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2027 Best Liberal Arts Schools in New York

54 Colleges in the United States
6,401 Liberal Arts Degrees Awarded
$36,284 Avg Early-Career Salary

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 54 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best liberal arts schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Liberal Arts in New York

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall liberal arts education in New York.

Top Schools in Liberal Arts

1
Stony Brook University crest
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY

No school ranked higher than Stony Brook University this year for liberal arts. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Stony Brook University graduates 76% of students within six years. About 27 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Stony Brook University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $74,387 early in their careers. Stony Brook University graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans. Read more about the liberal arts program at Stony Brook University

2
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

New York University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 658 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from New York University generally make around $39,652. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,787 in student loans. Read more about the liberal arts program at New York University

3
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Students looking for a strong liberal arts program will find one at Syracuse University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $54,785. Typical student debt for the program is $26,130. Get the full liberal arts details for Syracuse University

4
Cuny City College crest
Cuny City College
New York, NY

Cuny City College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny City College awarded about 76 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $43,059. Typical student debt for the program is $12,985. Read more about the liberal arts program at Cuny City College

5
Adelphi University crest
Adelphi University
Garden City, NY

Adelphi University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. 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%. About 46 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Adelphi University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Adelphi University generally make around $51,037. Students borrow a median of $25,487 to complete this degree. Read more about the liberal arts program at Adelphi University

6

Saint John Fisher College came in at #6 for liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Saint John Fisher College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Saint John Fisher College earn a median of $55,630 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,086. Get the full liberal arts details for Saint John Fisher College

7
Daemen College crest
Daemen College
Amherst, NY

Daemen College landed the #7 spot for liberal arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Amherst. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 79 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Daemen College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $63,542 in their early career. Daemen College graduates carry a median of $28,358 in student loans. Get the full liberal arts details for Daemen College

8
Union College New York crest
Union College New York
Schenectady, NY

Union College New York landed the #8 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Schenectady, Union College New York is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 41 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Union College New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts 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. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Union College New York

9
Excelsior College crest
Excelsior College
Albany, NY

Excelsior College came in at #9 for liberal arts this year. Excelsior College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Albany. About 1,202 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Excelsior College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Excelsior College earn around $51,447 in the first couple years of their career. Excelsior College graduates carry a median of $10,536 in student loans. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Excelsior College

10
Dyouville College crest
Dyouville College
Buffalo, NY

Dyouville College landed the #10 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Buffalo, Dyouville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 168 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Dyouville College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $70,550 in their early career. Dyouville College graduates carry a median of $30,232 in student loans. See the full liberal arts program report for Dyouville College

11

Suffolk County Community College placed #11 among the best liberal arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Selden. Suffolk County Community College awarded about 58 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $26,874 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,000. Get the full liberal arts details for Suffolk County Community College

12

Suny College At Oswego came in at #12 for liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suny College At Oswego awarded about 19 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Suny College At Oswego earn around $41,899 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,163 to complete this degree. See the full liberal arts program report for Suny College At Oswego

13

Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #13 for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public institution. Cuny Graduate School And University Center awarded about 98 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of $59,752 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete this degree. See the full liberal arts program report for Cuny Graduate School And University Center

14
Niagara University crest
Niagara University
Niagara University, NY

Niagara University landed the #14 spot for liberal arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Niagara University. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 15 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Niagara University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Niagara University earn a median of $51,918 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,208. Read more about the liberal arts program at Niagara University

15

Suny Westchester Community College earned the #15 position for liberal arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Valhalla. There were roughly 91 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Suny Westchester Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Suny Westchester Community College earn a median of $30,417 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,764. Read more about the liberal arts program at Suny Westchester Community College

16
Nassau Community College crest
Nassau Community College
Garden City, NY

Nassau Community College earned the #16 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 59 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Nassau Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $27,510 early in their careers. Nassau Community College graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Nassau Community College

17
St Francis College crest
St Francis College
Brooklyn, NY

St Francis College came in at #17 for liberal arts this year. St Francis College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 55 liberal arts degrees were awarded at St Francis College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $40,678 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,613. Read more about the liberal arts program at St Francis College

18
Suny Empire State College crest
Suny Empire State College
Saratoga Springs, NY

Suny Empire State College placed #18 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. Suny Empire State College graduates 36% of students within six years. Suny Empire State College awarded about 39 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Suny Empire State College earn around $58,140 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,693. See the full liberal arts program report for Suny Empire State College

19
Touro College crest
Touro College
New York, NY

Touro College came in at #19 for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of New York, Touro College is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 150 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Touro College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Touro College earn around $30,786 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree. See the full liberal arts program report for Touro College

20

Pace University New York landed the #20 spot for liberal arts this year. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pace University New York awarded about 18 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $25,595 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,229. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Pace University New York

21

Cuny Lehman College landed the #21 spot for liberal arts this year. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 21 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Lehman College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $54,729 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,213 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Cuny Lehman College

22
The New School crest
The New School
New York, NY

The New School placed #22 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. The New School awarded about 76 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $27,701 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,750. Read more about the liberal arts program at The New School

23

Cuny College Of Staten Island placed #23 among the best liberal arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Staten Island. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny College Of Staten Island awarded about 258 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Cuny College Of Staten Island earn a median of $24,758 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,498 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in liberal arts from Cuny College Of Staten Island

24

Cuny Kingsborough Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Brooklyn. About 441 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Kingsborough Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $27,831 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,115 to complete this degree. See the full liberal arts program report for Cuny Kingsborough Community College

25

Saint Josephs College New York landed the #25 spot for liberal arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Brooklyn. Saint Josephs College New York graduates 69% of students within six years. Saint Josephs College New York awarded about 40 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Saint Josephs College New York earn around $38,090 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Josephs College New York graduates carry a median of $26,625 in student loans. Read more about the liberal arts program at Saint Josephs College New York

Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong liberal arts education:

26
27
28
29
Bard College crest
Bard College
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
30
Sarah Lawrence College crest
Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, NY
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
Mercy College crest
Mercy College
Dobbs Ferry, NY
38
39
40
41
Cuny Laguardia Community College crest
Cuny Laguardia Community College
Long Island City, NY
42
Dutchess Community College crest
Dutchess Community College
Poughkeepsie, NY
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50

View All Liberal Arts Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 54 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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