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.
College Factual analyzed 33 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools.
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.
University Of Central Arkansas earned the #1 spot for highest-paid liberal arts and general studies graduates in Arkansas. Located in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of University Of Central Arkansas earn a median of about $59,511 a year early in their careers.
University Of Arkansas Community College Hope came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the town of Hope, University Of Arkansas Community College Hope is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from University Of Arkansas Community College Hope typically earn about $38,713 annually.
University Of Arkansas At Monticello produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a public school located in the town of Monticello. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from University Of Arkansas At Monticello make a median of around $40,984 per year.
Arkansas Tech University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,589.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Arkansas Fort Smith earned it the #5 place for liberal arts and general studies. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public school located in the city of Fort Smith. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from University Of Arkansas Fort Smith typically earn about $38,255 annually.
University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the town of Batesville, University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville typically earn about $36,126 annually.
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the city of Little Rock, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of University Of Arkansas At Little Rock earn a median of about $40,905 a year early in their careers.
University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the town of Morrilton, University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton earn a median of about $43,569 a year early in their careers.
Northwest Arkansas Community College came in at #9 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Northwest Arkansas Community College is a public school located in the city of Bentonville. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Northwest Arkansas Community College earn a median of about $40,064 a year early in their careers.
Black River Technical College earned the #10 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Pocahontas, Black River Technical College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Black River Technical College make a median of around $32,489 per year.
South Arkansas Community College earned the #11 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of El Dorado, South Arkansas Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from South Arkansas Community College make a median of around $33,236 per year.
Pulaski Technical College landed the #12 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Pulaski Technical College is a public school located in the city of North Little Rock. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Pulaski Technical College earn a median of about $37,471 a year early in their careers.
Arkansas State University Mountain Home earned the #13 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Arkansas State University Mountain Home is a public school located in the town of Mountain Home. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Arkansas State University Mountain Home typically earn about $36,413 annually.
North Arkansas College earned the #14 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. North Arkansas College is a public school located in the town of Harrison. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,110.
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #15 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Jonesboro. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,602.
Cossatot Community College Of The University Of Arkansas ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the town of De Queen, Cossatot Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,008.
Mid South Community College landed the #17 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the suburb of West Memphis, Mid South Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Mid South Community College make a median of around $31,237 per year.
East Arkansas Community College placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the town of Forrest City, East Arkansas Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from East Arkansas Community College make a median of around $37,152 per year.
Arkansas State University Newport ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the rural area of Newport, Arkansas State University Newport is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Arkansas State University Newport earn a median of about $38,006 a year early in their careers.
Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas landed the #20 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the town of Helena, Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas earn a median of about $34,794 a year early in their careers.
Arkansas State University Beebe landed the #21 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the town of Beebe, Arkansas State University Beebe is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Arkansas State University Beebe earn a median of about $37,297 a year early in their careers.
Harding University placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Harding University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Searcy. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Harding University earn a median of about $48,709 a year early in their careers.
Henderson State University came in at #23 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Arkadelphia, Henderson State University is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Henderson State University typically earn about $38,316 annually.
University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff came in at #24 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Pine Bluff, University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $35,698.
Ozarka College placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the rural area of Melbourne, Ozarka College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Ozarka College make a median of around $28,600 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid liberal arts and general studies ranking:
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 · 33 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.