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Saint Marys College Of California graduates 70% of students within six years. Saint Marys College Of California awarded about 11 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Saint Marys College Of California generally make around $56,094. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Westmont College placed #13 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, Westmont College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 13 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Westmont College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Westmont College earn a median of $44,240 early in their careers. Westmont College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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California State University Fresno came in at #14 for liberal arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 481 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fresno in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $25,349. Typical student debt for the program is $13,662.
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California State University Bakersfield landed the #15 spot for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 325 liberal arts degrees were awarded at California State University Bakersfield in the most recent year.
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Orange Coast College earned the #16 position for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. About 2,059 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Orange Coast College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $24,128 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,955.
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California State University Chico earned the #17 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. California State University Chico graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 198 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $27,196. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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California State University Northridge came in at #18 for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 255 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $37,941. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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California State University San Bernardino ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts schools. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 269 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $24,979. Typical student debt for the program is $14,295.
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California State University Sacramento came in at #20 for liberal arts this year. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 136 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $30,286 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #21 spot for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 139 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $25,168 in their early career. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
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Fresno Pacific University came in at #22 for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Fresno Pacific University awarded about 136 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $60,890 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,596 to complete this degree.
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Irvine Valley College placed #23 among the best liberal arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Irvine. There were roughly 2,254 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Irvine Valley College in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete this degree.
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California State University Monterey Bay earned the #24 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public university. About 59% of students finish within six years. California State University Monterey Bay awarded about 131 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of California State University Monterey Bay earn a median of $30,413 early in their careers. California State University Monterey Bay graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
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California State University East Bay earned the #25 position for liberal arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. California State University East Bay graduates 48% of students within six years. California State University East Bay awarded about 79 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $36,509. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $15,944 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong liberal arts education:
This ranking is produced 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 · 177 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).
