by our College Data Analytics Team
[Liberal Arts And General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a liberal arts and general studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where liberal arts and general studies graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send liberal arts and general studies graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in liberal arts and general studies, no school beat City College Of San Francisco this year. City College Of San Francisco is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from City College Of San Francisco typically earn about $96,593 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in liberal arts and general studies will find them at Mission College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Mission College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Mission College typically earn about $77,684 annually.
Skyline College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,221.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the town of Bartlesville, Oklahoma Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Oklahoma Wesleyan University make a median of around $70,869 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Evergreen Valley College one of the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the city of San Jose, Evergreen Valley College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Evergreen Valley College earn a median of about $69,528 a year early in their careers.
Palomar College earned the #6 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Palomar College is a public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Palomar College earn a median of about $67,708 a year early in their careers.
College Of San Mateo landed the #7 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from College Of San Mateo make a median of around $64,571 per year.
Maria College Of Albany ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the city of Albany, Maria College Of Albany is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Maria College Of Albany earn a median of about $60,857 a year early in their careers.
Columbia Southern University came in at #9 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Columbia Southern University earn a median of about $66,199 a year early in their careers.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology came in at #10 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,162.
American Public University System ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. American Public University System is a private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from American Public University System make a median of around $64,517 per year.
Chabot College came in at #12 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,032.
Rio Salado College came in at #13 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of about $55,835 a year early in their careers.
Albertus Magnus College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Albertus Magnus College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,801.
Thomas Edison State College came in at #15 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Trenton, Thomas Edison State College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,351.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public school located in the city of La Crosse. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,075.
Miles Community College earned the #17 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Miles City, Miles Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Miles Community College earn a median of about $54,815 a year early in their careers.
Lamar State College Orange landed the #18 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,588.
Marion Technical College placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Marion Technical College is a public school located in the town of Marion. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Marion Technical College typically earn about $57,300 annually.
Suny Empire State College placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Suny Empire State College typically earn about $53,804 annually.
Cecil College placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the rural area of North East, Cecil College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,044.
Columbia Gorge Community College came in at #22 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of The Dalles, Columbia Gorge Community College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Columbia Gorge Community College typically earn about $53,004 annually.
Mid America Christian University placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Mid America Christian University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Oklahoma City. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Mid America Christian University make a median of around $52,630 per year.
Excelsior College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Excelsior College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Albany. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Excelsior College typically earn about $53,789 annually.
Oklahoma Panhandle State University came in at #25 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Goodwell, Oklahoma Panhandle State University is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Oklahoma Panhandle State University earn a median of about $42,753 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid liberal arts and general studies ranking:
These schools also placed among the highest-paying for liberal arts and general studies graduates this year:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Liberal Arts And General Studies rankings across degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries liberal arts and general studies graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.