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 56 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.
Depaul University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Depaul University typically earn about $86,015 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Kankakee Community College one of the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Kankakee Community College earn a median of about $45,689 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earned it the #3 place for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,897.
Students chasing top earnings in liberal arts and general studies will find them at University Of Illinois At Springfield, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,005.
Saint Xavier University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Saint Xavier University make a median of around $52,042 per year.
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #6 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,528.
College Of Dupage ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from College Of Dupage typically earn about $56,318 annually.
College Of Lake County came in at #8 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. College Of Lake County is a public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from College Of Lake County typically earn about $48,288 annually.
Sauk Valley Community College came in at #9 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Sauk Valley Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Dixon. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,878.
Prairie State College earned the #10 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Chicago Heights, Prairie 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 $42,077.
Elgin Community College earned the #11 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Elgin Community College is a public school located in the city of Elgin. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Elgin Community College make a median of around $46,988 per year.
Chicago State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,102.
Eastern Illinois University earned the #13 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Eastern Illinois University is a public school located in the town of Charleston. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of about $53,353 a year early in their careers.
Morton College placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Morton College is a public school located in the suburb of Cicero. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Morton College make a median of around $41,269 per year.
Heartland Community College landed the #15 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Heartland Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,103.
Harper College earned the #16 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Harper College make a median of around $46,636 per year.
Joliet Junior College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of about $46,806 a year early in their careers.
City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College make a median of around $43,880 per year.
Illinois Central College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,495.
Aurora University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University 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 $44,614.
Northeastern Illinois University landed the #21 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,509.
Highland Community College Freeport ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Highland Community College Freeport is a public school located in the rural area of Freeport. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Highland Community College Freeport typically earn about $40,629 annually.
Kaskaskia College came in at #23 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Kaskaskia College is a public school located in the rural area of Centralia. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Kaskaskia College make a median of around $39,422 per year.
Triton College came in at #24 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Triton College is a public school located in the suburb of River Grove. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Triton College make a median of around $43,085 per year.
Governors State University came in at #25 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,379.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning liberal arts and general studies graduates:
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 · 56 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.