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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 26 schools on the early-career earnings of their liberal arts and general studies graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose liberal arts and general studies graduates go on to earn the most.
Trident Technical College earned the #1 spot for highest-paid liberal arts and general studies graduates in South Carolina. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident 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 $48,251.
Students chasing top earnings in liberal arts and general studies will find them at Columbia International University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia International 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 $46,596.
A rank of #3 makes Aiken Technical College one of the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the suburb of Graniteville, Aiken Technical College is a public institution. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Aiken Technical College make a median of around $41,897 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in liberal arts and general studies will find them at Midlands Technical College, which ranked #4. Midlands Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of West Columbia. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Midlands Technical College earn a median of about $42,520 a year early in their careers.
Greenville Technical College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in liberal arts and general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Greenville Technical College is a public school located in the city of Greenville. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Greenville Technical College earn a median of about $43,418 a year early in their careers.
Spartanburg Community College came in at #6 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg 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 $39,808.
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College landed the #7 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Located in the town of Orangeburg, Orangeburg Calhoun 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 $31,826.
University Of South Carolina Upstate came in at #8 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, University Of South Carolina Upstate is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Upstate typically earn about $43,441 annually.
Horry Georgetown Technical College came in at #9 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a public school located in the city of Conway. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from Horry Georgetown Technical College make a median of around $37,867 per year.
Central Carolina Technical College landed the #10 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Set in the city of Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College is a public institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Central Carolina Technical College earn a median of about $36,906 a year early in their careers.
York Technical College came in at #11 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. York Technical College is a public school located in the city of Rock Hill. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from York Technical College make a median of around $41,516 per year.
Piedmont Technical College landed the #12 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. Piedmont Technical College is a public school located in the town of Greenwood. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,983.
University Of South Carolina Columbia landed the #13 spot for liberal arts and general studies salaries this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,776.
Tri County Technical College came in at #14 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Tri County Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of Pendleton. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,422.
Benedict College came in at #15 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Columbia, Benedict College is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Benedict College earn a median of about $41,133 a year early in their careers.
Limestone College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying liberal arts and general studies schools. Limestone College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Gaffney. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,285.
Technical College Of The Lowcountry earned the #17 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Technical College Of The Lowcountry is a public school located in the city of Beaufort. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,791.
Coastal Carolina University came in at #18 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Coastal Carolina University is a public school located in the city of Conway. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Coastal Carolina University earn a median of about $43,704 a year early in their careers.
North Greenville University earned the #19 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Tigerville, North Greenville 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 $36,971.
Lander University placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. Set in the town of Greenwood, Lander University is a public institution. Students who complete the liberal arts and general studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,448.
Francis Marion University earned the #21 position for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Florence, Francis Marion University is a public institution. After graduating, liberal arts and general studies degree recipients from Francis Marion University typically earn about $36,408 annually.
University Of South Carolina Lancaster came in at #22 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. University Of South Carolina Lancaster is a public school located in the town of Lancaster. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from University Of South Carolina Lancaster make a median of around $22,995 per year.
Spartanburg Methodist College came in at #23 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Methodist College is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of Spartanburg Methodist College earn a median of about $32,131 a year early in their careers.
University Of South Carolina Salkehatchie came in at #24 for liberal arts and general studies graduate earnings this year. University Of South Carolina Salkehatchie is a public school located in the rural area of Allendale. Liberal Arts And General Studies graduates of University Of South Carolina Salkehatchie earn a median of about $19,438 a year early in their careers.
University Of South Carolina Sumter placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for liberal arts and general studies. University Of South Carolina Sumter is a public school located in the city of Sumter. Early-career liberal arts and general studies graduates from University Of South Carolina Sumter make a median of around $18,517 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning liberal arts and general studies graduates:
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 · 26 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.