by our College Data Analytics Team
[Liberal Arts And General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a liberal arts and general studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 100 schools on the early-career earnings of their liberal arts and general studies graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose liberal arts and general studies graduates go on to earn the most.
City College Of San Francisco earned the #1 spot for highest-paid liberal arts and general studies graduates in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,593.
A rank of #2 makes Skyline College one of the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Skyline College earn a median of about $75,221 a year early in their careers.
Evergreen Valley College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the city of San Jose, Evergreen Valley College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Evergreen Valley College make a median of around $69,528 per year.
Palomar College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,708.
College Of San Mateo produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. College Of San Mateo is a public school located in the city of San Mateo. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,571.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology came in at #6 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Lake Washington Institute Of Technology typically earn about $57,162 annually.
Chabot College landed the #7 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Chabot College typically earn about $57,032 annually.
Columbia Gorge Community College landed the #8 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Columbia Gorge Community College is a public school located in the town of The Dalles. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,004.
Berkeley City College came in at #9 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Berkeley City College is a public school located in the city of Berkeley. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Berkeley City College typically earn about $50,844 annually.
College Of Marin placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the suburb of Kentfield, College Of Marin is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from College Of Marin make a median of around $50,813 per year.
Folsom Lake College placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the city of Folsom, Folsom Lake College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Folsom Lake College make a median of around $67,077 per year.
Seattle Community College North Campus placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Seattle Community College North Campus is a public school located in the city of Seattle. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Seattle Community College North Campus earn a median of about $50,310 a year early in their careers.
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. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of about $61,710 a year early in their careers.
Pasadena City College landed the #14 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Pasadena City College is a public school located in the city of Pasadena. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,797.
Fresno City College came in at #15 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of about $49,695 a year early in their careers.
Mission College placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Mission College is a public school located in the city of Santa Clara. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,356.
National University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. National University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from National University typically earn about $63,201 annually.
University Of Alaska Southeast placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the rural area of Juneau, University Of Alaska Southeast is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of University Of Alaska Southeast earn a median of about $49,377 a year early in their careers.
Pepperdine University landed the #19 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of about $59,815 a year early in their careers.
Grossmont College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Grossmont College is a public school located in the suburb of El Cajon. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Grossmont College earn a median of about $48,052 a year early in their careers.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #21 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,921.
Northwest University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the suburb of Kirkland, Northwest University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Northwest University typically earn about $47,645 annually.
Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies came in at #23 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Kirkland, Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies 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 $47,645.
Saint Marys College Of California landed the #24 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit institution. 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.
California State University Bakersfield placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from California State University Bakersfield make a median of around $58,622 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning liberal arts and general studies graduates:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their liberal arts and general studies graduates, 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.