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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
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.
Leading the list is Georgetown University, our #1 for liberal arts and general studies graduate salaries in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set 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.
Maria College Of Albany came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Maria College Of Albany is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Albany. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,857.
A rank of #3 makes Molloy College one of the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the suburb of Rockville Centre, Molloy College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Molloy College typically earn about $74,868 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in liberal arts and general studies will find them at Cecil College, which ranked #4. Cecil College is a public school located in the rural area of North East. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Cecil College earn a median of about $53,044 a year early in their careers.
Drexel University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel 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 $68,119.
Fordham University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham 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 $61,011.
Saint Josephs University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Saint Josephs University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Saint Josephs University make a median of around $70,905 per year.
Misericordia University earned the #8 position 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.
Suny Empire State College landed the #9 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Suny Empire State College earn a median of about $53,000 a year early in their careers.
University Of Maryland University College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of University Of Maryland University College earn a median of about $59,647 a year early in their careers.
Excelsior College came in at #11 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Excelsior College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Albany. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Excelsior College earn a median of about $63,422 a year early in their careers.
Baltimore City Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Baltimore City Community College is a public school located in the city of Baltimore. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,847.
University Of Scranton earned the #13 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of University Of Scranton earn a median of about $56,970 a year early in their careers.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice came in at #14 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,313.
Hobart William Smith Colleges earned the #15 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Geneva, Hobart William Smith Colleges is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Hobart William Smith Colleges make a median of around $55,406 per year.
Thomas Edison State College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the city of Trenton, Thomas Edison 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 $56,228.
Suny Westchester Community College earned the #17 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Valhalla, Suny Westchester Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Suny Westchester Community College make a median of around $60,719 per year.
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #18 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,183.
Reading Area Community College landed the #19 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Reading, Reading Area 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 $42,359.
Chesapeake College landed the #20 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Chesapeake College is a public school located in the rural area of Wye Mills. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Chesapeake College typically earn about $42,346 annually.
University Of The District Of Columbia placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the city of Washington, University Of The District Of Columbia is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,565.
Manor College earned the #22 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Jenkintown, Manor College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Manor College typically earn about $41,237 annually.
Rider University came in at #23 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Rider University typically earn about $65,807 annually.
Adirondack Community College landed the #24 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Queensbury, Adirondack Community College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Adirondack Community College typically earn about $41,176 annually.
Prince Georges Community College placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the suburb of Largo, Prince Georges 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 $54,791.
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. 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.