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 41 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.
Our analysis ranked Saginaw Valley State University the top school for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings in Michigan. Located in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Saginaw Valley State University typically earn about $67,148 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Oakland Community College one of the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Oakland Community College make a median of around $42,546 per year.
Lake Superior State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Lake Superior State University is a public school located in the town of Sault Ste Marie. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Lake Superior State University earn a median of about $46,524 a year early in their careers.
Spring Arbor University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Spring Arbor University earn a median of about $49,430 a year early in their careers.
Baker College Of Flint produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Owosso, Baker College Of Flint 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 $53,139.
Grand Rapids Community College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of about $41,407 a year early in their careers.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College came in at #7 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Kalamazoo Valley Community College make a median of around $42,269 per year.
Oakland University landed the #8 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Oakland University is a public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,563.
Macomb Community College came in at #9 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Macomb Community College is a public school located in the city of Warren. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,394.
Monroe County Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Monroe County Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Monroe. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,350.
Delta College placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Delta College make a median of around $45,835 per year.
Kellogg Community College earned the #12 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Kellogg Community College earn a median of about $40,268 a year early in their careers.
Henry Ford Community College landed the #13 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Henry Ford Community College is a public school located in the city of Dearborn. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,198.
Siena Heights University landed the #14 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the town of Adrian, Siena Heights 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 $44,746.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $52,125 a year early in their careers.
Schoolcraft College placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Schoolcraft College is a public school located in the city of Livonia. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Schoolcraft College earn a median of about $41,546 a year early in their careers.
Cornerstone University earned the #17 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Cornerstone University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Cornerstone University make a median of around $43,478 per year.
Wayne County Community College District ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Wayne County Community College District is a public school located in the city of Detroit. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Wayne County Community College District typically earn about $38,337 annually.
Grand Valley State University landed the #19 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Grand Valley State University is a public school located in the town of Allendale. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Grand Valley State University typically earn about $53,130 annually.
St Clair County Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the suburb of Port Huron, St Clair County Community College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from St Clair County Community College typically earn about $38,340 annually.
Mott Community College landed the #21 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Flint, Mott Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Mott Community College earn a median of about $38,052 a year early in their careers.
University Of Michigan Dearborn landed the #22 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from University Of Michigan Dearborn make a median of around $46,711 per year.
Muskegon Community College earned the #23 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Muskegon Community College make a median of around $40,311 per year.
Lansing Community College landed the #24 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Lansing Community College earn a median of about $38,528 a year early in their careers.
Ferris State University landed the #25 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of about $43,033 a year early in their careers.
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 · 41 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.