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. 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 25 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.
For graduate earnings in liberal arts and general studies, no school beat Thomas More College this year. Located in the suburb of Crestview Hills, Thomas More College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Thomas More College typically earn about $62,607 annually.
Jefferson Community And Technical College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Jefferson Community And Technical College is a public school located in the city of Louisville. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Jefferson Community And Technical College earn a median of about $44,701 a year early in their careers.
Gateway Community And Technical College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Florence, Gateway Community And Technical College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Gateway Community And Technical College earn a median of about $40,421 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in liberal arts and general studies will find them at Northern Kentucky University, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Northern Kentucky University make a median of around $54,111 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Bluegrass Community And Technical College earned it the #5 place for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Bluegrass Community And Technical College earn a median of about $38,707 a year early in their careers.
Henderson Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Henderson Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Henderson. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Henderson Community College earn a median of about $35,219 a year early in their careers.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College landed the #7 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Elizabethtown Community And Technical College typically earn about $36,921 annually.
Hopkinsville Community College came in at #8 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Hopkinsville Community College make a median of around $37,089 per year.
Western Kentucky University came in at #9 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,436.
Maysville Community And Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the rural area of Maysville, Maysville Community And Technical College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Maysville Community And Technical College earn a median of about $36,643 a year early in their careers.
Ashland Community And Technical College came in at #11 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Ashland Community And Technical College make a median of around $36,398 per year.
Murray State University earned the #12 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Murray State University typically earn about $44,106 annually.
Owensboro Community And Technical College earned the #13 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Owensboro Community And Technical College make a median of around $37,879 per year.
Eastern Kentucky University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,355.
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #15 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a public school located in the city of Bowling Green. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College typically earn about $35,798 annually.
Hazard Community And Technical College earned the #16 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Hazard Community And Technical College is a public school located in the town of Hazard. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,660.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College earned the #17 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a public school located in the city of Paducah. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from West Kentucky Community And Technical College make a median of around $35,845 per year.
Brescia University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the city of Owensboro, Brescia University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Brescia University make a median of around $36,827 per year.
Morehead State University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Morehead State University typically earn about $38,733 annually.
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Located in the rural area of Cumberland, Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $30,937.
Madisonville Community College earned the #21 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Madisonville Community College earn a median of about $33,632 a year early in their careers.
Somerset Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the town of Somerset, Somerset 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 $33,004.
University Of Kentucky came in at #23 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of about $33,700 a year early in their careers.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Big Sandy Community And Technical College make a median of around $33,017 per year.
University Of Louisville ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,109.
This ranking is produced 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 · 25 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.