2027 Best Liberal Arts Schools in the Southwest 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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 80 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for liberal arts students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Liberal Arts in the Southwest Region
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
Leading the list is The University Of Texas At Austin, our #1 school for liberal arts. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 200 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $69,994. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $19,052 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts details for The University Of Texas At Austin
Southern Methodist University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Southern Methodist University graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $57,967 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,712.
See the full liberal arts program report for Southern Methodist University
Northern Arizona University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 243 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $43,752. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $21,600 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Northern Arizona University
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Norman. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 166 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $55,222 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Abilene Christian University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Abilene, Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. About 27 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Abilene Christian University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $56,463 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Abilene Christian University
Collin County Community College District ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. About 1,473 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Collin County Community College District in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Collin County Community College District earn around $32,114 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Houston came in at #7 for liberal arts this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Houston awarded about 29 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from University Of Houston earn around $35,565 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
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Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Oklahoma State University Main Campus awarded about 27 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $37,938 in their early career. Oklahoma State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Texas Christian University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 55 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Texas Christian University earn around $42,008 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for Texas Christian University
Arizona State University landed the #10 spot for liberal arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 87 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Arizona State University earn around $44,173 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
See the full liberal arts program report for Arizona State University
West Texas A And M University earned the #11 position for liberal arts this year. This large public university is located in the town of Canyon. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. There were roughly 45 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at West Texas A And M University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from West Texas A And M University generally make around $40,793. West Texas A And M University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from West Texas A And M University
Lee College earned the #12 position for liberal arts this year. Lee College is a large public school located in the city of Baytown. There were roughly 489 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Lee College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $31,916 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,476.
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University Of Dallas landed the #13 spot for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Irving, University Of Dallas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. University Of Dallas graduates 73% of students within six years. About 10 liberal arts degrees were awarded at University Of Dallas in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from University Of Dallas earn around $58,396 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,411 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from University Of Dallas
Central Texas College earned the #14 position for liberal arts this year. Set in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public institution. About 418 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Central Texas College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $39,731 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,400 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Central Texas College
Stephen F Austin State University earned the #15 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public university. Stephen F Austin State University graduates 53% of students within six years. About 12 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Stephen F Austin State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Stephen F Austin State University earn around $42,197 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,759 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Stephen F Austin State University
University Of The Incarnate Word earned the #16 position for liberal arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Antonio. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 11 liberal arts degrees were awarded at University Of The Incarnate Word in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of The Incarnate Word earn a median of $47,241 early in their careers. University Of The Incarnate Word graduates carry a median of $21,004 in student loans.
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Lone Star College System landed the #17 spot for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. Lone Star College System awarded about 7,245 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Lone Star College System earn a median of $27,180 early in their careers. Lone Star College System graduates carry a median of $9,689 in student loans.
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Arizona State University Skysong placed #18 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public university. Arizona State University Skysong awarded about 351 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Arizona State University Skysong earn a median of $44,173 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
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Grayson College placed #19 among the best liberal arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Denison. Grayson College awarded about 508 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $34,262 in their early career. Grayson College graduates carry a median of $8,375 in student loans.
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Gateway Community College Phoenix earned the #20 position for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Phoenix is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 74 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Gateway Community College Phoenix in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Gateway Community College Phoenix generally make around $50,350. Typical student debt for the program is $15,736.
See the full liberal arts program report for Gateway Community College Phoenix
Phoenix College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public institution. There were roughly 246 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Phoenix College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Phoenix College earn around $31,709 in the first couple years of their career. Phoenix College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
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Glendale Community College Glendale Az earned the #22 position for liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public university. Glendale Community College Glendale Az awarded about 387 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn around $27,548 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,250.
See the full liberal arts program report for Glendale Community College Glendale Az
Scottsdale Community College earned the #23 position for liberal arts this year. Scottsdale Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Scottsdale. About 143 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Scottsdale Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Scottsdale Community College earn a median of $31,759 early in their careers. Scottsdale Community College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for Scottsdale Community College
Chandler Gilbert 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 Chandler. About 217 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Chandler Gilbert Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Chandler Gilbert Community College generally make around $33,709. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete this degree.
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Mesa Community College came in at #25 for liberal arts this year. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. Mesa Community College awarded about 354 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Mesa Community College earn around $46,084 in the first couple years of their career. Mesa Community College graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Mesa Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for liberal arts this year:
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More Liberal Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 80 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.
