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 schools below stand out for the salaries their liberal arts and general studies graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 71 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools.
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 Pitt Community College, our #1 for liberal arts and general studies graduate salaries in North Carolina. Set in the suburb of Winterville, Pitt Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Pitt Community College make a median of around $44,058 per year.
Peace College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, Peace College is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Peace College earn a median of about $51,057 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Randolph Community College one of the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Randolph Community College is a public school located in the town of Asheboro. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Randolph Community College make a median of around $42,051 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in liberal arts and general studies will find them at Mount Olive College, which ranked #4. Located in the rural area of Mount Olive, Mount Olive College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Mount Olive College typically earn about $43,110 annually.
Fayetteville Technical 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 Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College typically earn about $40,440 annually.
Beaufort County Community College earned the #6 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Washington, Beaufort County Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Beaufort County Community College make a median of around $36,089 per year.
Wake Technical Community College earned the #7 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Wake Technical Community College make a median of around $44,718 per year.
Belmont Abbey College earned the #8 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Belmont, Belmont Abbey College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Belmont Abbey College make a median of around $44,236 per year.
Isothermal Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the town of Spindale, Isothermal 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 $35,676.
Carteret Community College came in at #10 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Morehead City, Carteret Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Carteret Community College make a median of around $42,115 per year.
Edgecombe Community College came in at #11 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Edgecombe Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Tarboro. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Edgecombe Community College earn a median of about $35,451 a year early in their careers.
Rockingham Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Rockingham Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Wentworth. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Rockingham Community College make a median of around $39,261 per year.
Lenoir Community College landed the #13 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the town of Kinston, Lenoir 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 $35,407.
Cape Fear Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Cape Fear Community College earn a median of about $40,084 a year early in their careers.
Vance Granville Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Vance Granville Community College is a public school located in the town of Henderson. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,212.
Piedmont Community College landed the #16 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the rural area of Roxboro, Piedmont Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Piedmont Community College make a median of around $33,447 per year.
Bladen Community College landed the #17 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Bladen Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Dublin. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,801.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #18 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from North Carolina State University At Raleigh make a median of around $41,661 per year.
Rowan Cabarrus Community College came in at #19 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus 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 $40,721.
Southwestern Community College Sylva landed the #20 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the town of Sylva, Southwestern Community College Sylva is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,457.
Fayetteville State University earned the #21 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Fayetteville State University make a median of around $40,887 per year.
Wilson Community College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Wilson Community College is a public school located in the town of Wilson. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Wilson Community College typically earn about $44,981 annually.
Central Piedmont Community College placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Central Piedmont Community College is a public school located in the city of Charlotte. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of about $44,141 a year early in their careers.
Sampson Community College came in at #24 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Clinton, Sampson Community College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Sampson Community College make a median of around $37,055 per year.
Nash Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Located in the rural area of Rocky Mount, Nash Community College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Nash Community College earn a median of about $38,711 a year early in their careers.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning liberal arts and general studies graduates:
The ranking above is published 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 · 71 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.