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:
Below are the schools whose liberal arts and general studies graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Massachusetts Institute Of Technology the top school for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings in the United States. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of about $103,135 a year early in their careers.
Georgetown University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Georgetown University typically earn about $119,188 annually.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo typically earn about $86,939 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Depaul University one of the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Depaul University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Depaul University earn a median of about $86,015 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in liberal arts and general studies will find them at Molloy College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Rockville Centre, Molloy College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Molloy College make a median of around $74,868 per year.
Southern Methodist University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of about $74,509 a year early in their careers.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus typically earn about $73,422 annually.
Champlain College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Champlain College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Burlington. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Champlain College typically earn about $57,437 annually.
Drexel University came in at #9 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Drexel University make a median of around $68,119 per year.
Thomas More College earned the #10 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Thomas More College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Crestview Hills. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Thomas More College typically earn about $62,607 annually.
University Of Notre Dame came in at #11 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from University Of Notre Dame make a median of around $87,620 per year.
American Public University System placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. American Public University System is a private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,059.
Loyola Marymount University earned the #13 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Loyola Marymount University make a median of around $61,710 per year.
Yale University earned the #14 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Yale University typically earn about $61,133 annually.
Fordham University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Fordham University make a median of around $61,011 per year.
Sacred Heart University placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Sacred Heart University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Sacred Heart University make a median of around $60,911 per year.
Saint Josephs University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Saint Josephs University typically earn about $70,905 annually.
Misericordia University came in at #18 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Misericordia University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Misericordia University make a median of around $60,121 per year.
Pepperdine University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Pepperdine University typically earn about $59,815 annually.
University Of Central Arkansas ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. University Of Central Arkansas is a public school located in the city of Conway. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from University Of Central Arkansas make a median of around $59,511 per year.
Saint Marys College Of California landed the #21 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moraga. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Saint Marys College Of California earn a median of about $63,470 a year early in their careers.
Marymount University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Marymount University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Arlington. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Marymount University make a median of around $58,628 per year.
California State University Bakersfield landed the #23 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of California State University Bakersfield earn a median of about $58,622 a year early in their careers.
Oklahoma City University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Oklahoma City University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Oklahoma City. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Oklahoma City University typically earn about $58,103 annually.
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Southern New Hampshire University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manchester. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Southern New Hampshire University earn a median of about $61,845 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 institutions also earned high marks for liberal arts and general studies graduate pay:
A few more high-earning liberal arts and general studies schools worth a look:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Liberal Arts And General Studies rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published 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.