by our College Data Analytics Team
[Liberal Arts And General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 55 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 Marion Technical College this year. Marion Technical College is a public school located in the town of Marion. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,300.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Steubenville. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Franciscan University Of Steubenville typically earn about $43,602 annually.
Xavier University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Xavier University earn a median of about $61,535 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Northwest State Community College earned it the #4 place for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the rural area of Archbold, Northwest State Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Northwest State Community College make a median of around $41,703 per year.
Columbus State Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Columbus State Community College make a median of around $40,452 per year.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And 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 $42,475.
Shawnee State University landed the #7 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the town of Portsmouth, Shawnee State University is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Shawnee State University typically earn about $48,767 annually.
Kent State University At East Liverpool ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Kent State University At East Liverpool is a public school located in the town of East Liverpool. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Kent State University At East Liverpool earn a median of about $43,610 a year early in their careers.
Kent State University At Salem ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the rural area of Salem, Kent State University At Salem is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Kent State University At Salem earn a median of about $43,610 a year early in their careers.
Kent State University At Stark came in at #10 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Kent State University At Stark is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Kent State University At Stark typically earn about $43,627 annually.
Kent State University At Geauga came in at #11 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Burton, Kent State University At Geauga is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Kent State University At Geauga typically earn about $43,866 annually.
Kent State University At Ashtabula ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Kent State University At Ashtabula is a public school located in the town of Ashtabula. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Kent State University At Ashtabula typically earn about $43,957 annually.
Kent State University At Tuscarawas placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the town of New Philadelphia, Kent State University At Tuscarawas is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Kent State University At Tuscarawas make a median of around $44,039 per year.
Kent State University At Trumbull earned the #14 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Warren, Kent State University At Trumbull is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Kent State University At Trumbull make a median of around $44,380 per year.
University Of Akron Wayne College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the rural area of Orrville, University Of Akron Wayne College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from University Of Akron Wayne College make a median of around $46,338 per year.
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #16 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,480.
Antioch University Midwest earned the #17 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Antioch University Midwest is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Yellow Springs. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,020.
University Of Mount Union came in at #18 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Alliance, University Of Mount Union is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from University Of Mount Union make a median of around $56,981 per year.
Ohio State University Lima Campus placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the rural area of Lima, Ohio State University Lima Campus is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Ohio State University Lima Campus make a median of around $45,755 per year.
Ohio State University Mansfield Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the rural area of Mansfield, Ohio State University Mansfield Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,755.
Ohio State University Marion Campus came in at #21 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Ohio State University Marion Campus is a public school located in the town of Marion. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,755.
Ohio State University Newark Campus landed the #22 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, Ohio State University Newark Campus is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Ohio State University Newark Campus typically earn about $45,755 annually.
Owens Community College came in at #23 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Owens Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Owens Community College typically earn about $42,183 annually.
Central Ohio Technical College placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the suburb of Newark, Central Ohio Technical College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Central Ohio Technical College earn a median of about $36,823 a year early in their careers.
Belmont College landed the #25 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Belmont College is a public school located in the rural area of St Clairsville. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Belmont College make a median of around $36,739 per year.
These schools also send liberal arts and general studies graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
This list is compiled 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 · 55 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.