2027 Best Liberal Arts Schools in North Carolina
Liberal Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 69 schools to find the best for liberal arts students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Liberal Arts in North Carolina
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 degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in liberal arts. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $37,709 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #2. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 25 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $45,181 early in their careers. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $25,993 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Wake Technical Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #3. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. About 1,633 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Wake Technical Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Wake Technical Community College earn a median of $30,373 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Wake Technical Community College
A rank of #4 makes Western Carolina University one of the top schools for liberal arts. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Western Carolina University awarded about 11 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $44,926. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full liberal arts details for Western Carolina University
A rank of #5 makes Central Piedmont Community College one of the top schools for liberal arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Charlotte. There were roughly 1,869 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $24,056 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,104 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Central Piedmont Community College
East Carolina University earned the #6 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. East Carolina University awarded about 212 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $36,809 in their early career. East Carolina University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at East Carolina University
Cape Fear Community College placed #7 among the best liberal arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Wilmington. About 1,096 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Cape Fear Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $30,056 in their early career. Cape Fear Community College graduates carry a median of $8,734 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Cape Fear Community College
Randolph Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Asheboro. There were roughly 158 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Randolph Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Randolph Community College earn around $40,145 in the first couple years of their career.
See the full liberal arts program report for Randolph Community College
Gaston College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public university. Gaston College awarded about 410 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Gaston College generally make around $26,838. Gaston College graduates carry a median of $6,334 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for Gaston College
Catawba Valley Community College came in at #10 for liberal arts this year. Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Hickory. About 456 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Catawba Valley Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $23,951 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,429.
See the full liberal arts program report for Catawba Valley Community College
Wayne Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Goldsboro. There were roughly 244 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Wayne Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $26,028 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
Get the full liberal arts details for Wayne Community College
Rowan Cabarrus Community College earned the #12 position for liberal arts this year. Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salisbury. There were roughly 388 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Rowan Cabarrus Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Rowan Cabarrus Community College generally make around $27,726. Rowan Cabarrus Community College graduates carry a median of $8,719 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Rowan Cabarrus Community College
Alamance Community College placed #13 among the best liberal arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Graham. Alamance Community College awarded about 307 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $26,855 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Alamance Community College
Stanly Community College earned the #14 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public university. Stanly Community College awarded about 160 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Stanly Community College earn around $28,120 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Stanly Community College
Forsyth Technical Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. Forsyth Technical Community College awarded about 554 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Forsyth Technical Community College earn around $25,355 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full liberal arts details for Forsyth Technical Community College
Surry Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the rural area of Dobson, Surry Community College is a mid-sized public university. Surry Community College awarded about 216 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $24,635 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
Get the full liberal arts details for Surry Community College
Beaufort County Community College earned the #17 position for liberal arts this year. Set in the rural area of Washington, Beaufort County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Beaufort County Community College awarded about 202 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Beaufort County Community College generally make around $38,009. Students borrow a median of $7,947 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Beaufort County Community College
Mitchell Community College landed the #18 spot for liberal arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Statesville. Mitchell Community College awarded about 299 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Mitchell Community College earn around $27,667 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,313 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Mitchell Community College
Montgomery Community College earned the #19 position for liberal arts this year. Set in the rural area of Troy, Montgomery Community College is a small public institution. There were roughly 66 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Montgomery Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Montgomery Community College generally make around $38,983.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Montgomery Community College
Pitt Community College landed the #20 spot for liberal arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Winterville. About 365 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Pitt Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Pitt Community College earn a median of $43,022 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,550 to complete this degree.
Get the full liberal arts details for Pitt Community College
Lenoir Community College landed the #21 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Kinston, Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 154 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Lenoir Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Lenoir Community College earn a median of $33,374 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,118.
Get the full liberal arts details for Lenoir Community College
Fayetteville Technical Community College earned the #22 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. About 319 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Fayetteville Technical Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $36,276 early in their careers. Fayetteville Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $12,037 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Fayetteville Technical Community College
Durham Technical Community College landed the #23 spot for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 278 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Durham Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College generally make around $23,876. Typical student debt for the program is $11,321.
See the full liberal arts program report for Durham Technical Community College
Rockingham Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Rockingham Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Wentworth. About 147 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Rockingham Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Rockingham Community College earn around $30,865 in the first couple years of their career. Rockingham Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Rockingham Community College
Johnston Community College landed the #25 spot for liberal arts this year. Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Smithfield. About 302 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Johnston Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $25,872 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,812.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Johnston Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for liberal arts this year:
More Liberal Arts Rankings
View All Liberal Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 69 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.
