2027 Best Liberal Arts Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Liberal Arts 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 133 schools to find the best for liberal arts students.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall liberal arts education in the Middle Atlantic Region.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts
Georgetown University tops our 2027 ranking of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $66,719. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Stony Brook University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stony Brook University awarded about 27 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts 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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A rank of #3 makes New York University one of the top schools for liberal arts. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. New York University awarded about 658 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of New York University earn a median of $39,652 early in their careers. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,787 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the top schools for liberal arts. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 43 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $45,147. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
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Syracuse University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Syracuse University earn around $54,785 in the first couple years of their career. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans.
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Rowan University placed #6 among the best liberal arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glassboro. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 48 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Rowan University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Rowan University generally make around $43,486. Rowan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania earned the #7 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 110 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $68,293 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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Wilkes University placed #8 among the best liberal arts schools. 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 46 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts 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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Carnegie Mellon University placed #9 among the best liberal arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 37 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $89,327 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,515.
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University Of Scranton earned the #10 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Scranton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from University Of Scranton generally make around $56,861. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned the #11 position for liberal arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 109 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
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University Of Delaware ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. University Of Delaware awarded about 25 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $13,833 early in their careers. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans.
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Rider University placed #13 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Rider University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Rider University earn a median of $41,315 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,233.
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Drexel University came in at #14 for liberal arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Drexel University graduates 78% of students within six years. Drexel University awarded about 40 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $62,470 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,154.
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Cuny City College came in at #15 for liberal arts this year. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 76 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuny City College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $43,059 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,985 to complete this degree.
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Adelphi University earned the #16 position for liberal arts this year. Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Garden City. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 46 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Adelphi University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Adelphi University generally make around $51,037. Adelphi University graduates carry a median of $25,487 in student loans.
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Saint John Fisher College placed #17 among the best liberal arts schools. Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Saint John Fisher College graduates 74% of students within six years. About 13 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Saint John Fisher College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Saint John Fisher College earn around $55,630 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,086.
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Daemen College came in at #18 for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Amherst, Daemen College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 79 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Daemen College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Daemen College earn around $63,542 in the first couple years of their career. Daemen College graduates carry a median of $28,358 in student loans.
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Villanova University came in at #19 for liberal arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $52,183 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey earned the #20 position for liberal arts 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. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey awarded about 150 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey generally make around $42,209. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Union College New York came in at #21 for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Schenectady, Union College New York is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Union College New York graduates 80% of students within six years. Union College New York awarded about 41 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Union College New York generally make around $45,516. Union College New York graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans.
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Excelsior College landed the #22 spot for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Albany, Excelsior College is a large private not-for-profit institution. There were roughly 1,202 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Excelsior College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Excelsior College generally make around $51,447. Typical student debt for the program is $10,536.
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Salisbury University landed the #23 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Salisbury University awarded about 42 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Salisbury University earn a median of $38,478 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Dyouville College earned the #24 position for liberal arts this year. Dyouville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Buffalo. Dyouville College graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 168 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Dyouville College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Dyouville College generally make around $70,550. Typical student debt for the program is $30,232.
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Rutgers University Camden landed the #25 spot for liberal arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Camden. Rutgers University Camden graduates 67% of students within six years. Rutgers University Camden awarded about 37 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $35,768 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong liberal arts education:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 133 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.